9th grade graduation parties

[Grumpy's Gal]

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!!

 

[MrsPete]

9th grade graduation?

 

[The Iron Giant]

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.

 

[Inigo]

But I've never heard of a 9th grade graduation either.

Perhaps the niece went to a school that places 9th grade at the middle school level, with the high school for grades 10 through 12. (I've never heard of a 9th grade graduation either.)

 

[3boymthr]

Never heard of 9th grade graduation but have heard of 8th grade graduation and 6th grade graduation - around here most people treat it as a private family party with a couple of close friends or a big family dinner at the child's favorite restaurant.

 

[lisabarr]

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.

I agree!

 

[deerhart]

for us the move to high school was at 8th grade, so we had a graduation ceremony with awards and such. Usually the parties are just family events with cake.

 

[puffkin]

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.

Yup, I agree. While some schools may have a ceremony and awards (here it is usually after 8th grade) no one has parties. That just seems odd to me since you really haven't achieved anything except moving from one grade to the next

 

[fluffycow333]

Maybe because she made it through her first year of high school? I'm in 9th grade and it's not easy.

 

[donac]

Some places still have a true jr high with 7 - 9 and sr high of 10 - 12. That is the way it was at my school for the first few years that I taught. They are not as popular as they once were but they are still around.

If they can have an 8th grade grauation why not a 9th grade from a jr high.

Congrats on her making it. It sounds like there were problems and I hope she has learned enough to make her successful in high school

 

[KandD]

I have never heard of a 9th grade graduation party either...

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Am I the only person here who is old enough to remember when Graduation meant -High School Graduation? And moving from one grade to another was "PASSING?" I have to admit it was very cute when my DS's preschool had a graduation ceremony...from 3K to 4K! And no party..it never occurred to me. Actually, preK was the last graduation ceremony we had and probably will have until they are out of HS.

Another here who has never heard of a 9th grade graduation.

 

[allison443]

I haven't heard of a "ninth grade graduation" however since the OP posted about it, I guess it's equivalent to our 8th grade graduation, which is a cap and gown thing. So I will base my response on that.

My kids went to a Catholic elementary school for K-8, after 8th grade the class (60 kids) splits up to about 10 or more different high schools. 8th grade graduation parties are the norm here, most people seem to have at least a family party-anything from dinner at a restaurant, to a backyard family party (which we had).

For the kids themselves, usually 2 or 3 kids will team up and have a party (pool party either at home or a community pool, or a backyard bbq), no gifts, just a chance for the kids to get together before they head off to different schools.

I don't feel it's "celebrating mediocrity" It's just a party!

 

[PinkRhombus]

Perhaps the niece went to a school that places 9th grade at the middle school level, with the high school for grades 10 through 12. (I've never heard of a 9th grade graduation either.)

My hometown has 9th grade with junior high. They had a dance...kind of a "mini prom" but that's it. We only do parties for high school and college graduation...

 

[balletmom97]

It sounds like OP is talking about the move from jr.hi to high school...

I think the niece is a very lucky girl to have someone willing to step in and make it special for her!

What is the norm for the community? Around here, there might be a reception at the school and a family dinner.

Perhaps you could treat her and a couple of close friends to dinner at her favorite place? If you want to make it extra special, maybe a nice (but not terribly expensive) piece of jewelry?

Or, you could take her out for the day- mani/pedi, lunch, etc... to celebrate the end of a difficult school year.

 

[bluesaturn]

Well we had 8th grade graduation parties, because 8th grade was the end of middle school and then everyone went to different high school (catholic school). My sister invited the class over, boys could stay until 10 and girls slept over. They had fun, they ran around outside playing flashlight tag in the dark and ate junk. When I was in 8th grade a couple people had pool parties.

 

[pommfrites]

Am I the only person on here who went to a Jr High school? We went to elementary through 6th, 7-9th jr high....then off to high school. The only way you were targeted as a freshman was if you played sports at the high school in 9th grade. I actually liked school set up that way. It seemed to divide up the teen angst before high school...lol. We even had a 9th grade prom! To the OP..My suggestion is invite a couple friends over and have fun. That is all I did. I had 3 girls spend the night, have pizza, rent videos and just have fun. Now, when I was in 9th grade in 1989 (arghhh), we got to rent rated R horror because my dad rented it for us! We were wild...ROFL. Not the same as today for sure! Anywho...I say a couple of friends or maybe dinner out with a friend and to the mall/store to pick out a new bag for school or outfit ? Either way, I'm sure she'll appreciate your efforts.

 

[disykat]

My son will have a promotion ceremony in 9th grade too when he leaves junior high. We'll attend. We may even take him out to dinner. We did the same in 6th grade when he moved to junior high. While I can see how it is important to celebrate with your friends you've been in school with before you go separate ways, I don't see it as celebrating a big accomplishment.

If my kid's schools had caps and gowns at those celebrations (they were not called graduations) I honestly don't know what I would have done. I would have been very unhappy about my children participating.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

OP here........ 7th 8th and 9th grade is in junior high here. She graduates from 9th grade (even has a 9th grade graduation), has a 9th grade formal and then starts to high school next year.

They way the schools are set up, these kids will disperse and go to different high schools. It's customary to have a party of some kind.

10th, 11th, 12th is in the senior high school.

So, yes, we will be having a 9th grade graduation party.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

To the OP..My suggestion is invite a couple friends over and have fun. That is all I did. I had 3 girls spend the night, have pizza, rent videos and just have fun. Now, when I was in 9th grade in 1989 (arghhh), we got to rent rated R horror because my dad rented it for us! We were wild...ROFL. Not the same as today for sure! Anywho...I say a couple of friends or maybe dinner out with a friend and to the mall/store to pick out a new bag for school or outfit ? Either way, I'm sure she'll appreciate your efforts.

Oh, that sounds nice. That might just work out well. I was hopeful to get some ideas and then let her choose. I just wanted some ideas first.