Random question for you all - where we live, it is not super common to be invited to graduation parties for other people’s kids. If folks have a party, it’s more often either (1) a person hosting a party for their child, and guests are all family; or (2) the party is jointly hosted for a handful of graduates and their families, but not other seniors or other parents.
S25 has been invited, and so have my husband and I, to two graduation parties - one just for graduate A, and another is a joint party for graduates B, C, D and E.
Do we bring gifts? If so, what kind of thing? These are all boys, and we don’t know them particularly well. S25 is somewhat tangential to these groups of friends - there are 10 of them going to the beach together and he’s included, but he’s included because he’s close with a couple of guys and knows the others. I have a feeling the grad party hosts invited everyone going to the beach which is nice - I’m glad he’s included - but that means that he isn’t super close with any of these specific boys, and I have no idea what they are like or might like.
I don’t love giving gift certificates, but I’m half tempted to just go buy one of those multi-packs of chipotle GC’s that they sell at Costco, and pass those out…
This is common here, where everyone has various levels of drop-in grad parties. My S25 was invited to probably 7 or 8 of them. (Some are elaborate for 200 people with food trucks and everything, and other people do what we’re doing – come hang out, eat some food, take a dip in the pool.)
We do a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card inside a nice graduation card (which I ordered cheap on Amazon).
Parties are common here. S25 has been invited to over 20. We’ve been invited to 6. Some are given by a family just for their child. Most are group parties for up to six kids. We only give gifts when we (the parents) are invited. And only give to the kids we’re close to. For example one of the parties was for 6 kids. We’re close to 4 of them and didn’t know the other two at all, so I only gave gifts to the 4. I bought a pack of graduation cards and $50 gift cards from Amazon.
So many challenges for us all this last weeks of high school.
AP Chem is my particular pain point. They still haven’t taken the unit 9 test and seniors last day is Friday which is Senior Picnic Day so no actual classes that day. Not sure the hassle is worth at this point since AP Chem exam was last week, many kids are not in class because of other APs and required State testing. S25 still has some make up work for unit 7 & 8 (along with several other students) because of APs and then the teacher had a sub Thu and Fri that needs to get done in the next 4 days.
At least next week he can look for a college roommate and prep for the advisor before graduation on the 28th.
I just want to say I could’ve written this same exact post…
S25 is behind in AP Chem (for him it’s lab reports, he has multiple make up lab reports) that all need to be done this week before Friday, which is Senior Field Day. And he also hasn’t looked for a college roommate or done the necessary things before meeting with an advisor. The advisor stuff can wait until next week, but for him, roommate pairs need to be identified by this Thursday, the 15th, so that doesn’t bode particularly well for my guy who still hasn’t had time to reach out to one person…
Big parties are very common here. If we (parents/family) are invited, then we bring a gift and cash is definitely king. The kids will also hop around to each other’s parties, and they are not expected to bring anything. If it’s someone I know anyway and we just aren’t going or weren’t invited, I might have my teen bring along a smaller something for them depending on how we know them. Nothing is expected from anyone however, and everyone would rather have a good showing of support and celebration than to have people skip the party because they don’t want to or can’t bring a gift.
Many of the parties will be co-hosted and feature 2 graduates. If you know both, bring something for both. If you only know 1 of them, it is totally fine to only give to the one that you know.
That’s a great idea! Thank you! I was actually just starting to look into CLEP exams in general because she wants to at least explore graduating in 3 years. I’d take any insight/opinions people have!
AP Calc is behind us and it’s been a huge weight lifted from my daughter’s mind! She needs a 4 to place into the math course she wants and she left the testing center feeling good about it.
NCSU requires placement exams for several subjects, and they want the kids to take them by 5/16, the last day of APs. I think this timing is a bit cruel. My daughter took the math placement exam last weekend and did poorly. It was all pre calculus and not fresh in her head, since she didn’t brush up before taking it. She was so upset - never mind that this placement test doesn’t matter if she does well on today’s AP Calc exam. Never mind that her time would be better spent studying for said AP exam.
Tonight she sat down to study for the NCSU chemistry placement exam. She is tutoring someone in chemistry, and I think she’ll be fine, but after the math experience she’s worried.We read through the list of topics and she picked a couple she wanted to brush up on… a half hour later she was like, “this one will be no problem” and she looked so relieved. So she’ll take that one tomorrow.
After that there’s only one AP exam left - Psychology, the last one possible in the schedule - and then the last concert performance on the weekend. In my mind, that about it for high school. Although they still have several weeks of school left, I’m guessing there will not be a whole lot more learning happening.
AP calc being done is also a huge weight lifted for my kid. Unfortunately the AP teachers also have projects and presentations due this week. Kid is cranky about this, which I understand. He has a VHS final tomorrow so at least that will be done. Last regular day of classes is in 2 weeks. I wish the teachers would let them coast but that is not how they seem to run things at his school post AP. Kid is so done. Just trying to motivate him to get to the finish line without tanking his grades. So close.
Yup! Cortland. And yes, they do! That’s good to know that you get the grades quickly too, thank you! I’m definitely going to have her look into it in general, but hopefully Psych will be a moot point
Many of you know I was a high school teacher for almost 30 years (and am now an administrator). I got the sweetest email from a ‘25 graduate yesterday! She was in one of my last classes. I just wanted to advise anyone who feels good about a teacher in our kids’ class, to write a short note or email. It means the world to the teacher I’m having DS write TY notes, and he’ll include a little keychain from his college or other small gift, for his college recommenders.
Yeah, this timing for NC State’s additional exams is really tough. I feel you! S25 had a series of IB exams over the last two weeks that truly needed his attention, plus the AP Calc yesterday and the IB analysis exams this Thursday and Friday. My understanding is that you can take the NCSU math placement exam up to 4 times, but you can only take the chemistry placement exam once.
And S25 hasn’t taken chem since sophomore year, so…he’s working hard on preparing as best he can, while still prepping for the IB math two-day tests later this week.
It’s going to be very helpful for everyone in this house to get beyond this week!
But S25 should get some uninterrupted studying in tonight without his parents around, since we are headed to a Pearl Jam concert. Here’s hoping we can stay awake until the likely 9 p.m. start.
Yes! S25 is writing notes as well. For his art teacher of the last three years, his mentor, he bought him a bottle of Demeter cologne in the scent “Turpentine.”
ugh, that is icky. My kid has to do a math placement test too - and they have to do it no matter what - regardless of APs, etc which is odd. I am not sure when it is due, but you are allowed to do it 2x.
Also, this is a time when it’s extremely appropriate to give a photo of yourself (aka, the student), especially if there’s one of the student with the teacher. Notes of appreciation really do mean the world to teachers, and one thing I wish I had to accompany some of those notes were pictures of the students who wrote them.
I’m having DS write TY notes, and he’ll include a little keychain from his college or other small gift, for his college recommenders.
