Graduation is over, I'm exhusted!

[powellrj]

We did it, graduation is finally over! The ceremony was lovey. My only complaint was that people talked over the choir. Because it was the last time the choir was going to perform together, it was important to me, but I guess its a small gripe. They graduated 300 kids in 90 minutes. I thought that was great!

The open house was yesterday. It was a HUGE success! We expected 150, hoped for 100 and had 300! We had seating for 80 and it was full all 3 hours. At times it was standing room only!

The food lasted, which I really worried about.

We had 10 pound of ham, 10 pounds of turkey, 10 pounds of hot roast beef and 20 pounds of pulled pork. We could have had another 20 pounds of pulled pork, it went fast. We had 2 full sheet cakes and maybe had 1/4 sheet cake leftover. The candy buffet was a hit, we had a one large bag of candy left. I an 18 gallon tote filled with candy and brought home 1 large ziplock bag full. Most of the side dishes were close to gone so we figured that amount right.

The kids were great, I will really miss them!

We had the open house at our church which worked out well because there was lots of parking and rest rooms. The only downside was our party was from 1-4 and they scheduled another open house in the same room from 6-8. We really had to kick-it to get it cleaned up, but lots of people knew the situation and jumped in and helped cleanup. We never even asked for help, they just grabbed things and moved! We had all 3 rooms and the kitchen done in 45 minutes!

We went to a birthday party later that night, am getting ready for Senior Day at church today which all the kids are the worship team and then its on to more open houses today!

 

[ugadog99]

Oh my gosh, me too! Our party went well, but we had way too much food. We'll be eating on it until we get sick of it, I guess. My daughter had parties starting last weekend with the last one last night. She has had a wonderful week of graduation, but we are exhausted.

The actual ceremony went very smoothly and fairly quickly for a class of 420. I have no idea why the field was in such bad shape, though. That was the only negative to the entire evening. We got great pictures, but the very best part of all this is that my daughter and her very closest friend since elementary are now talking again. We have no idea what happened, but in sophomore year the friend just stopped talking and doing things with us. It was very weird, but she came to the party, saw each other after graduation, and were texting like old times yesterday. Out of all the incredibly generous graduation gifts she received, reconnecting with Rachel is without a doubt the very best. Hopefully, their relationship will mend and just be stronger than ever now.

Now, I get to repeat this scenario in four years, but then I'll have two grads: one high school and one college.

 

[Just Jan]

My daughter graduated from college on the 17th. I was amazed that from the moment the grads started procession onto the field to the time the processed out the commencement lasted 2 hours and there were 1,200 graduates. Not bad.

 

[Serena]

Congratulations to all of you. My youngest will graduate next year. I can't believe it.

 

[CajunDixie]

DS graduates Friday with the party on Saturday. I'm always afraid I'll forget something so I made a lil chart listing the food I have and the food I need to pick up (fresh stuff like the cheeses and sour cream) this week, what I will serve it in and when I need to make it.

This will be me after the party is over and everyone has left.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

YEA!

My dd graduated on Memorial Day. Now we had a small party of just family/friends at our house.

Her ceremony was great, even though it was annoyingly moved to the city of St. Louis to accomodate the crowd. We had 415 grads.

We had it on 4 big screens in the stadium, that was cool. They had the orchestra/band play and the choir sung at some point.

Speakers were great. Interestingly the Valedictorian and Salutatorian did not speak (they were recognized). They had picked 3 other seniors to speak.

 

[powellrj]

YEA!

Speakers were great. Interestingly the Valedictorian and Salutatorian did not speak (they were recognized). They had picked 3 other seniors to speak.

Our Valedictorian spoke, but the Salutatorian didn't, another girl did. I asked DS about it and he said you had to audition to speak. Even the Valedictorian had to audition, but he was chosen, so he got to speak.

I am glad they did away with guest speakers like they had when I graduated. They just had the Principal, vice principal and the superindent, plus the 2 students. The band played and choir sang, and they were done!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Our Valedictorian spoke, but the Salutatorian didn't, another girl did. I asked DS about it and he said you had to audition to speak. Even the Valedictorian had to audition, but he was chosen, so he got to speak.

I am glad they did away with guest speakers like they had when I graduated. They just had the Principal, vice principal and the superindent, plus the 2 students. The band played and choir sang, and they were done!

Totally can see that for dd's school. The kids that did speak were no stranger to the mic. The opener was a gal with a huge laundry list of accomplishments (to which my 6th grade dd fell over hearing it), and she was also in a country western band.

We also had only 3 adult faculty speak. It was a good graduation. Now it is over and onto the college threads, right?

 

[bicker]

We had an incredibly wonderful ceremony at church this morning recognizing the teens who are graduating high school... they called it a Bridging ceremony (bridging from childhood to adulthood). The young folks who were graduating all spoke, and I was flabbergasted at how incredibly mature, thoughtful, and spiritually self-aware they all were. Each of them recalled some story of some character-building experience they shared, such as their trip last summer to help rebuild a school in New Orleans.

(Every time I have some significant exposure to the results of our wonderful programs for children and teens, I'm yet-even further impressed!)

Some of the statements brought tears to my eyes, and I didn't even know these young people -- we are recent additions to the community -- I can only imagine how the folks who taught them in Sunday School, and advised them in Coming of Age classes, felt seeing what wonderful people they helped.

The last four years of our teen program is a combined age program (9th - 12th grade, together), and it was so nice that some of those who graduated last year or the year before came back to celebrate and share the ceremony. You can tell how tight these young people have become.

It must be so wonderful to have such strong and significant friendships, to carry you through your high school years -- all of the teens mentioned something along those lines, but also tempered it with a clear and mature recognition that they need to move on, begin building a new life as an adult, etc. Just incredibly moving -- made me hopeful for the future in a way I haven't been since 9/11, quite frankly.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

DS graduated Sat evening. 400 grads in 2 hours, not bad. There was some talking going on during parts of it which I thought was rude, but the ceremony was really nice. Sr recognition at Church was a couple weeks ago, and DS played guitar in the youth band for worship that day too. And all the Sr's spoke on a video about what they have done at Church and thanks to various people. We had lunch afterward and a slideshow too.

He and DD just left for the Church youth trip to Chicago a couple hours ago. They will be gone a week!

I think I may go shopping, have not have any "me" time for weeks now!

Congrats to all the 09 Grads!

 

[Deb in IA]

Oh my gosh, me too! Our party went well, but we had way too much food. We'll be eating on it until we get sick of it, I guess. My daughter had parties starting last weekend with the last one last night. She has had a wonderful week of graduation, but we are exhausted.

Same here!

DD graduated from HS last Sunday, May 24, and our party was Saturday, May 30. We had it outdoors, at a shelter in the park. We were very lucky to have wonderful weather. DD's only disappointment was that not many people from her class came. She graduated from a small private Catholic school, and most of the class of only 72 kids have known each other since kindergarten. DD made a real effort to attend as many parties as she could, and most of those kids didn't come to hers - only the smaller group of chorus/musicals kids. So, we too have tons of food left. Oh well, I'm glad we have a big freezer - we'll have burger, brats and hot dogs for the next year!