Graduation Announcements -what's expected?

[stitch'sgirl]

I have a lot of old college/childhood friends whose children are graduating from high school. I have received a bumper crop of grad announcements without party invites. Is a card/money expected? Not sure what to do with these.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Unless they're very close friends or family, I'd ignore them.

 

[EMode]

Throw them out

 

[Southernmiss]

I have a lot of old college/childhood friends whose children are graduating from high school. I have received a bumper crop of grad announcements without party invites. Is a card/money expected? Not sure what to do with these.

When ds graduated 2 years ago, we sent invitations to family and very close friends in town who would want to be invited to the graduation itself.

We sent announcements (collage of pictures of his high school activities and his name highschool and the date) to those who lived a distance away.

No gifts expected from anyone in either category. But if received, were acknowledged with a person thank you.

Because I work at our church with teens, I receive announcements and invitations every year. Those for whom we are friends with the family, we'll send a card and $$ or other gift. Our family does not acknowledge all graduates beyond what I do for them on behalf of the church.

 

[Art 1]

I have a lot of old college/childhood friends whose children are graduating from high school. I have received a bumper crop of grad announcements without party invites. Is a card/money expected? Not sure what to do with these.[/QUOTE

The reason they send them is for you to send a gift. Yes, money is expected.

 

[Disneylover99]

It's just an announcement. I don't think there is any assumption that you should give money.

And high school? I can maybe see sending out a grad announcement for post secondary education....but high school?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It's just an announcement. I don't think there is any assumption that you should give money.

And high school? I can maybe see sending out a grad announcement for post secondary education....but high school?

Interesting. Nobody I know sent anything out for college graduation, but EVERYONE did for HS.

 

[aprilgail2]

It's just an announcement. I don't think there is any assumption that you should give money.

And high school? I can maybe see sending out a grad announcement for post secondary education....but high school?

I have never gotten one from anyone graduating from college- high school plenty but never from college.

[

The reason they send them is for you to send a gift. Yes, money is expected.

I agree- I always send gifts when I get one, I asked around and that was what most people do.

 

[Art 1]

It's just an announcement. I don't think there is any assumption that you should give money.

And high school? I can maybe see sending out a grad announcement for post secondary education....but high school?

I'm surprised you can't see sending out HS announcements. It's been normal and expected for decades to send them. I don't know anyone who has not sent one.

 

[Disneylover99]

Interesting. Nobody I know sent anything out for college graduation, but EVERYONE did for HS.

Really? I've never heard of this. Most of my nieces and nephews are in their early 20's and I've never ever received any type of highschool graduation announcement. Maybe it's an American thing. I guess I should consider myself lucky. Nobody wants money from me.

 

[EMode]

I never did get announcements before but in recent years I have. I see it as a gift grab and unless I was planning on sending the graduate something anyway I just throw them out, and depending who they are from I may do a little eye roll too

 

[NewRVLady]

I have never gotten one from anyone graduating from college- high school plenty but never from college.



I agree- I always send gifts when I get one, I asked around and that was what most people do.

Me too-There are plenty college grads in my family-I cant remember the college even offering announcements when mine graduated

If its a relative-$25-50. Some people give Starbucks gift cards

Back in the Stone ages when I graduated, the "hot" gift was a SiLver Cross pen-whoo-hoo!

I also got a complete set of matching hard luggage in cream with pale blue interior from various relatives

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Really? I've never heard of this. Most of my nieces and nephews are in their early 20's and I've never ever received any type of highschool graduation announcement. Maybe it's an American thing. I guess I should consider myself lucky. Nobody wants money from me.

There's often a graduation party invitation that goes along with the announcement

 

[mom2febgirls]

The reason they send them is for you to send a gift. Yes, money is expected.

I really wanted my daughter to send announcements this year but I have friends who said the above so we skipped it. I never think this when I get announcements, though.

 

[shoney]

I never heard of sending high school grad announcements until I read about it here. I never received one.

I would think they were looking for something and then toss it in the garbage.

If I am close enough to the person I will give them a card with money, no announcement necessary.

 

[clh2]

For most cases, I would not send money/gift for just receiving an announcement.

This year, I made an exception. My nephew graduates from high school and then heads off to basic training. My SIL opted to not have a party. So, DH and I took him and his girlfriend out to lunch when our DD was in town a couple of weeks ago. And, we gave nephew and his girlfriend grad gifts.

But if casual acquaintances sent me an announcement, I would not feel obligated to send a gift.

 

[Poohforyou]

I have a lot of old college/childhood friends whose children are graduating from high school. I have received a bumper crop of grad announcements without party invites. Is a card/money expected? Not sure what to do with these.[/QUOTE

The reason they send them is for you to send a gift. Yes, money is expected.

That isn't true. An announcement is just a way of letting people know of a milestone. Without an invitation to anything a gift is not necessary at all.

 

[Katelly]

I never heard of sending high school grad announcements until I read about it here. I never received one.

I would think they were looking for something and then toss it in the garbage.

If I am close enough to the person I will give them a card with money, no announcement necessary.

This is exactly how I feel. If it's someone close to me, I already know that their child will be graduating and I don't need an announcement to tell me so. I will send them a gift.

My dd is graduating from high school in two weeks. I'm not sending out announcements.

 

[NHdisneylover]

The reason they send them is for you to send a gift. Yes, money is expected.

I never did get announcements before but in recent years I have. I see it as a gift grab and unless I was planning on sending the graduate something anyway I just throw them out, and depending who they are from I may do a little eye roll too

This attitude (in both posts) makes me so sad. DD17 will be a senior next year. Because we made an international move at a time where it was too much for her to catch up to the college track schools in the new country (mostly due to being several years behind in the third language that would be required PLUS needing to learn German) she is at an online school now. So she doesn't get any of the German ceremonies or traditions OR the American. We'd throw a party, but most people who are close enough to her do not live here--and it'S not like anyone would fly to Germany for it.

Also, many of our far flung friends and family are not sure when she graduates--as the shift in school programs meant she repeated a year to get all of her credits under the US system after changing.

Seeing all the posts on facebook of graduation ceremonies this past few weeks I had thought I would at least send out announcements to friends and family--have her photo done, let it be "something" that way--and while it would be lovely if people sent her cards or emails, we would not be looking for gifts at all--but I feel like I can't even make a fuss over her at all without people seeing it as a gift grab--and these posts seem to confirm that.

It's just an announcement. I don't think there is any assumption that you should give money.

And high school? I can maybe see sending out a grad announcement for post secondary education....but high school?

I think it is a US thing. I sent them out when I graduated highschool, as did everyone I knew (including my cousins in other states). I did not send them out for college graduation and do not know anyone who did.

 

[RitaZ.]

I send a gift when the announcement is from someone I know well. I didn't order announcements for my DSs' high school graduations. Our family and close friends knew when they were graduating and were invited to their parties. Announcements were not necessary.

I do feel it's a gift grab when a parent that I barely know, or don't keep in touch with, sends me a graduation announcement. I've received some where the graduate was a complete stranger to me.