Middle school graduation gift?

[mrsbornkuntry]

My DD graduates from middle school in a couple weeks and I want to get her something to congratulate her. Her birthday is the week before so I'm looking at a budget of under $50, I would like it to be somewhat practical, not a figurine or anything like that, maybe something useful in high school. I was going to get her a VB messenger bag, but her backpack ripped a couple months ago so I got her one then.

What have you bought your DD for graduation that she loved and used?

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Honestly we did not buy anything. All kids (should) graduate Middle School. I do not see it as a big deal. We gave a nice "great job".

 

[tluvstink]

I didn't buy anything for my DD when she finished Middle School. I really don't think of it as graduating but more like passing. I felt the same way when she finished and moved on from elementary school.

I will buy gifts and do something special when she graduates High School and, hopefully, college

Terri

 

[DisneyNut4Life]

A friend of ours is graduating middle school this year, we are taking her to Disney with us so I am getting her a Disney gift card.

 

[tripletots]

Two of my five have been through middle school. We didn't get them anything. It's middle school! However, my older son's friends got an ipod and one got a cell phone. I never knew people gave gifts for moving on to high school. It just never occured to me to celebrate with presents moving to the next grade.

My oldest son will be graduating from high school in less than a month and we are getting him an Apple computer (not cheap, for art school) and paying his tuition.

 

[sksjasams]

I will be getting DS11 an 8th grade graduation gift when the time comes.

We got this for him for his birthday, and he and his friends have a lot of fun with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs-Pocket-Camcorder-Silver/dp/B0018QIOPI

Obviously its not top of the line or anything, but it is a fun little video camera. I ordered it from Dell for $39.99 with free shipping, but they don't seem to have it anymore. It does not come with accessories, so I had ordered a case, a/v wires and generic charging kit (that he also uses to charge his ipod) from amazon. Still a good price even with the extras.
It does come in pink too, but thats more expensive here. I did see pink ones for the same price on ebay though.

Good luck and congrats to your DD!

 

[luvdisney00]

I like to celebrate milestones for the kids and I would buy something even if the school doesn't do a big graduation. My kids go to Catholic elementary school (oldest DD graduated last year) and graduating 8th grade is a big deal after being in the school for 9 years. They do a big graduation with awards and a lot of ceremony. We bought DD a beautiful nameplate necklace which she loves, and gave her a party with all of her friends and our relatives. If she had gone to public school where graduation is on a smaller scale, I would have bought a smaller gift and maybe done lunch or dinner out with the family.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I started a thread about a 9th grade graduation party before. You might get some ideas from reading it.

It's in this Budget forum named "9th grade graduation parties"

Remember: In some parts of the country, graduating middle school is A BIG THING!! A recognition ceremony and parties etc.

In other parts of the country, it's no big whoop. You will see that from reading the thread.

I'd suggest a necklace or bracelet with her birthstone.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Thank-you for your opinions/suggestions. We're not doing a big party or anything, I don't even know if that's something people in this area do. I just know that my DD has worked hard, gotten good grades, doesn't get in trouble at all and I want to reward her.

A birthstone necklace is a nice idea, I think I will look into that.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

My 8th grade daughter is also graduating in a couple weeks. It is a VERY big deal since it is a small Catholic school and it will be held during mass, etc. We bought her a dress, shoes, and she will be getting a pedi and hair done before the ceremony.
I am not sure what to get her either! I am eagerly awaiting other responses to your thread!!

 

[scrapquitler]

I suggest something practical to aid her on her journey into high school... when I finished middle school (way back before time began), I got one of those newfangled "electric typewriters" so that it would be easier for me to do my research papers in high school how about a nice dictionary, a desk lamp, a sturdy backpack/messenger bag or some computer software?

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Thank-you for your opinions/suggestions. We're not doing a big party or anything, I don't even know if that's something people in this area do. I just know that my DD has worked hard, gotten good grades, doesn't get in trouble at all and I want to reward her.

A birthstone necklace is a nice idea, I think I will look into that.

I don't know if you have a Kohl's near you but they had some nice sterling silver necklaces, some were birthstone, and they were reasonably priced. Some had earrings with them as a set and some were single, necklace only. Whatever you decide, good luck! What a special milestone!

edited to add: what about a small jewelry box?

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Thank-you for your opinions/suggestions. We're not doing a big party or anything, I don't even know if that's something people in this area do. I just know that my DD has worked hard, gotten good grades, doesn't get in trouble at all and I want to reward her.

A birthstone necklace is a nice idea, I think I will look into that.

I demand those things from all of my kids so I do not reward that. They all MUST work hard, get the best grades possible, & getting into any trouble at school is not an option. It's lovely that you want to buy her something but I wouldn't do it under that premise.

 

[Cooky]

.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Our dd graduates middle school next year, so this thread intertests me. I think we will throw a pool party for her and all her friends to celebrate. Nothing special, just hot dogs on the grill...swimming and trampoline...bonfire with smores.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our DS is graduating from middle school. We are taking him to WDW for 15 nights. But we were going to do that anyway.

I did order him a custom cake, and I booked a Wishes cruise in celebration of him being accepted to the Performing Arts high school. We fully expected him to get out of middle school, but being accepted to a very competitive high school was definitely not guaranteed.

I will buy him a laptop at some point this summer, just because I think he will need it next year.

Even if he was headed to the "regular" high school we still would have celebrated his 8th grade graduation. Our district is full of thugs and bullies - anybody who lives through middle school deserves a celebration!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

How about a family dinner out? We rarely go out to eat, so it's a big deal at our house. Tell the restaurant ahead of time, and usually they will do something special.

If your daughter would rather have a keepsake how about jewelry? Let her help pick it out (give her a budget ahead of time) and then you'll know it's something she really likes and will wear.

How about high school jammie pants? Or high school sweat pants?

 

[ceecee]

We're taking her to Chef Mickey's for dinner! We leave the day after school is out. I got her a new suitcase for her 8th grade class trip to D.C. since the one she had was little girl style. We did get her a guitar (75% off at Target) since she has been wanting to take lessons and that will give her something to do over the summer.

 

[mjkacmom]

We're taking her to Chef Mickey's for dinner! We leave the day after school is out. I got her a new suitcase for her 8th grade class trip to D.C. since the one she had was little girl style. We did get her a guitar (75% off at Target) since she has been wanting to take lessons and that will give her something to do over the summer.

You might want to get her a better guitar if she is going to take lessons (DH always says stick with a Fender). http://guitar.about.com/od/helpbuyingguitarsgear/tp/electricguitars.htm

 

[njsweetP]

DD is graduating as well from a Catholic school she's been attending since preschool. W,e will have a small family get together and she'll be getting a lap top that she will need for high school. We did the same for her sister 3 years ago.