SOUTH PORTLAND – A dozen intrepid South Portland residents took a chilly dip into the Casco Bay waters on New Year’s Day to raise money for the high school’s Project Graduation.

Chuck Igo, one of the event’s organizers and whose son is a senior at South Portland High School, said approximately $900 was raised, although money is still coming in. The parent-run group, he said, was not looking to reach any particular goal.

“Every little bit helps to not only make the events happen, but also it is nice to leave a little bit in the kitty for the next class,” he said.

Overall, he said, he was pleased with the event, held at Southern Maine Community College.

“For a first annual event, I think it went well,” he said.

Jennifer Major, a social studies teacher at South Portland High School and the teacher liaison for the group, said the hope is to repeat the dip.

“It’s a great cause and a great event,” she said. “Hopefully we can start a new tradition with this.”

South Portland Music Boosters president Mike Fletcher, who has a daughter in the class of 2012, was instrumental, Igo said, in raising much of the funds.

After agreeing to take a dip if he could raise $250 and dipping twice if he raised $500, Fletcher ended up dipping twice thanks to the support of friends on Facebook and fellow members of music boosters.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I’d do it again. I’ll do anything to help the kids.”

Fletcher said while he was the only member of his family to dip, he had plenty of encouragement along the way.

“My wife and daughter were there to record me going in and to cheer me along.”

With the high temperature reaching 50 degrees on Jan. 1, Fletcher said the weather made the plunge much easier. Plus, he added, he had previous practice, having participated in a similar event in 2004 to raise money to build the Skillin Elementary School playground.

“It wasn’t too bad. You just kind of ease your way in until you can go under [the water],” Fletcher said. “It takes your breath away and certainly wakes you up.”

Major, who did not go into the water because of a cold, but was one of the 40 or so spectators, said the event was the talk of students returning from their winter vacation.

“A lot of kids were talking about it today at school, saying they wish that they had been there,” she said on Monday.

The dip is one of several fundraising events held since the beginning of the school year to raise money for the 2011 Project Graduation, the annual substance-free, adult-supervised celebratory event that is scheduled this year for June 5, after the seniors graduate.

At the Mill Creek tree lighting on Dec. 3, $650 was raised selling hot cocoa provided by Tim Hortons and Christmas cookies from the Cookie Jar Bakery. On Dec. 10, a Drop and Shop night was held at the Community Center where parents who needed to get last-minute Christmas shopping done could drop off their children for part of the evening. Major said on Feb. 6 there will be a benefit pancake breakfast at Applebee’s in South Portland. The high school auditorium will play host to the annual senior fashion show on March 6 and a comedy show featuring comedian Bob Marley on March 20.

Students will also be selling balloons and flags along Broadway at the Memorial Day parade on May 30.

Igo said a successful Project Graduation is only possible with the support of all SPHS parents, not just those with children in the graduating class.

“It’s one of those events that needs a good cross-pollination of parents from all four high school grade levels,” Igo said.

The first-ever Polar Dip in South Portland on Jan. 1 raised upward of $900 for the 2011 South Portland High School Project Graduation. (Courtesy photo)

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