Middle school, high school, graduation…for the novice or the experienced parent, navigating those years in Wilton can be overwhelming.

The Class Projects is a program through the Wilton Youth Council (WYC) that helps families find their way through the transition of those years as well as enables them to connect to other families with children in the same graduating class. Starting in the second semester of seventh grade, families and students have the opportunity to start to get involved in their class organization. That’s when planning starts on the class’ first event, a family picnic in June. Over the years other events are planned–some social, some fundraising, some service, some for families, some for just the parents or just the kids.

Shawn Kahal, who chairs the Class Project for the Class of 2015, says each year’s class is different depending on the parents and kids involved. “The activities will be different, the kids’ interests will be different. And the class goals will be different. The class of 2016, for instance, has been very service oriented, and they’ve been very active, with monthly events.”

She says there are great benefits to getting involved. “Whether you get involved with your child in the class of 2015, or your child in the class of 2017, or the class of 2020, you absolutely get closer with your child because they see you taking an active role in something that’s going to be important to them. But you also become close to the community and parents who are in your child’s year. That’s really important, to be able to pick up the phone and call somebody. This is where the families and students of that class get together to begin the journey of connecting with one another.”

Kahal is also the liaison between all the Class Project chairs and the Wilton Youth Council. She explained that the Class Project program is open to every Wilton student and their family, whether they’re enrolled in public or private school. All parents and students in the graduating year are encouraged to participate and create their own unique experience for their class.

The Class Projects help unify the students as a class as well as help bring the parents together, through social events where the emphasis is on drug- and alcohol-free fun–especially the biggest event of all that gets planned, the Post Graduation Party, or PGP, all-night event where the graduates get to be with all of their classmates for one last time before college.

But, Kahal says it’s really about community and less about parties. 

“If and when there’s ever an issue that arises, parents are more comfortable calling one another. But more importantly it helps parents forge relationships that not just around the PGP party,” she added. “You’re focused on the journey, not the destination.”

WYC is hosting two Class Project 2019 orientations for parents of current 7th graders on Tuesday, Feb. 4–one at 10:30 a.m. and the other at 7 p.m., both at Trackside Teen Center. The snow date is Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the same time and place.

There’s also a Class Project 2015 PGP Launch meeting on Monday, Feb. 10 at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Trackside. The snow date is Feb. 19, at the same time and place.

For parents considering getting involved with the Class of 2019’s Class Project, Kahal encourages them to go for it, even if it means just trying it out now.

“It’s not clique-y, I’m working with people I’d never met before, and it’s really enjoyable to meet people I didn’t know. Getting involved now, it can be a small job, or it doesn’t have to mean a six year commitment. There’s something for everybody.”

Attending the meeting is a good idea, even if it’s just to learn about what’s down the road for your family over the next five or so years until graduation. “It’s an opportunity to connect, to learn about classes to sign up for, to learn about behind-the-scenes information.”

Kahal acknowledged that despite the great programs offered by WYC, volunteerism for the group has suffered. They offer several great programs on leadership and helping both parents and students, including Parent Connection, PeerVention, PeerConnection, Youth to Youth and others educational programs for the community.

For more information on the Class Projects or any other Wilton Youth Council program, visit their website.