9th grade graduation parties

[MrsPete]

No, this isn't merely "passing" to the next grade.

This girl worked her a** off. She did it all on her own. She has taken advanced classes and will go to the high school of her choice. Because of her hard work these last three years, she can enroll in any advanced placement class she wants to. She knows college is in her future and she's working towards it as best she can.

My daughters did the same things. We let them pick a restaurant for a nice family dinner as a small recognition that they'd done what was expected, and they'd done it well.

 

[disneyjunkie]

not to hijack the thread, but there are places where kids can choose to go to HS or have to apply to get in??? Are these private (tuition-based HS) or regular ol' Public schools?

Other than a private (ie Catholic or the like) HS I've not heard of applying to or choosing where you get to go to HS. I thought generally it was you lived here and the HS for this area is XYZ School.

Kids here can attend any school in the city(Brooklyn,Queens, Bronx, Staten Island or Manhattan).

When you enter 8th grade, you are giving a huge book with all of the public high schools in the city. (There are hundreds). September- October, schools hold open houses. Mid-late 0ctober you take exams for the public schools that require you to pass a written exam to attend. You also turn your high school application during this time. You can put up to 10 schools that don't require testingon the application.
In March the acceptance letters go out.

Catholic high schools also require 8th graders to take an admission exam.

When you're applying to schools, they look at your grades from 6th and 7th grades. The kids with grades get into the great schools.

There is one school here that allows students to complete 4 years of high school and 2 years of college whike attending high school. An 8th grader can not take the exam for this school unless he/she has a 95 average.



Oh, we have the same process for kids going into middle school.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

This post totally reminds me of the line from The Incredibles

Helen: I can't believe you don't want to go to your own son's graduation.
Bob: It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade.
Helen: It's a ceremony!
Bob: It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity.

Sorry... OP - no offense meant. But I've never heard of a 9th grade graduation either.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

To the OP - never heard of such a thing, but I am always looking for a reason to celebrate with family...

Edited to add: Will the guests be expected to bring a graduation present? I know that I wouldn't give a gift for graduating the 9th grade, but would attend a party with no such expectations...

 

[DAPford]

in anwser to a question regarding the chioces available for high schhol at least here in Delaware we have school choice and also votech and charter schools. the students also spend the fall months (sometimes starting in 7th grade)not only going to open houses but having schools come and give presentations about their program. The catholic/private and some charter schools schedule their enterance exam all on the same day so you can only take one and then others schools are based on lottery or grades until the spots are filled so yes its a lot of things to consider for a young teenager in addition to just doing thier school work. last year my dd who is now a freshman at a Vo-tech school where she is hoping to enter the LPN program had a 8th grade dinner dance hosted by the parents at the school which was a "fair" theme so not only was there dancing but also skeeball,pool ,foosball etc... some of these kids had been at this "choice" public school since K others like my DD came in at 6th grade but it was a group of 80 so kids that all got along really well and were all going in different directions. After the graduation ceremony (no caps/gowns just nice dresses and ties) each "group" ended up going to lunch somewhere. yes there are more celebrations today but being a kid is a lot different than it was before.

 

[Jitzy]

Thank you! She is a fabulous kid and I just want her to have something memorable. I think you are right -- it probably won't matter "what" we do, it's that we'll be doing something. When her friends are saying that they are having a party or a celebration, I want her to also know she too is having one. And that she too has people in her life who are proud of her.

Encouragement is very important. When you're a teenager, knowing that there is someone out there who believes in you and cares about you can provide that extra bit of motivation when things get tough.

not to hijack the thread, but there are places where kids can choose to go to HS or have to apply to get in??? Are these private (tuition-based HS) or regular ol' Public schools?

Other than a private (ie Catholic or the like) HS I've not heard of applying to or choosing where you get to go to HS. I thought generally it was you lived here and the HS for this area is XYZ School.

There are all sorts of programs here in St. Johns County. (FL) There is a technical school. Great idea ~ kids can graduate with licenses. There's a teacher's academy ~ kids graduate with an AA degree. Just think of the money parents and students are saving with this...since it is high school, the county has paid for it. There is also a nursing program and financial program so kids can go out and get jobs. Our son is in IB and works very hard on the academics. All of these programs require grades, essays and applications. And of course, there is your zoned school.

Still, you have to wonder what pressure these kids are feeling...Glad it's not me!

 

[MinnieGi]

not to hijack the thread, but there are places where kids can choose to go to HS or have to apply to get in??? Are these private (tuition-based HS) or regular ol' Public schools?

Other than a private (ie Catholic or the like) HS I've not heard of applying to or choosing where you get to go to HS. I thought generally it was you lived here and the HS for this area is XYZ School.

Here in nothern DE there are many public HS to choose from that require application and interview process. They are charter schools or magnet schools with an emphasis on one area like science and math, performing arts, etc. Some are VERY competitive! There is also a military academy, and in feeder public schools students can apply to complete the IB degree. I believe this is the norm in many east coast cities.

To the OP I think it is great you are having a party for your niece! It is a big step going to high school and a celebration ending the jr. high years is a great time to remember the achievements and friends from that time. In our family 8th grade marked the end of grade school and we always had a party to celebrate with friends and family. Have fun!

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

To the OP - never heard of such a thing, but I am always looking for a reason to celebrate with family...

Edited to add: Will the guests be expected to bring a graduation present? I know that I wouldn't give a gift for graduating the 9th grade, but would attend a party with no such expectations...

I agree with this. I would be a bit miffed (Ok..a TON miffed) if I was asked to bring a present for such a thing. A very small celebration such a family dinner might be appropriate. I really am racking my brain trying to come up with some ideas for you. My DD is graduating 8th grade this year. There is a ceremony, graduation outfit, pictures, 2 day outing, etc. planned at our school. Since school ends in June, maybe a BBQ at a state park or by a beach, or perhaps a day at the local pool?
Someone mentioned a spa day, but that is extremely expensive. (FUN, but expensive )

 

[ohlas]

Ok the best idea would be to do a maryk party or an avon makeup party with her friends like you would with your grown up girlfriends, they can teach better make up skills, then the cost of the party would be gifts to everyone like free thing of makeup and a full line of makeup for her to start off the next school year with... I did this as a welcome to high school party for my daughter and her friends and she loved it. They also sleep over and practiced the art of makeup wearing all night... I had to hide my good lipstick, poor dog never looked so pretty. oh well girls will be girls..

and no i dont sell makeup

we also made grownup desserts and finger foods, had a punch..

got a list of daughter friends and called the moms to ask if it was ok then sent very nice invites...

 

[disneyjunkie]

OP how about having a BBQ and setting up a candy bar?

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

Wow! I read this whole thread and found it interesting the different high school options for the different states. Where I live you go the the high school for our town that we live in. A middle school is a school 6-8 grades and a jr. high is a school 7-9 grades. I went to a jr high which is now a middle school and we had a Freshman farwell dance (prom for 9th graders, no parties). I did not realize how hard these kids (op niece, etc) have had to work in elementary school/middle school, so its like they are applying for college, but it is high school We are not a big city or really near one. Sorry, I had no idea.
I think whatever you do for your niece will be great and think it is nice you want to do something for her. How about a bouncehouse. I am a grown up and I still love those things. Either ask her or go off of her intersts and make it a suprise. Suprises are always fun. Happy planning

 

[Longsx3]

OP I think a grad party is very kind of you, it depends on who you want to include. If the party is friends and family, maybe a Luau themed party. If it is just friends how about a sleepover, with a coed presleepover move on the lawn. You could rent an inflatable outdoor movie screen.

As for 8th grade parties or 9th. My DD is heading to 9th grade next year (High School) and is about 13 weeks away from completing Middle School with straight A's, as she did with Elementary, and while a party would definitely be warranted she won't be having one. DD had a very large 13th BDay last year and is going to Science and Soccer camps this summer...she knows the next big party is her 16th! That being I think it is great to celebrate milestones, for many kids it helps to encourage them.

 

[PaulaSue]

Never heard of a graduation party but for 12th grade and college.

 

[Rustysmom]

not to hijack the thread, but there are places where kids can choose to go to HS or have to apply to get in??? Are these private (tuition-based HS) or regular ol' Public schools?

Other than a private (ie Catholic or the like) HS I've not heard of applying to or choosing where you get to go to HS. I thought generally it was you lived here and the HS for this area is XYZ School.

Here in NYC there are too many choices! We just went through this with our son. We went to so many high school fairs. Unless the high school specifies, you can apply to just about any high school in the city. Then you have your zoned school, where you are guaranteed a seat, but only if you pick in on the application. There are about 5 very competitive public schools where you either have to take a test or audition to get in. We didn't go for any of those. My son needs a very small school because he has PDD and is in special ed. and it's not easy finding a school like that. We ended up applying to one public school that is small (about 800-900 kids in the school as opposed to most schools that have 3,0000 to 4,000. We won't know if they take him until the end of March. If not, then we are going to fight the Dept. of Ed. to see if they will pay for tuition to a really good special ed. program in a Catholic school. There really are no other good choices for him.

When our son graduated from 5th grade, they had a ceremony, but nobody wore gowns or anything. His school is K-8 so if you wanted to, you could stay for the middle school part. This June he will graduate from 8th grade and they'll have a big ceremony at the community college and they will wear caps and gowns.

We would have a party for our son, but have hardly any family left and few friends, so we're probably just going to ask our friends if they want to join us at our son's favorite Chinese/Seafood buffet place.

 

[Julia M]

my niece is graduating from 9th grade this year and I'd like to throw her a party. It's a very big accomplishment for her and we're very proud of her. I don't think her parents will be able to throw her a party (long story) but I think they'd love for her to have one if they don't have to be in on the planning.

Tell me about any 9th grade parties you've thrown........was it for the friends or family......etc. I'm at a loss here........

any advice welcome and very much appreciated!!

We had 8th grade graduation parties for oldest ds and then dd. Youngest ds (7th grade) will have on next year,

For oldest ds, we ate in a restaurant with grandparents, 2 uncles, 1 close family friend and 2 other families (good friends) who also had graduates and a few of their family members. We ate at a place where we could reserve space, and we ordered meals at the counter, and you pick up. But, nice meals...their slogan is "affordable elegance". We ordered a cake from Costco for all three graduates.

For dd, we had a party at home. A bigger party, because my mom and dad had their 50th anniversary the next day, so people were in from out of town, plus dd is involved in alot of activities, so some extra people were invited (like some coaches and teammates). We did rotisserie chicken from Costco (because dd really likes it), that my dad cut up for us (so it was like ordering from EL Pollo Loco, but WAY cheaper). A big green salad, beans in a crockpot and potato salad. Garlic bread. No cake, but a friend had given me a chocolate fountain, so I used that, with pound cake, starwberries, bananas, rice krispie treats, and so on.

Neither event was extravagant and both were fun.

Julia

 

[3boymthr]

I totally get where you're coming from OP. Most people haven't heard of 6th grad graduation either. But here it's a big deal. We have guest speakers and awards and the kids dress up in suits ties and fancy dresses and their is a reception afterwards. Then the parents may have a small party or go out for dinner. It's a big deal because not just because our school runs to 6th as elementary 7-8 as jr. high and 9-12 as hs but, we go from being a single town school at 6th to a regional school and the kids will be gaining a lot of friends but losing the personal feel. I can even post pictures of DS's ceremony.

To answer a PP question it depends upon where you live how the HS thing is handled at this point in this area kids must apply to go to any school other than the Regional HS. DS is in the process of applying to go to the vo-tech. He had to do a tour, fill out an application and will undergo an interview in another month and his grades will be reviewed to determine if he is "worthy" of the program. The same goes for the aggie school and the charter schools in the area.