Parents of College Class of 2018 (A.K.A., "Is this the line to the poor house?")

[Bluestars]

My daughter woke up this morning and the first thing she said was "I graduate THIS MONTH!!!" YIKES!!!

It seems like things are flying by! 2 Proms are over (finally!) and graduation invites were mailed yesterday. Next up is AP tests and final exams next week. I'm still in denial that she is picking up her cap and gown next week...

She graduates May 17th and then we are having her party the next day. College orientation is June 2. Can't believe it!

After the graduation ceremony, her school hosts an all night party for the kids. Pretty much the entire class goes and they rent out a community center with pool, gym, etc. Apparently it's a blast! A bunch of us parents are planning on going and decorating the kids cars while they are there that night. So when they come out in the morning, the cars will be all decorated.

Such an exciting time in our kids lives!

My son's school has something similar. It starts at 11 pm on graduation night and ends in the morning. They have games, prizes, food, and a bunch of activities. My son said that everybody is going to it.

That is a great idea to decorate the cars while the kids are at the event!

 

[IDoDis]

I love the car decorating idea! DD's school has a separate parking lot just for seniors, so that would have looked really neat for all of the cars in the lot to be decorated. It's too late now though as the seniors only have two days left of classes. DD went to a banquet last night for her comedy stage sketch troupe and received 3 awards plus a light-up metal figure that two of the boys made in honor of the "sketch of the year" performance that DD produced and directed. Still to come are the senior awards assembly, the senior BBQ, and commencement rehearsals later next week after they are done with finals. Graduation is on May 14th.

DD received two more merit scholarships -- one local and one regional from a national company. One boy and one girl from each of the 4 or 5 US regions is awarded this scholarship, so we were pleasantly surprised that she was chosen. These two scholarships combined will cover her dorm costs for next year and the leftover $$ will go towards the required meal plan. With all of that and her presidential scholarship covering tuition, fees, and books, she is all set! She still has to wait for the roommate match. They use the Facebook app, but I don't like that the matching process doesn't start until July. She is already itching to start getting things for her dorm, but wants to coordinate with her roommate, so she is in limbo for two more months.

It sounds like everyone's kids are pretty busying ramping up for the big closure of these last few days and weeks of high school. I really enjoy reading about all of the exciting things happening with all of our graduating seniors!

 

[sk!mom]

Prom is behind us. Senior Volleyball tourney completed. AP tests are almost here and DD is prepping hard. The party invitations are rolling in. She decided on an outfit for Senior Casino Night. She has to miss the Barn Dance B-B-Q and Elementary Lunch day due to our two nephew's graduations in the same weekend and the out of state trip for that.

Looking forward to the Top 10% Banquet and the Senior picnic. Family party is pretty much planned. We're having a luncheon after the Morning ceremony and then DD will spend the night at Project graduation with friends. Things are happening so fast now time is flying by!

In today's mail, we got an order form from her college for "Dorm packages." Is anyone doing this? DD wouldn't want to as she wants to pick things out herself. The prices seem fairly reasonable but I wonder if the quality is low at those prices. I already know that DD will be getting several gifts of "dorm stuff." My sister got her a monogrammed shower caddie, towel wrap, and hamper for graduation. She said that she will probably get matching closet organizers for DD's upcoming 18th birthday. My sister works with DD's boyfriend's mom so she shared DD's color choices and the site she was shopping from and his mom got DD a couple of monogrammed towel sets. My other siblings also have kids graduating and we all agreed to cash gifts. We'll wait until after graduation to see what she needs and shop.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

same here, I'd say maybe 40 - 50% have cars, my ds doesn't have one. It is a cool idea though!

We received a packet in the mail yesterday outlining all the end of year senior activities coming up (senior ball, the banquet, senior picnic, graduation ceremony, etc). It's so exciting but I get all emotional thinking about it being "over" soon. At the same time I'm kind of jealous of all the areas where the kids graduate this month, ds won't be done until June 25th! Then 2 weeks later he is gone to the summer program at college.

The school has an after ball event here called primetime, it's basically a lock in at the school from midnight - 5am. The kids have to sign a pledge to be drug/alcohol free. They have games, dancing, food, etc. The kids are looking forward to that more than the ball!

The seniors got their caps and gowns last week.

Our school had their senior picnic/carnival on Friday in one of the fields at the school. Lots of food and fun. My DS18 said he had a blast.

They also have a senior lock in at Dave and Busters that starts at 11:30pm on Graduation night and ends at 5am the next morning. We'll be driving to Disney World that day so I'm sure DS18 will be sleeping the 8 hours we are driving except for bathroom breaks.

I just read on the budget board about a college who is now charging a fee to pay their tuition ect. with credit cards.
I am so glad I read that because I looked up the college my son is going to and they also do that and they don't take Visa at all which is the credit card we have.

So I'm going to look into getting a Mastercard to have my DS18 on that in case of an emergency and in case we have to pay tuition ect. via credit card because he forgot to tell us it was due with enough time to transfer money into his account so he can pay by e-check.

Ugh - just another thing to deal with.

 

[sk!mom]

I just read on the budget board about a college who is now charging a fee to pay their tuition ect. with credit cards.
I am so glad I read that because I looked up the college my son is going to and they also do that and they don't take Visa at all which is the credit card we have.

So I'm going to look into getting a Mastercard to have my DS18 on that in case of an emergency and in case we have to pay tuition ect. via credit card because he forgot to tell us it was due with enough time to transfer money into his account so he can pay by e-check.

Ugh - just another thing to deal with.

Thanks for pointing this out. I need to have DD check and see what CC her college accepts and see if they charge a fee. I want to pay by CC for the rewards but don't want to pay extra.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for pointing this out. I need to have DD check and see what CC her college accepts and see if they charge a fee. I want to pay by CC for the rewards but don't want to pay extra.

My son's school charges a fee to make payments online, but he can pay by CC (debit card) in person on campus.

 

[JeannieNM]

My DD's school does not take credit cards for payment, only echeck. I was bummed about missing out on the points...

Senior project is going well and our DD is having a great time navagiting NYC.

Graduation is coming up way too fast.

 

[TLuvsD]

We don't use a CC for tuition, but it comes in handy for books and Amazon purchases. Amazon has given college students free shipping for 6 months, then a discounted rate (must have a .edu email) It's an easy way to buy things D needs (or wants). Just keep in mind the shipping notices go to their email, so not good for "surprise" items (Christmas gifts you don't want them to know about in advance). You can ship to any address--home or college.

 

[Bluestars]

My son's last day of classes is over. He has a few AP exams next week and then graduation on Saturday. This year has flown by. He went to a graduation party last night and had a great time.

Saturday is graduation, then that night is the lock-in. That will be the last time he ever steps on the campus again. He's been going to the same school since K4, so that's 14 years. That's a long time. It will be so different for him to start college at one of the biggest campuses in the country. He is very excited.

How is everyone else doing with the school year end?

 

[IDoDis]

My son's last day of classes is over. He has a few AP exams next week and then graduation on Saturday. This year has flown by. He went to a graduation party last night and had a great time. Saturday is graduation, then that night is the lock-in. That will be the last time he ever steps on the campus again. He's been going to the same school since K4, so that's 14 years. That's a long time. It will be so different for him to start college at one of the biggest campuses in the country. He is very excited. How is everyone else doing with the school year end?

Wow, has he been there since pre school? That IS a long time. I'm guessing you live in a small town or he goes to a private school? Going off to a big college will certainly be an adventure. I'm sure you are very excited for him! The lock-in sounds like so much fun and keeps them safe.

DD's last day of classes was on May 6th, but she was at school all day on Thursday filming a talent show and on Friday evening for the senior BBQ. She has to go tomorrow to get her cap & gown (finally), and then 2 rehearsals and the senior breakfast on Tues and Wed., senior awards on Tuesday evening, and commencements this Wednesday evening. Add in to the mix the many grad parties and her job. She hasn't had much down time yet.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

 

[Gina]

Happy Mother's Day!! Hope everyone had a great one! My awesome son, who knows me better than anyone in the world does, made me a shiny metal R2-D2 from a kit of teeny tiny little parts. I can't even tell you how much I love it, being the SW nerd that I am.

Graduation here isn't until June 6th, so we're still in that peaceful lull right now. With the AP tests being over, they (the Seniors) have really just mentally checked out at this point, lol. They pick up their caps and gowns this Thursday, prom is this Saturday night, last band concert is next Tuesday, then there's really nothing until graduation itself. I think Mom and I have the party right after graduation pretty much in hand (it's at her house.) Then it's just a summer full of cramming in as many hours at work as he can, so he can have a $$ cushion in the bank in case it takes him a little bit to get a new job once he's at school.

I know one thing he's over-the-moon-happy about -- No more summer band camp!!

 

[elgerber]

Hi everyone.
I am on my phone so forgive typos in advance .
We have the 4.0 banquet tonight, followed by senior awards night. My dd is getting some kind of scholarship but we won't know how much till tonight.
Tomorrow is talent show auditions.
She has the ap calc test yet to go , next week
She has a final photo project and a final short film for video photography also.
Final choir concert is next Monday. They also have a performance at the Orpheum theater for a statewide high school musical awards night in June that they need to start rehearsing for (but the director has been really sick so I am very concerned about that)
This is her last 5 day week, then it's a couple 4 day weeks and a 2 day week.
We have tix to Sister Act on May 27th right after we get back form our Memorial Day trip up north
Talent show is June 3rd and graduation June 5. She has 5 parties to attend and a tech rehearsal on the 7th. That should be a crazy day!
And in all of that I have to fly to Milwaukee for training for my new job but they haven't told me when yet. Oh dear!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My son has had his 2 AP tests and now in those 2 classes they are just watching movies until next week when it's final exam time. I hate that - especially since it's the first and last classes of the day.
I wish they would just let them arrive late and leave early.

We need to get cracking on the graduation announcements. We haven't even written or sent one out yet - we don't have any family nearby so we just want to let all of our families who live in other areas of the country that he has graduated High School.

We aren't doing a party for him since we leave the day after graduation for vacation at Disney World which I am still trying to figure out and book FP+ for.

Next Thursday is graduation night and the overnight lock in. I know DS is looking forward to both!

 

[madge]

this is our last full week of school ... we have 3 partial weeks after this week, so we're still in semi-school mode here. finals are scheduled for the Monday & Tuesday before school is out (on a Wednesday), so it's a cross between senioritis and cramming. that's fun to juggle. LOL

Senior honors night is this week, spaghetti supper (a tradition at the school when they announce senior superlatives, etc. for seniors only) is Sunday, and then nothing really until finals & graduation. We finally coordinated our date for DS grad party with friends so they can all party hop, LOL ... I ordered announcements over the weekend for that.

in the midst of all this, we're going to a wedding in Atlanta later in the month, so I'm planning for that, too.

 

[IDoDis]

DD graduated last night! The ceremony was wonderful. Everything went great except for the part where DD walked on the ramp to get her diploma and a man in front of us decided to stand up at that very moment. He blocked our view the entire time she was on the ramp shaking hands with everyone! He was trying to exit his seat but couldn't move because everyone's legs were in his way, so he just stood there. Then he climbed over the seat right in front of us. I was so upset that we missed that special moment! What terrible timing! So I guess we will be buying the professional handshake photo.

Now it's time for the many grad parties and our family party on Sunday.

 

[Bluestars]

DD graduated last night! The ceremony was wonderful. Everything went great except for the part where DD walked on the ramp to get her diploma and a man in front of us decided to stand up at that very moment. He blocked our view the entire time she was on the ramp shaking hands with everyone! He was trying to exit his seat but couldn't move because everyone's legs were in his way, so he just stood there. Then he climbed over the seat right in front of us. I was so upset that we missed that special moment! What terrible timing! So I guess we will be buying the professional handshake photo.

Now it's time for the many grad parties and our family party on Sunday.

Congratulations to your daughter! How annoying and rude for that guy to get up in the middle of the ceremony.

My son's graduation is tomorrow, with a reception immediately following. They had rehearsal earlier today. The lock-in is that night. Then he will probably never set foot on the school campus again. It's so strange after all of these years. I packed up all of his uniform shirts and had no idea he had so many.

 

[Pembo]

We went to College Orientation day yesterday!!! It was a good day. The morning had sessions with parents and students. In the afternoon they divided us up - parents had their own thing, kids had their own. One session for parents involved writing a letter to your child that they will get in their mailbox during welcome weekend. The letterhead said "Someone loves you and misses you already" - all of the moms in the room were fighting tears trying to write a letter. I started off serious but had to switch to stop myself from sobbing like an infant!

DS finished his classes this week and is officially done with high school forever. It is hard to believe! And he reminded me yesterday that he goes to college in 96 days.

Have fun everyone with graduation and parties....

 

[mom2rtk]

DD graduated last night! The ceremony was wonderful. Everything went great except for the part where DD walked on the ramp to get her diploma and a man in front of us decided to stand up at that very moment. He blocked our view the entire time she was on the ramp shaking hands with everyone! He was trying to exit his seat but couldn't move because everyone's legs were in his way, so he just stood there. Then he climbed over the seat right in front of us. I was so upset that we missed that special moment! What terrible timing! So I guess we will be buying the professional handshake photo.

Now it's time for the many grad parties and our family party on Sunday.

I envy your restraint. I probably would have pushed him down or at least had a few choice words. Or better yet, I would have leaned forward and let the monster lens on my camera do the dirty work! I hope your handshake photo turns out great!

Congrats to your grad!

We went to College Orientation day yesterday!!! It was a good day. The morning had sessions with parents and students. In the afternoon they divided us up - parents had their own thing, kids had their own. One session for parents involved writing a letter to your child that they will get in their mailbox during welcome weekend. The letterhead said "Someone loves you and misses you already" - all of the moms in the room were fighting tears trying to write a letter. I started off serious but had to switch to stop myself from sobbing like an infant!

DS finished his classes this week and is officially done with high school forever. It is hard to believe! And he reminded me yesterday that he goes to college in 96 days.

Have fun everyone with graduation and parties....

We are one year post graduation. We just picked our son up at school yesterday. It seems like forever ago that he graduated and we went to orientation. I'm so glad they didn't have us write that letter. I would have been all too!

It's been an exciting year, but one we're glad to have behind us. We are looking forward to a much more laid back summer this year.

 

[mom2rtk]

Congratulations to your daughter! How annoying and rude for that guy to get up in the middle of the ceremony.

My son's graduation is tomorrow, with a reception immediately following. They had rehearsal earlier today. The lock-in is that night. Then he will probably never set foot on the school campus again. It's so strange after all of these years. I packed up all of his uniform shirts and had no idea he had so many.

We had terrible storms the night of graduation last year. As in serious tornado outbreaks all over the region. I had to swallow hard as I sent him off to meet the bus at school to head out in that weather for their Project Grad night 45 minutes away. I was glad they gave the buses a police escort and took special care to keep them safe. I'm also so glad I didn't consider asking him not to go. He's seen a few of those kids since then, but most of them he might never see again. He had an awesome time.

Congrats to your grad. I hope he makes some great memories!

 

[coinkc]

And we're done!

Last night was my daughter's graduation ceremony. It was fantastic and an amazing feeling watching her walk across the stage. After the ceremony, the kids went to their all-night party and had a blast!

Then today we had a gorgeous, 70 degree, day for her party. The food was good, the atmosphere fun and relaxed, and about 60 friends and family came to help celebrate with us.

I could not have asked for a better weekend. Now it's time to look to the future and the next chapter in her life!

Good luck to everyone's graduates! Hooray for the Class of 2014!!!