Are you planning a graduation banquet? Are you planning on speaking at it?

[Gamom3]

Are you already ready for the speak??
Ds is going through a homeschool program at a local(very small) private school. 3 kids are graduating this year..ds 1 of them.
They just called to tell us that they are planning a banquet, the parents are welcome to speak....we are NOT public speakers, but I would LOVE to say something..if I can get the courage to!

Just wondering what you are planning

[Paz]

ds is graduating this year from p.s. and I'm not sure what, if anything, we will do and my dd will not be graduating for 3 1/2 years. I have only attended one homeschool graduation but it was very nice. The ceremony took place in our church. The father spoke first, then the son and then the mother. There were a few songs in between. Both of our pastors said a few words and had a prayer. The reception was nice as well. They had pictures diplayed and some of his projects and portfolios. I loved the pictures she took everyone year on the first day of school. The boys were posed in front of the door to their home and you could see how much they'd grown each year. It was a great celebration of homeschooling, the work they put into it, and the people in their lives.

[DollyM]

I was encouraged by your positive response to the photos and portfolio show & tell. I have heard some (local) criticisms regarding making a singular homeschool graduation ceremony too much of a "brag fest." Is our desire to celebrate going to looking braggardish to others? Sigh. We have a small local group, but opted not to participate in their group event. I was envisioning a small service with dessert or maybe even dinner for 20-50 friends & family. But none of us wants to "talk" either so I'm not sure. We're really waffling here. DD even floated the idea of 'doing nothing' but that doesn't feel right to me either.

[Jan P.]

Last year my ds went through a graduation ceremony sponsored by our homeschool co-op. All the parents of the students were able to speak for about three minutes apiece. I tried to get my dh to speak, but he felt it was more my time since I was the one who taught ds. I gave a brief speech using a kind of analogy with The Fellowship of the Rings. I was amazed at the comments afterwards. It was my first speech to a large group, and I was just happy not to fall down off the steps or drop my glasses! What was really difficult was to not cry. I did pull that off though, but a good friend of mine cried for me! LOL!!

HTH,