Help me brainstorm unique graduation ceremony and party ideas!

[Michelle My Bell]

I have searched for ideas online and it seems there is very little creativity or I am just not looking in the right place for homeschool graduation ideas. As of right now, my daughter and I are planning on having two separate events. We would like to have a formal ceremony with 5 other homeschool graduates by invitation. With this we would like to make a movie (a hobby of ours) that features the parents speaking about the kids, showcasing their talents and other things that might be difficult to present but are very representative of them. I am thinking a very artsy film, no more than 5 minutes per kid. In between each video I want to have something special but I am not sure what. I want the kids to each give a short speech possibly. I feel like it needs something else. Fresh ideas please! We will serve appetizer and finger foods.

 

A different time I want to have a party. My location is my mothers home and backyard. I want actual fun stuff happening here ( a party atmosphere) as this will be primarily my daughters friends to attend.

 

Help me brainstorm please!

[Michelle My Bell]

anyone?

[Chris in VA]

You've got great ideas!

Could you add in some other people's thoughts, like interviewing youth group leaders/co-op teachers/whomever made an impact?

In the movie, could you put a montage of photos of the kids growing up? We do this for our youth group--parents send in 6 or 7 pictures in chronological order (cute baby pic, toddler Christmas or holiday pic, something dress-up-ish, etc) ending with the Sr. Picture (if you do those--or just a nice, recent one).

 

But your film sounds fine, really.

 

For decorations, we put out old awards, certificates, hung Tae Kwon Do belts off the railing beside the display...If you have anything like that for each kid, it would be nice. Don't want to compare too much, tho, so maybe limit it to 5 or 6 special things.

 

Are you going to have them "walk?" Will they wear grad gowns and mortar boards? Don't know if it would fit, but maybe a pastor could lead an invocation of some sort.

 

Have they done any service projects/volunteering/mission trips? Displaying something like that could be good.

 

We are planning my son's college grad party--he did not have a hs graduation party at all. We are doing a film theme, since he's graduating with a degree in cinema. It's a fun time, isn't it?

[Michelle My Bell]

Hi Chris, Yes we will have them wear graduation robes and caps. I would love some ideas on how to have them walk in. Maybe an alternative to the traditional song??? or not... I would like some sort of special music but i don't want the graduates to do that part. I was thinking of having all the brothers and sisters do that maybe. I just want it to be high quality and not cheesy. I want it to feel real to them, not like a couple of moms pulled it together... kwim?

[Chris in VA]

I like the idea of going ahead with Pomp and Circumstance. Yes, it is a little cheesy, but who cares; it says, "Graduation" and that is all that matters. To me, anyway.

Can anyone play it on the piano?

Too bad you don't want Real Cheese--I think P& C played on kazoos has a very special feel to it.

(Aaand I hope you know I'm kidding...)

[AK_Mom4]

A fun party idea for teens is the DIY party (Do-It-Yourself). Especially appropriate for homeschoolers. Build-your-own pizzas (we have done them on the grill), kabobs, potato or taco bar. Build your own sundae bar for dessert. Assembling food gives everyone something to keep busy and seems to get the party rolling.

[J-rap]

Several of my kids were musical or who had friends who were musical (and played in bands, sang, etc.). We invited everyone to come prepared to perform anything, if they wanted to. We had a little stage and speakers outdoors. The response was great! Kids came with guitars and sang, or other kids performed in a quartet of band instruments and played a song or two, even some adults sang a song that they chose especially for the child who was graduating. One of my daughters is a singer/songwriter, so she would fill in if there was ever a lull, with some "easy listening" music (on her guitar). We pretty much had non-stop music. Many kids that age have start-up bands, and it was a fun opportunity for a lot of them to play. We did that with three of our children.