8th grade graduation gift

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Is this common practice? My DS is graduating 8th grade, and I hadn't thought about getting him a gift. I thought we might go our for dinner. Someone at work asked me what I am getting him, and I was surprised at this.

 

[PatsMom]

DD went to a private school and they did have an 8th grade graduation ceremony, along with a full Mass (Catholic school). We had a small party after for close family who were also the only ones invited to the service. Total of maybe 10 people. Most brought a small gift - nothing like a high school graduation though. A few $10 book store gift cards, etc. DH and I bought her something small enough that I don't even remember what it is now! But we did get a gift just because it seemed like we should if we were having a party. I think the gift was along the lines of what we normally gave her anyhow as a reward for a good report card!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My niece is graduating 8th grade this year. DSis wanted a small family party but she's divorced and her ex is insisting on a big party with both sides of the family.

I am anxiously awaiting responses from others to see what I should get her. The $10 gift card won't fly - unfortunately.

 

[Nie0214]

I think there's something about American culture that requires people to celebrate everything. I never received anything for 8th grade "graudation" because it isn't any different than 7th or 9th grade. IMO Kindergarten and HS Grad are the only times there is a graduation ceremony, so those are the ones I'd consider gifting.

 

[mrsmom]

My youngest dd gratuated 8th grade last year , we just took her out to dinner.
Kim

 

[sbell111]

I think there's something about American culture that requires people to celebrate everything. I never received anything for 8th grade "graudation" because it isn't any different than 7th or 9th grade. IMO Kindergarten and HS Grad are the only times there is a graduation ceremony, so those are the ones I'd consider gifting.

I completely agree, except for the kindergarten thing.

Graduations requiring presents:

High School
College
Graduate School

 

[okeydokey]

A nice dinner out with family sounds just about right.

 

[Shadow Dancer]

Nope, we never did that for Preschool, kindergarten or middle school.

My kids got big parties for HS graduation. My daughter got a smaller, close family one last year for college graduation. When she completes her Masters next year, we will take her out for a nice dinner.

Same will apply to me son, who is currently in college.

 

[dislal]

My DD 11 "graduated" from 5th grade last week and DD 14 "graduated" from 8th grade yesterday, and I didn't feel the need to get either one of them anything. About half of the parents carry gifts (flowers, etc.) into the place that they had the ceremony and gave to the kids afterwards, but I just don't see the necessity of it all. JMHO

When I was in school we didn't graduate from kindergarten, 5th, or 8th. I just don't understand why they do it. At our school they have the ceremonies in the middle of the afternoon, so if you work you have to take a half day off if you want to be there. Maybe you can tell, but this makes me a little mad.

 

[Shadow Dancer]

Nope, we never did that for Preschool, kindergarten or middle school.

My kids got big parties for HS graduation. My daughter got a smaller, close family one last year for college graduation. When she completes her Masters next year, we will take her out for a nice dinner.

Same will apply to my son, who is currently in college.

 

[SC Minnie]

DD 'graduated' from 8th grade last year and we didn't get her any kind of gift. As a parent I hoped that 8th grade wasn't the highest education she would achieve so it would need to celebrated with an expensive gift. I don't even remember if we took her out to dinner.

If there is a party or something I can see people bringing a little gift but I don't really even see the need for a party for 'graduating' 8th grade. May I'm just old fashioned.

 

[Katy Belle]

We have a 8th grader and a 5th grader graduating next week. It never entered my mind to get them anything. We won't be getting them a gift.

Katy

 

[MerMom60_94]

My DD finishes eighth grade in two weeks and it never even occurred to me that we should go out to dinner, celebrate, or buy her a gift. She does have a semi-formal dance that she will go to at the school Friday night. That will be the height of her celebration and it is a big deal to her and her friends. I hate to say it, but if we make a big deal about every single small accomplishment then don't the celebrations sort of lose their meaning after a while? If she gets a graduation party after preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade, and eighth grade, then won't high school graduation just be "been there, done that"? It doesn't leave much to build up to. Not that we're not proud of her, but as a previous poster said, we hope she will go much further with her education than eighth grade.

 

[HeatherC]

Just wanted to say how nice it is to read all these posts by "sane" people. LOL!!!

My neice is "graduating" 8th grade this month and my sil is throwing a HUGE party. I'm like...are you kidding me? Now I'll have to probably bring her a little something..and I mean little.

Who'd a thunk it? Eighth grade graduation!

I'll just tell her I'm saving for her gift for when she gets her Ph.D.

 

[minniebeth]

Actually tonight, my DS is graduating 8th grade. He attends at private Catholic school where the kids attend K-8 (some of them even preschool).
Graduation consists of a mass, ceremony and then light dinner reception. The kids receive a portfolio of samples from their work from each year at school and have a slideshow put together from photos throughout the years.
It is attended by immediate family only. I think this is really nice and will be the extent of our celebration. As for gifts, we don't expect to receive any for him, although his grandparents sent him a very nice gift but it was certainly not expected. Our gift to him is for him to continue in private education...

I think acknowledgement of the 8th graders' efforts and achievements is nice and perhaps a special dinner or dessert is perfect. The gift giving celebration thing is definately out of control IMHO....
Princess VIJA, Congrats. to your DS for graduating 8th grade!

 

[Justanopinion]

None of my older kids had K graduations but they all had 8th grade and then high school.

For my oldest son we did have a small party before the ceremony(he was attending the dance immediately following the ceremony) with just family and 2 close family friends.

The gifts he received were very simple things. He got a T-shirt from one friend. One set of grandparents gave cash...that's all they ever give. My parents bought him 5 beach towels...he was going away to work at Boy Scout camp for the summer and actually needed them. I believe DH and I got him a video game. Simple and inexpensive things. But we also didn't think this child would graduate high school...he had a lot of learning disabilities. He got a bigger party when he did graduate high school.

The following year when my other two graduated 8th grade I wanted to throw them a small party but couldn't because I was on bedrest for the pregnancy of my youngest.

My youngest will be graduating K next year and since I haven't experienced that before I will attend this year to know what to expect next year. But graduation is also held at 9:30 am.

 

[suejai]

We always give a "grading gift". The kids get one every year, the size is based on how well they did in school, or how hard they worked to pull grades up. I have to say that before I met my DH I'd never heard about grading gifts, I certainly never got anything- not even when I graduated from HS or University. IMHO the term "graduation" should just mean graduating from HS though. But I don't think there is anything wrong with rewarding and recognizing good performance, afterall some businesses give yearly performance bonuses. Especially if they have worked hard all year, or pulled their grades up by their bootstraps.

 

[ZachnElli]

My son "graduated" 8th grade a few weeks ago and I didn't get him anything or take him to dinner. Actually, I didn't even know there was going to be a ceremony until 2 hours before it happened. I'm not one for having a big celebration for something I expect from my children.

 

[worm761]

DS will be in 8th grade next year. There is a graduation ceremony and mass for them. We are planning on going to Disney right afterwards. NOT as a reward for graduating 8th grade but because I am pregnant and couldn't do a lot this last trip. That will be Baby's first trip. We got all happy when we realized the 8th graders get out a week before the other grades do. And our school starts and ends before the public schools around here. I had not even thought about a party or present for graduating 8th grade. I expect him to pass all of his grades. High school graduation is a different story all together though.

 

[luvmy3]

I think we gave my niece $30 for her 8th grade graduation. I figure if its important enough for the school to make it a ceremony its important enough for a small gift.