8th Grade Graduation (inspired by the Confirmation thread)

[sweet angel]

DS will graduate 8th grade this June (hopefully!). A family member is taking their son on a cruise for a graduation gift. My parents bought me a 13" t.v. for my high school graduation 100 years ago. What is "acceptable" for 8th grade grads these days? My son heard about the cruise and started with "what do I get for graduation????"

 

[orangeblossom]

I got a simple silver cross for my graduation (I'm Catholic.)

 

[poohandwendy]

A hug and a nice dinner.

 

[bsnyder]

A hug and a nice dinner.

I'm with Wendy! I had the nerve to stand up at a meeting of 8th grade parents when my oldest was this age and suggest that maybe the parents were overdoing things just a little bit. There was a solid week of nonstop school related functions (luncheon, field day, breakfast, dance, graduation) as well as a ton of private parties.

Give kids something to look forward to when they graduate from high school.

 

[chadfromdallas]

Its 8th grade....

 

[HTH]

Its 8th grade....

That's what I was thinkin' :/

 

[poohandwendy]

I had the nerve to stand up at a meeting of 8th grade parents when my oldest was this age and suggest that maybe the parents were overdoing things just a little bit. There was a solid week of nonstop school related functions (luncheon, field day, breakfast, dance, graduation) as well as a ton of private parties.

LO, I bet you didn't win any popularity contest with that! Seriously...we are talking 8th grade.

 

[sweet angel]

Phew, thanks. I thought I was under-reacting to the occasion!

 

[bsnyder]

LO, I bet you didn't win any popularity contest with that! Seriously...we are talking 8th grade.

LOL! A couple of people actually clapped, but they were quickly and thoroughly outnumbered by the ones who glared.

When I finished 8th grade, I don't think I even got the hug and the nice dinner. It was a total non-event.

 

[poohandwendy]

Phew, thanks. I thought I was under-reacting to the occasion!

LOL, well it looks like you are going on a cruise in 6 months...if you are taking the kids tell your DS it is a belated celebration, if you are going as a couple...tell your DS you are celebrating your accomplishment of raising a child to the HS level. (totally tongue in cheek here)

 

[poohandwendy]

When I finished 8th grade, I don't think I even got the hug and the nice dinner. It was a total non-event.

LOL, me too. Color me confused, but my parents actually did not consider it an accomplishment. Now, if I had finished HS by that time (14-15)...THAT would have been cause to celebrate.

 

[Pam]

The schools around here don't have 8th grade graduation.

I got zip - and so did my kids. (Well - they always get a hug and an "Atta girl" (or boy) out of us at the end of the school year.....

 

[4greatboys]

We dont have 8th grade graduation here either When I was in school we had a school party for the 8th graders but it wasnt a graduation. Personally every year my kid graduates to next grade Im dang happy but no gifts are handed out.

 

[cepmom]

I think it's ridiculous to give gifts for 8th grade graduation (especially a cruise!!!) ~ other than the fact they are moving on to high school, why should completing 8th grade be any different from completing any other grade? Now going out to a dinner together or simply saying "you did a great job, congratulations" is more appropriate, IMHO. Some parents go way overboard with gifts for everything little thing. Next thing you know they'll be handing out gifts for breathing Give me break!

 

[candykisses]

I've never heard of an 8th grade graduation.

In our district the 8th grade went to Six Flags in Ohio. A cruise??? Not in my house.

 

[chadfromdallas]

I've never heard of an 8th grade graduation.

In our district the 8th grade went to Six Flags in Ohio. A cruise??? Not in my house.

You had to be on the A honor roll in 8th grade here for that trip.

I had a season pass at the time anywho

 

[JVL1018]

Maybe they are taking a cruise just as their regular vacation and are saying it's to celebrate the 8th grade graduation?

I know we have been to WDW twice on my daughter's birthday, twice on our anniversary, once on my brithday, once on DH's birthday..and we always say we're celebrating her/his/my birthday/anniversary at WDW.
This year we'll be there for my son;s birthday and we do say that we're going to WDW for Matt's birthday.

That does not mean I'm actually giving my son a WDW vacation for his 4th birthday, it just means they coincide.

I know if we were leaving on a cruise a week or so after my DD graduated from middle school, I'd probably say we were going on a cruise to celebrate her graduation. But it wouldn't be her graduation gift, it would be our family vacation that year.



BTW, I got a small sapphire ring for my 7th grade graduation(HS started at 8th grade). For HS graduation I got a new stereo.

 

[kikipug]

My son heard about the cruise and started with "what do I get for graduation????"

The right to go to 9th grade next year.

 

[snoopy]

I remember my grammar school having a little party for the graduating 8th graders (common in Catholic schools, K-8, then high school is 9-12). I think it consisted of cake and ice cream in the school gym. My parents had 8 other kids at home, so I'm certain there were no gifts or additional parties for me, or any of my siblings for that matter.

When DS finished kindergarten he came home telling what kids in his class got, presents like Playstation, etc. Some parents are just silly. He got a big kiss and a hug from me, and a "good job, now get through the next 12 years" from his father.

 

[Beastlover]

I think we may do a small party for DD/8th grade grad and DS/H.S. grad at the same time. We'll see what they want. They may just want a nice dinner out, and maybe a nite out with good friends. We'll see...absolutely no cruise. Not Jr. high, not H.S....too bad...
maybe mom and dad will take the cruise....