How to improve Graduations

anon94785555
Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:40:32 +0000

School district had a scholarship awards night with parents and school day awards sessions during the school day for other awards. Graduations are well run- separate weekday evenings for each school (suburbs use weekends- usually no conflicts for relatives with more than one to attend), 10 tickets for the arena at large seats, could try for more. Orchestra played during preceremoney seating- grads in cap and gown, one of the bands played the in/out marches, choir grads joined in their groups during the ceremony- well done music. Short forgettable speeches, all on DVD (hint-buy it), smooth getting +/- 500 grads across the stage. Waiting around for son to get his diploma and locate us afterwards was the biggest hassle. Fun, though, aside from the time required for everyone to get their moment of notice (the price you pay for everyone else to hear your child’s name). Quick family and relatives supper before and short after gathering before he went to the all night (9 or 10 pm til 3 am) school (parent’s group) sponsored party- he crashed on a basement couch and his bed went to a relative.

Size of class will determine events. I remember skipping relative’s in suburb ceremonies and just going to the home parties. But got my sister to come to son’s ceremony (her H was out of town) because my son played in the orchestra… At first I didn’t understand why the seniors had to play on graduation night since it is a large group, but it was a nice touch- and we got the color photo of our son and his viola in the next morning’s local paper’s random shots of graduation!

The local paper has a supplement in spring with a listing of all the area schools’ graduates- vals/sals, any honor distinctions noted at the schools’ discretion. It takes months for them to publish area HS semester honor rolls, and small notes for any academic awards and such, as submitted by interested agencies. There is far too much sports coverage and no pursuit of academics in general.