Homeschool Graduation?

Question

Homeschoolers, if you're graduating soon or if you already have graduated, what was your graduation like? Did you attend a ceremony? Or did you do something different? Did you have a party or an open house? What was it like?

I'm graduating this December, and we'd like to do something completley individualized and unique, so we're looking for ideas.

Answer 1

Our oldest son is just a sophomore, but we have had many friends whose children have already graduated. From those graduations and parties, we have a general idea of what we might do for our childrens' graduations.  We have a choice to either host an open-house party at our home in the country or host a large reception at our church in the city.  We are members of a 1200-family home school support group, plus our small local support group.  The large group hosts a huge commencement ceremony.  I personally love the idea that they may recieve their diplomas with a good deal of pomp.  They deserve it!  However, my oldest son is apt to still perfer a small celebration with his closest friends at a nearby amuzement park. If he had his way, he would have us hand him his diploma just before the roller coaster sped off up the first huge hill at the amuzement park.  Can't you see him holding onto his cap on the way down?   I think it would make a good picture, but his dad is more of a traditional fellow who will likely want to see the kids walk the stairs to reach the officiator of the ceremonies.  I wouldn't have a problem staging the diploma hand-off at the roller coaster, though.  It would make a terrific photo!  In the end, a high school graduation is just as much a celebration for the parents as it is for the student.  Therefore, I feel that both the parents or gardians AND the young adult need to be in on the planning.  Ask your parents what they want and them tell them what your heart's desire is.  Either decide on two events on different days or combine your mutual desires into one grand occassion. Perhaps you can combine your favorite thing to do with the act of accepting your diploma as well as a chance to meet and greet well-wishers.  Maybe you could accept your diploma on ice skates and then skate around a private rink with your friends and have refreshments in the warming hall afterwards.  If you love to ski, wouldn't it be cool to accept your diploma at the top of the mountian, just before you went down it?  At the bottom of the mountain, your parents could host a reception in a rented room at the ski resort.

Whatever you do, I wish you congratulations and the very best!!

Answer 2

Around here, some participate in group homeschool graduations, others have fancy parties with friends and family. One girl I know is graduating next year and she simply plans on going out to a fancy restaurant with family and friends.

Answer 3

When my brother graduated from his home school we threw a big party for him while there his pastor presented him with a diploma and then threw him in the pool (diploma and all)! We also emptied his pants pockets (he was in his swim suit) and hid the contents on the premises and gave him a bunch of clues to find it (I'm talking about things like his drivers license, hid each dollar bill separately and his mp3 player). yes we can be pretty mean to each other but everyone got a kick from it even him!

But since it will be December I don't recommend that idea! We invited all of his home schooled buddies and family and friends all total about 100 people. We had a barbecue and deserts. Congratulations on your coming up graduation!

Answer 4

I graduated with 21 other kids.  We had a huge ceremony that lasted about 4 hours.  Afterwards we had a reception where we had individual tables set up to showcase our personalities and achievements.

Answer 5

I don't have one graduating, but I have friends who recently graduated their kids.  Most of the kids did a group ceremony in which they each had the opportunity to make a display with their achievements and interests (which was very cool), but one of them, a concert pianist, held an incredible recital.  He prepared pieces for a formal event, they had a slide show of him growing up, and had scrapbooks or memorabilia to view of different things that he had been involved in.  He gave a graduation speech and his father officiated, with both parents awarding his diploma.  It was really quite an incredible ceremony!

They had a reception and invited family, friends, instructors and Scout leaders (he's an Eagle), and people who had a part in teaching him throughout his life.  

I don't know if there's anything in there that you can use, but hopefully something sparks your imagination?  :)

Early congrats by the way!