How do you celebrate homeschool high school graduation?

[RegGuheert]

When DS20 graduated, we had a small family party which was also combined with a couple of birthday celebrations. Really, it was not a big deal. Last year, some friends from church had a BIG party with lots of family and friends for their homeschooled daughter. Our DD17 would like to have a party for her graduation. While we aren't opposed to the idea, we are not big party people and our schedule, not to mention hers, is quite full for the next few months.

So, I'm wondering what you have done for your homeschooled children as they graduate from high school. I'm putting up a poll, but I would be interested to hear other ideas, as well. Please post if your celebration was particularly well-, or poorly-, received.

ETA: I've decided to allow multiple selections in the poll in case you have had multiple graduates with different celebrations.

Thanks!

[Chris in VA]

It is one of the biggest regrets I've ever had, about anything--which is saying a lot--that we didn't do one. thing. for ds' graduation.

He didn't want anything.

We didn't push.

Then I was heartbroken because a few months later, as he heard others he met in college talk about their parties and graduation celebrations, he regretted not wanting to commemorate his hard work in school.

I had wanted his dad, me, and one of our df to talk at his graduation, which I imagined held in our parish hall, with a couple of tables along the side, holding mementoes from his growing up (some elementary stuff, some pics and a map from his mission trips, a couple of his historical swords, etc). I imagined him actually walking in, in a cap and gown. I imagined a simple but catered buffet, and just a nice time. Not too long, not too short. Gifts, cards, maybe a fire outside.

I wish we had just done it.

[Margaret in CO]

We had a HUGE bash for dd#1, complete with Pomp and Circumstance played on her violin whilst her orchestra director was grilling shrimp. Her fiddle smelled like bbq for months! He offered just yesterday to do it when we have her Master's party! She had a big recital at the college (where she played in high school) and then everyone came out to the house. Dd#2 didn't have as big a deal as her recital had been at Christmas (so her sis could play) but we still had a nice bbq. We plan another one this June to celebrate the Bachelor's and Master's degrees. It will be fun.

[Ellie]

My dds didn't want anything for "high school" graduation. It wasn't important to them, because they thought college graduation was much more important. So we took each one out to a very nice restaurant, and bought each of them a birthstone necklace.

[creekland]

I voted other because I'll have to admit I hadn't really thought about it yet. I'll be reading this thread - and I suppose I ought to ask my oldest what he'd like soon. He graduates the end of this month...

[transientChris]

OUr oldest was graduated when we lived in Europe. Our chapel had a graduation party after church for the two graduates-the other was a girl at the American school. THat was enough for our son. I don't yet know what we will do for our daughter. OUr co-op has a graduation and if we are here, she will probably do that. ALso, our church here also has a grad night and I think she will do that too. But that all depends if we don't move before she graduates next year. I am sure that dd3 will want all sorts of celebrations since she is an extrovert.

[Leanna]

We just sent out invitations last night for our 2nd dd's big bash. It will be an informal BBQ. Her older sister loves big parties so she had a more formal "Open House"; it was right down her alley. My 2nd dd considered making her party smaller, or going to a restaurant, but she couldn't decide who to eliminate from the guest list. For both girls, we had/will have a slideshow playing in the living room for people to wander in and watch. My dh was remarking last night...."What are we going to do when they get married?!"

My 2nd dd will also have a senior recital with a smaller crowd.

After my first dd's party, many homeschooling families told us what an encouragement it had been to them to see someone reach this milestone.

[Liza Q]

Our homeschool group has a year-end ceremony which is about all the children but the graduates get some special attention. One of the dads (usually one who is a pastor) speaks, we sing together and each child gets at least a certificate honoring them for improvement in particular subject. There are always refreshments afterwards.

My daughter wore a cap and gown and was handed a *diploma* by one of the moms who runs our group. My parents and some of my siblings/nieces/nephews came and were happy with the little party. Her closest friends were there (not all homeschooled), which was nice.

After everything (my family had already gone home as they do not live close to us) my husband decided to take my daughters and their friends out to a diner as they were all having a great time and no one wanted the night to end. The younger ones and I went home so it was just my husband and five excited girls. They told me it was a lot of fun!

So, I checked other. We had a small party for family and friends, courtesy of our homeschool group, and a nice dinner out with just friends. We may plan to do the same thing with our next daughter but I think part of the fun was the spontaneity, kwim?

Oh - I should mention that one of her friends lives in another state so part of the graduation festivities was having this friend spend a week with us. We all love her so every day she was with us was like a party!

[Liza Q]

After my first dd's party, many homeschooling families told us what an encouragement it had been to them to see someone reach this milestone.

This is so true! Many of the families in our group have young children and a large percentage of *older* families stop homeschooling after the 8th grade, so we rarely have a graduate!

[Valerie(TX)]

Ds1 did not want to graduate with our co-op's seniors b/c he never quite clicked (cliqued? nah!) with the other grads from his year--by his junior year he had moved on to mostly dual credit. In his mind, the transition from high school to full-time college was almost non-existant, so he wanted a guy party, nothing else. He chose to have a bunch of friends go outdoor laser-tagging and out for BBQ with him for his big bash.

Dd, OTOH, is graduating with the co-op group with all the usual trappings. There is a reception following the graduation, so that will be the "party". We've invited close friends to come to the grad ceremony and the reception, so we won't be throwing another party: there's no time on the calendar for another event. We'll have out of town family visiting, so we may go out for dinner or have dinner together at the house afterward, but that will be all. She'll still have another three weeks of her Torrey Academy class (3.5 credits), but last day of co-op, homeschool, and dual credit classes will be on 5/14.

On June 4th, after her last Torrey class, we'll have a small gift for her that will perfect for having *finally* finished (June 4 is so late!!), but I'll post a picture then and not tip her off if she reads this.

[Jen S in Va]

With our oldest we did a full blown graduation ceremony from Pomp and Circumstance to Pledge of Allegiance to speeches, cap and gown, and moving the tassel--very formal. There were 6 kids graduating from home school in our church that year, so we all got together and planned our own formal ceremony. Afterward we took a group of family and friends from out of town out to dinner.

This year our 2nd child will graduate. There is only one other home school senior this year, and the two girls have been friends since K. We are having a less formal graduation this year--still with caps and gowns, but.....different from their older brothers' graduation. The girls have both been involved with music since K, and one will play flute, the other piano, and one will sing in a trio with younger girls from our church. My dd will speak first--basically thanking those present for their support during her school years. My husband will then speak, we'll give her her diploma, and turn her tassel. Then the other family will repeat with their daughter. Afterward is a small reception during which will play a dvd of the girls over the years. She's already put in her order for where she wants to go after the ceremony. We're all looking forward to it, including my 7yo ds, who is counting the days.

[Janet in WA]

For our homeschool-graduate sons, we held an open house (at our home) to which we invited all of our family and friends (which totaled just over 100 people). In our town, many families hold open house parties for their graduates, so the weekends surrounding graduation involve everyone moving from house to house to attend all the parties. Ours was just one of the many.

[MSPolly]

Well, what we thought would be a small party has ended up being about 70 people! LOL!

We are having a lunch after an 11am graduation. One of my dh's clients owns a deli and he has GRACIOUSLY offered to do sandwich trays/chips/cookie tray for 70!!! Another friend is making a cake and we'll have dd's favorite Death by Chocolate dessert. Also, we will fill in with some chips and salsa, veggie tray, fruit tray, and pasta salad.

After lunch, the kids are going to swing dance :)

These are all family and close friends...SEVENTY!

I will tell you, these days are making us realize how very blessed our family is...

[Vanna]

...although I do not have a graduate yet, I've taken on the job of coordinating a ceremony for 4 hs graduates in my homeschool group. Our funds are limited and the ceremony is in less than 3 wks, but I've been very encouraged to see how God has answered every prayer, no matter how seemingly small.

We have the location, the caps, gowns, tassels, diplomas, invites (blank, in need of the info regarding the event to be printed in them). We need a pianist and a few other things I think would make the event "special."

[Katia]

I marked 'other' because all three dc have chosen something different.

Ds#1 didn't want anything. He is not a celebration type of person (total introvert with a bit of OCD - had I known about Aspies at the time, I would say he is/was on the spectrum). Anyhow, I insisted, so instead of doing anything here at home (where we have few to little friends and NO family) we drove to where a lot of family live. Rented my hometown church for the day, sent invites, and had a nice number of family and friends show up for a fairly formal (cap, gown, sister played Pomp and Circumstance on the piano, grandmother spoke, youth pastor/cousin gave a formal charge, etc.) Anyhow, it was a very nice ceremony with a reception of cake, nuts and punch following. Ds suffered through it, as he didn't know a lot of the people there since we don't live close to family, but he was amazed that all of these people gave him cards with money!!! He said it was worth it to suffer through all of the hoopla *I* wanted, just so he could get the money. :tongue_smilie:

Dd#2 had a senior music recital on her instrument, and since all her close friends, some family and close church members attended that event, she decided last minute (as in we were walking to the reception table after her recital and she says "Mom, can you go get my cap and gown at home, I want to graduate tonight".) Yikes! So I raced home for her cap and gown, and remembered to grab her diploma. Got back to the reception as things were in full swing (a friend catered the event as well as did all the decorations) and announced that dd wanted to graduate right then. Everyone was SO excited, so she went back and I helped her put on her cap and gown, and then everyone hummed Pomp and Circumstance as she walked to the front of the room. It was SO fun/funny! Dh read the diploma aloud, I moved her tassel and dd had a question/answer time about where she was headed next in life. It was informal but absolutely perfect for her.

The next day she 'had' to go to our co-op graduation (since she had signed up etc, etc.) and it was a real bummer. Total waste of time, hot, LOooonnngggg and boring. She felt she had already graduated the night before so why do this? Too bad we didn't just follow our instincts and pass that one up.

In the afternoon, we rented a local hotel pool and adjoining banquet room and friends came to swim and visit.

Looking back, this was way, waaayyy too much stuff. The senior recital, reception and spur-of-the-moment graduation would have been perfect. Too bad all the other stuff had been planned and invites sent. We would have skipped them. We tend to ignore them in her picture albums and our memories of her graduation are just the first event.

Dd#3 had a senior recital, but no reception. It was just what it was supposed to be, a time to show-case her skills, but also part of the 'senior graduating' event things, kwim? She has chosen to do a graduation trip this week (sort of a Destination Graduation). We will be traveling to my sister's house by way of several states that house many of our family and old friends. So, as we travel we have arranged to stop and visit with them! I guess instead of inviting family/friends from many different states to come to her (which no one can afford to do), she is going to them. We are really looking forward to it, and so far, everyone we have contacted is excited to see us. No more than 45 mins to an hour visit with each so we aren't wearing out our welcome with anyone.

When we get to sister's house, I have a ton of graduation decorations that sis will put up (she is good at that sort of thing and I am not). Dd plans to don cap and gown, walk down sis' staircase and out the path to her center backyard, dh and I will give her her diploma and she will toss her cap high in the air while we all clap (and take a ton of pics). Then, we'll have a cookout of her fav foods, make smores, call it good and drive back home, exhausted, and consider her graduated.

[Faithr]

we are slackers around here. I probably wouldn't do anything, except maybe raise a toast to the graduate. Both my dh and I have memories of how boring and meaningless our high school graduations were. Around here the homeschool group puts together a ceremony. One of the moms of the graduates usually spearheads it with help from the others. We have a mass and then the kids put on caps and gowns and receive a diploma. Then there's a reception afterward (pot luck). Last year when our oldest graduated my dh's response when I told him about the ceremony was: I thought we avoided all that by homeschooling! LOL!

I guess we are just really low keyed about this kind of stuff. . . .

[cathmom]

We are Catholic, and our son is good friends with our priest. So we had a graduation Mass at our church on Saturday afternoon. We invited friends and family. I spoke a bit at the end of the Mass, and then dh and I presented him with his diploma.

We then went to the parish hall, where I had organized a dinner buffet and he had a cake that said "Congratulations!"

It was very nice and we all enjoyed it.

[ZooRho]

We did a fairly nice sized party.
we invited about 75 people-mostly famiilies.

we did it at our church. We first did a small service, had a couple of slide shows of his life set to music. Then we had a couple of significant people in his life speak. IT was great, they both said PERFECT things about ds and encourge him in his future.

Dh and I both said a few words to him and then conferred his degree on him. It was so wonderful, and many in attendance said it was the best graduation they had ever been too.

We then went to the fellowship hall. where we had a small snacky meal and cake.

It was absolutely perfect.

Oh ds wore a suit- he didn't want the cap and gown. We walked in to the theme from Gettysburg from the battle of little round top.

The slide shows were Power of the moment and Find your wings.

[Ms. Riding Hood]

We had a big party (150-200 people--and probably 1/3 of the guests were family members) but that's just kind of what they do around here. There's a whole section in the local paper devoted to announcing open houses. A few kids have parties each weekend from graduation day on into July! Then people party hop each weekend, eating and talking non-stop. It's fun! The planning was a little stressful for me; I'm not the "hostess with the mostest". But it was all casual, and I think ds was glad we did it. But we didn't make him give a speech or anything. Just put out lots of pictures of him through the years...another local tradition. The kids all played volleyball, tether ball, bean bags, etc. That's all.

[CathieC]

Eldest did a graduation ceremony with the tutorial we attend. It was in a church, with a nice, Christian themed keynote speaker. Reception followed in the church hall. We had a private party for friends and family at our home later on. Family flew in from out of state, just like they would have had he been in public school. We will do the same for our younger son, next year.

[K-FL]

I told my son when he graduates from HS, I'll throw rose petals from the top of the tallest building in town (all of 7 stories.) :D He is not amused, but the girls are.

[Kareni]

I voted other.

My daughter attended classes at a local homeschooling resource center, and we took advantage of their senior class offerings. There was a senior trip for the students and their parents (no siblings). It consisted of a river cruise and luncheon on board ship and a subsequent trip to a state park for a hike (optional) and picnic dinner.

On a different day, there was a senior celebration where the students could wear caps and gowns or formal wear. (Formal wear varied markedly from tuxedos to jeans!) During the ceremony the seniors had the option of singly or jointly doing a three minute presentation -- there were speeches, skits, piano performances, singing, etc. My daughter read a Latin poem which she then translated into English. There was also a slide show to which each student contributed their own one minute powerpoint. There were a couple of speeches by the director of the program and by two past seniors. Students were presented their certificates of completion and greeted by their parents at the far side of the stage. A jazz band of seniors and other students performed during the processional and recessional. There were close to 20 graduates and the graduation ceremony was wonderful -- personal and not too long (about 90 minutes from processional to recessional). All this was followed by a reception at which students each had a table with a poster board and memorabilia.

We did not have a private reception, but we did give my daughter a few graduation gifts.

Regards,
Kareni

[Catherine]

My eldest is not graduating until next year, technically, but he is spending his senior year as asn AFS exchange student, and so won't even be in the US when he graduates. So we are having a big graduation\birthday\farewell party this summer. No formal ceremony, but just more of a family and friend party.

[Moira in MA]

She's worked *so* hard to put together her music program, it just seems appropriate to graduate her at the same time.

~Moira