Success is in the air! We have begun our Balloons in June inflation, bundling and delivery process. As the excitement of seeing these shiny, orange ‘Ville balloons across town builds, we wanted to share a couple of reminders and tips. The inflation, bundling and delivery process has shifted due to the COVID-19 restrictions, so this process is occurring over the next few days. Please be patient as the volunteers work to get all the orders inflated, bundled and finally delivered. All balloons will be delivered by Thursday, June 18th.

A couple of tips once your balloons arrive.

• Have your graduate retrieve the bag of note cards from the bundle immediately

• Today is a perfect day, but if the weather changes (rain & wind), consider bringing them inside

• If it does rain, the balloons will temporarily fall to the ground; they should float again after some time.

• Finally, as the balloons deflate, please dispose of them in an environmentally appropriate way by cutting them loose and putting in the trash

A big round of applause to Fran Culver, Tara Cichetti, Shannon Bumgarner & Deana Furino for offering their homes and time this week to help us make this happen. Thanks of course to all our inflation and delivery volunteers.

Balloon Delivery Volunteers Needed!

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic our balloon headquarters, Branchburg Sports Complex, will not reopen in time to host us this year.  In addition, given the state mandated social distancing and gathering restrictions, we will be modifying our inflation and delivery processes to be in compliance.

We have developed an execution plan that allows us to be in compliance while maintaining this wonderful community tradition to celebrate our graduates.   Thanks to some very generous volunteers, we will have 5 satellite sites (garages) across Somerville & Branchburg that will inflate and bundle the balloons in preparation for delivery.

We will not be requesting inflation volunteers with this modified plan, due to the social gathering restrictions, but we will still need your help with delivery.  

Balloons will be delivered over a 3 day period of Tuesday, June 16 – Thursday, June 18, across Somerville, Branchburg and Neshanic Station.  

DELIVERY volunteers are needed each of the three days (Tues - Th) in the morning, afternoon & evening at all 5 sites.  Times frames for each of the slots are not exact, but instead represent a window time for volunteers to help.  If you only have an hour within that window, no problem!  Feel free to sign up for one or multiple time slots across the 5 sites and 3 days.  A list of the registered volunteers will be provided to each of the site leads, who will contact you directly to confirm delivery time slots & all logistics.  Please note, we are working to do this in a safe & compliant way so we will manage this differently this year.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Unlike past years when all balloons were delivered the same day in a matter of 5-6 hours, balloons delivery this year will take three days.  Due to the many logistics we need manage, it will NOT be possible to request a day and time for your graduate or neighbor.  We will do our best to stage delivery by neighborhood, but there may be exceptions.  I ask for your patience and request that you do not inquire about "your" balloons within the delivery window.  All 2500 balloons will be delivered within the three days!

The success of this plan is highly dependent on the help of delivery volunteers, so I hope you will consider signing up to help.  Requesting adults only – no kids or current students please (alumni welcome).    

Satellite Site Information:

Site A:  Fran Culver, 22 Deerhill Rd, Branchburg

Site B:  Shannon Bumgarner, 439 Brookview Court, Branchburg

Site C:  Tara Cichetti, 66 North Richards Ave, Somerville

Site D:  Deana Furino, 371 Vanderveer Ave, Branchburg

Site E:  Lori Monaghan, 821 Parsonage Hill Drive, Branchburg

Sign up here:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4DAFAF2FA3F94-somerville


Thanks for your support,

Lori Monaghan
908-304-2758
lmonagha@its.jnj.com

6/7/20 UPDATE - BALLOONS ARE SOLD OUT!!

Ville's beloved annual tradition Balloons in June is back! Order balloons now to be delivered to mailboxes and front steps on June 16. Print out your order form and mail it in with your personalized cards for the grads. You can pay via check (preferred to save PTO credit card fees) or online via credit card.

Forms can be downloaded here.

Credit card payment is available here.    6/6/20 UPDATE - credit card payment is closed at this time. All forms and payments must be dropped to Lori Monaghan personally at this time.

All orders must be received by June 7.

Last call for Class of 2020 T-shirts! Click here to purchase: https://class-of-2020-t-shirt.cheddarup.com

Click here to contribute: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/project-graduation-contributions

Project Graduation 2020 is a safe chemical free annual event after graduation (6/19/20) for our seniors fully funded by the Somerville HS PTO and the support of donations. It will take place at Rutgers and is amazing opportunity for our graduating class to really enjoy each other's company as a class one last time.

The event costs about $30,000 in total and fundraising only gets us part of the way there. If you have a graduating senior, consider contributing to help us cover the rest of the cost.

Any questions, contact somerville.project.graduation@gmail.com.

Order your Ville spiritwear online here.

If you prefer to pay by check and paper form, print a form out here.

Purchase your PTO membership online here.

or with paper form! Click here for the paper form.

Your $10 annual contribution helps fund programs such as Project Graduation, senior scholarships, the senior ice cream social, Staff Appreciation Luncheon, Staff Fill-the-Fridge, the sophomore Drivers Ed assembly and guidance programs such as the Freshman Safety Fair Breakfast and New Student Breakfast.

Did your student recently earn their varsity letter? For every varsity jacket ordered from Personalized Paraphrenalia in Somerville, they will contribute toward SHS PTO. Thanks to Personalized Paraphrenalia for their continued support!

Simply download the Personalized Paraphernalia flyer .