<p>I got an iron for high school graduation. </p>
<p>My second son is following the lead of his brother, collecting up his grad gift $$$ to purchase a laptop. We aren’t buying it for him, but we will contribute if there is a shortfall. We consider it a tool, but it’s too pricey for our budget.</p>
<p>We got our first son an extra acoustic guitar (that he bought out in PA) so he could have one at school and not transfer it back and forth each holiday. We might get second son a bike.</p>
<p>Last weekend after graduation, I handed to each of the 6 kids I knew best among my S’s friends a card to which I’d attached a little wrapped package (I even used ribbon, gasp! <– This is unusual for me.), enclosing a tin of cinnamon Hint Mints (in these really thin metal tins that can slide into your back pocket) and a Jamba Juice gift card. I hope it was appreciated, but got a little discouraged when some of their parents handed out envelopes to students (including my S) containing $50 bills… 
Sigh… </p>
<p>So, yeah, so… S should write a thank-you note to the parents who gave him the cash, just as he would to his grandfather, right?</p>
<p>A definite yes on the thank you notes! My son also got some very generous gifts and he was dismayed that he had to write personal notes for every one. But, after he got into it, he actually enjoyed it. He hand delivered one to our next door neighbor and she was so pleased that it made him feel really good. At first, he thought the hassle of a graduation luncheon and all of the hoopla was going to be a drag. But, when the gifts starting rolling in, he was glad people cared about it. He did not understand that graduating from high school is a big deal, and friends and neighbors want to celebrate with you.</p>
<p>Wow, $50 gifts to friends of your son - I was thinking more along the lines of a $25 giftcard for something. What about kids exchanging presents between themselves - what is the protocol is S is invited to another student’s grad party - a co-grad???</p>
<p>Please note, Rileydog, that <em>I</em> did not give them $50, I gave them each a $10 Jamba Juice card and a $3 tin of mints. And a nice card. 
And lovely wrapping. I would think something along those lines would be appropriate from one grad to another. (Especially if you have 6 or 8 kids to congratulate!)</p>
<p>What we are doing, protocol-wise, is sending announcements to family, close friends, close neighbors, etc. We did not send announcements to seniors from my S’s school and are only exchanging gifts with his really good friends. To other people with seniors that do not attend my S’s school, we sent announcements but added a little card saying the only gift he needed was a big hip hip hooray that he was OUT!!!</p>
<p>I’m giving the girls in my Girl Scout Troop a small memory book including photos of them from 1st grade on-along with an Essentials Tool Box(a small metal tool box filled with essentials such as band-aids, a small hammer and tacks, a stapler, scotch tape, tylenol, and thermometer)</p>
<p>My nephew and my Daughter are getting memory quilts which are being made by my brother and I using their old t-shirts from school, musicals, track, drama, trips with family or groups, Girl Scout camps, church camp etc. (They also both received lap tops at the beginning of the Sr. year to help them with the college application process)</p>
<p>I know these are more sentimental than most gifts but well I know that they will love the gifts. </p>
<p>My husband and I are also hosting the “after grad night” breakfast for my D and her friends. I ordered votive candle holders from Oriental Trading Co. and had stickers made that say ****** Class of 2005 which I’m filling with candy in their school colors.</p>
<p>WaitingMom, I love the memory quilts. I wish I had paid more attention back in home ec and could sew at all. What a lovely gift!</p>
<p>ag54 there are several sites on the webs for memory quilts where you send off your t-shirts and they make the quilt for you ;)</p>
<p>Another good present is a magazine subscription. It’s always nice to have mail when you’re at school.</p>
<p>OoohhWaiting Mom - that’s what I have been looking for can you google memory quilts?</p>
<p>Yes, WaitingMom that is the kind of craft I can do, the kind you send off for. Can you give the web addresses of a site or two?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.campusquilt.com%5B/url%5D”>www.campusquilt.com</a>
Not cheap, but they are worth it! We have gotten several in our family.</p>
<p>There are several sites and they range in prices. This seems to be an average price from <a href=“http://www.Wildzipper.com%5B/url%5D”>www.Wildzipper.com</a>
T-shirt quilts are $12 per square. For just $14 per square, double batting transforms a quilt into a comforter. The per-square charge includes all materials (except, of course, your t-shirts).</p>
<p>Tis site has great pictures of quilts and directions to make your own <a href=“http://www.goosetracks.com%5B/url%5D”>www.goosetracks.com</a></p>
<p>to google this successfully type in ‘t-shirt quilts’ you’ll also find the easy directions all over the Internet. You can proably find a friend to sew the squares if you do all of the prep. You don’t need to add batting if you use a heavy flannel or non-stretch polar fleece for you backing. </p>
<p>Have fun and I’m glad that I added something useful for CC parents because I have learned so much from everyone!</p>