8th grade graduation?

[allison443]

I'll probably give my kids laptops for their 8th grade graduation because they will use them for HS, and maybe the first part of college, I don't really consider that ridiculous at all.

The high school my dds attend requires all students to purchase a particular laptop (not a public school) so they all get laptops for freshman year. Most of the kids not going to that high school already have gotten laptops by eighth grade.


OT, but it seems like laptops have dropped so much in price that I think kids are getting them younger these days...on the "what are you getting your kids for Christmas" threads last year, I saw a lot of people getting inexpensive laptops for 10 year olds and even younger.

 

[allison443]

I had a cap & gown graduation from Kindergarten and received the most awesome gift ever: a Mork & Mindy lunchbox to use in 1st grade. It also had some jacks, a jump rope, and a bottle of bubbles.

I had a dress-up graduation from 6th grade and received another awesome gift: an electric typewriter with a spell-check function. I used that machine for my junior/senior high papers, my college and law school applications, and my bar application.

Celebrate the occasion the way you think would be appropriate! Give a thoughtful, useful gift if you want. It's a nice milestone to recognize.

Those ARE awesome gifts!

 

[DizBelle]

Nothing.

We had a graduation ceremony, I thought it was so stupid. It's not a big accomplishment to graduate middle school, honestly.



Now THAT is ridiculous. I'm sorry, I don't even have a TV or my own laptop, and I'm in 9th, and my family is well off. Nor do I expect to get any of those things, especially for 8th grade graduation. Sorry, graduating middle school isn't some big accomplishment. I think it's really annoying how people hype it up so much.

MTE...

I got up and went to work today. Can I have a party and get gifts of a new computer and TV?

 

[allison443]

MTE...

I got up and went to work today. Can I have a party and get gifts of a new computer and TV?

Yes, you have permission to buy yourself a new computer and tv if you want it!

 

[luvmy3]

MTE...

I got up and went to work today. Can I have a party and get gifts of a new computer and TV?

I don't understand this mentality, did you gradiaute from 8th grade everyday? Its a milestone, maybe you think its crazy to celebrate but why mock people who do

 

[DizBelle]

I don't understand this mentality, did you gradiaute from 8th grade everyday? Its a milestone, maybe you think its crazy to celebrate but why mock people who do

Making it from 8th grade to 9th grade is about as much of a "milestone" as me getting up and going to work today.

I'm with Mr. Incredible.

 

[DizBelle]

I am 46 and back in the "old days" when I graduated from Jr. High we had a big ceremony and they still do at the same school. It takes places outside-all the big wigs in the district talk, congressmen etc. You get called up one by one to accept your diploma and shake hands with all the big wigs.
Right now we are dealing with 5th grade graduation- they actually do it with caps and gowns! Many of my friends are saving this event to give their kids their first cell phones (more kids in 5th have one right now than don't).
I already know what we are doing for my daughters 8th grade graduation and its really not a gift to her but for both of us. I retire at the same time she graduates from 8th grade. We are leaving the day after graduation for a road trip around the US. We had planned this trip for years and it just happens to fall on her graduation year so she won't be having or attending anyone elses parties.

Dolly Parton or Elizabethan?

 

[luvmy3]

Making it from 8th grade to 9th grade is about as much of a "milestone" as me getting up and going to work today.

I'm with Mr. Incredible.

Its not about "making" it to 9th grade, but obviously you don't get that, and thats okay, there is still no need to mock those of us that do

 

[allison443]

Well, this being the disboards, I'm sure we will never see any criticism or mocking of people that give kids a disney trip for their birthday, or like the poster recently who wanted to "reward" her kids for "surviving" a move and a new baby sibling by giving them a disney trip!!

 

[allison443]

I had a cap & gown graduation from Kindergarten and received the most awesome gift ever: a Mork & Mindy lunchbox to use in 1st grade. It also had some jacks, a jump rope, and a bottle of bubbles.

I had a dress-up graduation from 6th grade and received another awesome gift: an electric typewriter with a spell-check function. I used that machine for my junior/senior high papers, my college and law school applications, and my bar application.

Celebrate the occasion the way you think would be appropriate! Give a thoughtful, useful gift if you want. It's a nice milestone to recognize.

Wait you mean you had a kindergarten graduation and you actually went on to high school, college and law school? I guess the overemphasis on that kindergarten graduation didn't discourage you like many posters seem to believe....in fact, I don't know of anyone who stopped after elementary school because their graduation ceremony made them feel it was a sufficient achievement.
Sadly, there are kids whose parents aren't involved/don't care/don't support and encourage who do wind up not continuing their education. I'm sure that is a greater factor than whether your school has a ceremony or not.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Sadly, there are kids whose parents aren't involved/don't care/don't support and encourage who do wind up not continuing their education. I'm sure that is a greater factor than whether your school has a ceremony or not.

Our first born is a freshman in college, paid for with the prepaid plan we purchased him and using the laptop we got him for HS graduation. Oh, and he has straight A's first semester and so far this semester. (He had a MS ceremony but no party nor cash gifts, in case you are keeping statistics on this).

 

[allison443]

Our first born is a freshman in college, paid for with the prepaid plan we purchased him and using the laptop we got him for HS graduation. Oh, and he has straight A's first semester and so far this semester. (He had a MS ceremony but no party nor cash gifts, in case you are keeping statistics on this).

That is great!
I think we are agreeing that whether the kid has a ceremony/party or not, doesn't affect their later achievements either way? There are so many more important factors which come into play!

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

My elementary school was a (private) k-8 school, so we had a mass with caps and gowns etc. Then we had a class party a few days later at a local skating rink (held by one of the students).

After the ceremony, my parents, grandma, and I went out to dinner. I received a graphing calculator (for high school since I had gotten into advanced math!) and a bunch of hugs. My other “present” was summer school at the high school (a typing class lol)

The graduation was not just for passing 8th grade, it was to celebrate all the time we had had together. 9 years is a long time! Plus, most of us were going to different high schools. We had 6 public high schools and 3 private to choose from (in that area). I got into the private school I wanted, but many of my classmates did not. Most of us did not live close by, so the graduation party was a sort of farewell party. Unfortunately, I have lost touch with most of them

I noticed several people say that graduating 8th is no big deal, and I admit in the public schools around here, it isn’t. They pass anyone and everyone (same for the high schools). However, at my school, many students were held back/kicked out for grades. It was no easy ride!

 

[Shelton123]

I don't understand this mentality, did you gradiaute from 8th grade everyday? Its a milestone, maybe you think its crazy to celebrate but why mock people who do

You shouldn't get rewards for something you're required to do, aka go to school until 16 years old. You're required to graduate the 8th grade (at least in my county, you can't repeat THAT many times) therefore you shouldn't be getting a reward for it.

The reward is summer vacation, getting to go to a new school, etc.