Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[bethbuchall]

We got the dress! It had to be white. It had to be shorter than the gown. It had to be cool for outdoor ceremonies. It was a nightmare search. So very thankful that today we found one!

That's one thing that is MUCH easier with boys. (Or at least with my sons compared to my daughter.)

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

That's amazing. I know you probably mentioned it before, but how was she able to finish 2 years at community college while still in high school? That's quite an accomplishment! Is she actually a transfer student to VT?

First off - Congratulations about the UW wait list!!!! Can't wait to find out which school your DD chooses.

My county has a dual enrollment program at 2 of the high schools in our area. It's called Advanced College Academy. Incoming HS freshman apply for it during their 8th grade year. They do their 2 years of community college concurrent with their junior and senior years of high school on the high school campus. In addition, there a 2 summer classes they have to take on the CC campus during the summer between sophomore and junior year. The teachers they have at the HS have all taken the extra course work and earned the advanced degrees that allow them to teach on the college level. The kids actually have 2 sets of transcripts and 2 GPAs for their last 2 years.

The best part about the whole dual enrollment program is that our county pays for the whole thing. We had to buy one book ($36) for one of her summer classes and had to pay the cap and gown fee. That's it!!!!

Universities in our state don't consider the ACA kids transfer students. They apply using the regular freshman application and abide by the freshman application deadlines. There is something special they have to do because of the 2 transcripts though. The guidance office at the CC walked them through the whole application process.

DD will start at VT as a social freshman (freshman orientation, freshman dorm, etc) but an academic junior. She could graduate in a couple of years if she wanted. Instead she's chosen to pursue a double major.

 

[clori]

They do their 2 years of community college concurrent with their junior and senior years of high school on the high school campus.

 

[robinb]

We got the dress! It had to be white. It had to be shorter than the gown. It had to be cool for outdoor ceremonies. It was a nightmare search. So very thankful that today we found one!

My DD wants a white dress too.

 

[AustinTink]

Good news! My DD came off the UW waitlist yesterday. It was funny ... we just rode Space Mountain and made the "W" sign with our fingers (for Wisconsin) for the photo. Both my DH and I are UW alumni. And now we might have a baby Badger in the family!

She needs to get back to them by Tuesday. She has a hard choice ahead of her. I think that Iowa State is a better fit, but she has to be the one to choose. I'm trying to stay out of it except to tell her to make a pros/cons list. I also offered any help or advice for her but I'm biting my tongue unless she asks for it. She's going to talk to a counselor on Monday to help sort things out.

I'm so happy this stage will finally be done for us in a couple days!

Congratulations!! And how cool to find out while at Disney!

 

[LilTinkFan]

My DD wants a white dress too.

Ours is required! It was a month long hunt to find one that was short enough, not see through, fit, and she liked.

 

[LilTinkFan]

Quick question.... DS18 is my only. Is it the norm for parents to give their kids friends grad gifts?

My dd attended several parties last year and took her friends congratulations cards with gift cards tucked inside. This year she informed me she was going to three parties so far and would need the same thing. Except for the girl who will be her roommate, they agreed not to exchange cards. But as parents we already bought the roomie a gift, and anticipate her parents won't come empty handed to our ceremony either.


It's rather silly in my mind that they pretty much exchange gift cards between themselves! As far as a gift from us the parent, we will if invited specifically but otherwise, nope.

 

[bjscheel]

In past years, DD has put $5 in a card for any receptions she went to. This year, being a senior, I thought it silly to go around exchanging small bills with her classmates, so she is just giving cards with a nice note in them. There are 4 kids I put checks in their cards- DD's BFF, other DD's boyfriend, a girl from church, and another close friend of DD's. These are the receptions I have gone to/will go to.

DD's reception was yesterday and it was a mixed bag from her classmates. Some just a card, some $5, some a gift like a book, blanket, or small bag.

Her reception and baked potato bar went well! We have lots of potatoes left over though! They are cheap so we decided better to have too many than not enough. They were very good and people loved the idea. I spent from 11-2 in the church kitchen but once the party was going from 2-5 my mom and sister were the rock stars in the kitchen. Really not a lot of upkeep though once the potatoes were ready. Had a good turnout, it was DD and her BFF's reception together so had more people due to that. Came home with a full vehicle and she opened cards and gifts. She got around $1500 and probably a few more cards will arrive in the next week.

Yesterday DD wore a nice black dress she already had for about a year, and next Sunday for the ceremony she will wear another dress she has had for a while. Doesn't matter what they wear. We've had no time to shop so I'm glad she's happy with what she has.

 

[robinb]

First off - Congratulations about the UW wait list!!!! Can't wait to find out which school your DD chooses.

My county has a dual enrollment program at 2 of the high schools in our area. It's called Advanced College Academy. Incoming HS freshman apply for it during their 8th grade year. They do their 2 years of community college concurrent with their junior and senior years of high school on the high school campus. In addition, there a 2 summer classes they have to take on the CC campus during the summer between sophomore and junior year. The teachers they have at the HS have all taken the extra course work and earned the advanced degrees that allow them to teach on the college level. The kids actually have 2 sets of transcripts and 2 GPAs for their last 2 years.

The best part about the whole dual enrollment program is that our county pays for the whole thing. We had to buy one book ($36) for one of her summer classes and had to pay the cap and gown fee. That's it!!!!

Universities in our state don't consider the ACA kids transfer students. They apply using the regular freshman application and abide by the freshman application deadlines. There is something special they have to do because of the 2 transcripts though. The guidance office at the CC walked them through the whole application process.

DD will start at VT as a social freshman (freshman orientation, freshman dorm, etc) but an academic junior. She could graduate in a couple of years if she wanted. Instead she's chosen to pursue a double major.

That is so cool! I think she's making the right choice to stay in undergrad longer and enjoy this part of her life.

 

[robinb]

Her reception and baked potato bar went well! We have lots of potatoes left over though! They are cheap so we decided better to have too many than not enough. They were very good and people loved the idea. I spent from 11-2 in the church kitchen but once the party was going from 2-5 my mom and sister were the rock stars in the kitchen. Really not a lot of upkeep though once the potatoes were ready. Had a good turnout, it was DD and her BFF's reception together so had more people due to that. Came home with a full vehicle and she opened cards and gifts. She got around $1500 and probably a few more cards will arrive in the next week.

Whoo hoo! Nice haul . Can you explain how you ended up doing the baked potato bar? My DD is part of a group party with 4 other kids and I might suggest this as a food option.

 

[aprilgail]

We got the dress! It had to be white. It had to be shorter than the gown. It had to be cool for outdoor ceremonies. It was a nightmare search. So very thankful that today we found one!

every kid has to wear a white dress? Ours- you are covered by a gown so it doesn't matter- most buys just wear pants or shorts and girls wear shorts, skirts etc. Cant wear heels because its on the schools new turf field so no heels allowed.

 

[aprilgail]

Quick question.... DS18 is my only. Is it the norm for parents to give their kids friends grad gifts?

Depends- I am invited to a bunch of their graduation parties so of course I am brining a gift if I go to their party. They range from backyard parties to wedding venue type catering hall parties. One friend is getting a big inflatable water slide and cotton candy machine for hers and my daughter wants a bounce house and snow cone machine for hers. I feel like we are all planning kids 8th birthday parties LOL!

 

[LilTinkFan]

every kid has to wear a white dress? Ours- you are covered by a gown so it doesn't matter- most buys just wear pants or shorts and girls wear shorts, skirts etc. Cant wear heels because its on the schools new turf field so no heels allowed.

Yes. The school dictates the outfits.
All girls in white dress or blouse and skirt. White dress shoes. No spiky heels. No decorations on cap or gown. No jewelry that would be "distracting ". Guys in white dress shirt, sleeves down, black dress slacks, black socks, and black dress shoes.
No one out of dress code marches.

 

[robinb]

Yes. The school dictates the outfits.
All girls in white dress or blouse and skirt. White dress shoes. No spiky heels. No decorations on cap or gown. No jewelry that would be "distracting ". Guys in white dress shirt, sleeves down, black dress slacks, black socks, and black dress shoes.
No one out of dress code marches.

How absolutely ... virginal .

 

[v.t.]

Her reception and baked potato bar went well! We have lots of potatoes left over though! They are cheap so we decided better to have too many than not enough. They were very good and people loved the idea. I spent from 11-2 in the church kitchen but once the party was going from 2-5 my mom and sister were the rock stars in the kitchen. Really not a lot of upkeep though once the potatoes were ready. Had a good turnout, it was DD and her BFF's reception together so had more people due to that. Came home with a full vehicle and she opened cards and gifts. She got around $1500 and probably a few more cards will arrive in the next week.QUOTE]

Sounds like a very nice party. We love doing baked potato bars, it is one of the easier meals to serve and everyone enjoys them.

Yes. The school dictates the outfits.
All girls in white dress or blouse and skirt. White dress shoes. No spiky heels. No decorations on cap or gown. No jewelry that would be "distracting ". Guys in white dress shirt, sleeves down, black dress slacks, black socks, and black dress shoes.
No one out of dress code marches.

Girls have to wear a dress and dress shoes, but bur school has the same dress code for guys. Some of the guys were complaining that they had brown shoes, not black, etc and girls can wear any color. Principal said "Guys, it's no big deal. You can get all of that at Kohls for 30 bucks." LOL

 

[bethbuchall]

I just looked at our notice about graduation. "Graduates should dress appropriately for a formal ceremony. (Jeans, T-shirts, and shorts are not considered appropriate. Any graduate not dressed for the occasion will not be allow to participate in the ceremony.)"

I know when my older two graduated, sneakers and flip flops were expressly prohibited. I'm surprised there is no mention of footwear this year, since that is most visible under the gowns.

This year our school has gone to the exact same caps/gowns for males and females. Our school was formerly black for boys and white for girls. Now they are all wearing black. At least one other local school has also switch to all the same color gowns--from green and yellow to all green with yellow accents.

 

[bjscheel]

Whoo hoo! Nice haul . Can you explain how you ended up doing the baked potato bar? My DD is part of a group party with 4 other kids and I might suggest this as a food option.

Sure. We thought we could have up to 200 so we planned for that amount. We got the Green Giant Prime Size Bakers since they are supposed to be fairly uniformly sized. There are around a dozen potatoes per 5 pounds so we bought 85 pounds. We probably served 120 potatoes at most though. I washed them, poked them with a fork a couple of times and put them on large cookie sheets. No foil. It took maybe 1.25 hours at 425º or slightly longer with the ovens full. When baked, we transferred them to three roasters on low to keep warm. We had two ovens and I had the first ones in the oven 2.5 hours before the party started. My mom ended up being the one to keep track of when each cookie sheet-full went in but I think the majority were done before the party started.

We had one roaster with tongs at the counter and just moved more into that one as needed. Had a few steak knives right there for people to cut open their potato. Then we had a tub of margarine, bowls of sour cream, diced ham, bacon pieces, crushed Fritos, and shredded cheese; crockpots of broccoli, cheese sauce, and chili. I estimate we used about half a large tub of margarine (28 oz?), 5 pounds of sour cream, 2 pounds of diced ham, 1.5 pounds of shredded cheese, 1.25 large cans of cheese sauce from Sam's, 3 pounds of broccoli, a large crockpot of chili. I don't remember the size of the bacon crumbles we got from Sam's but we used a little more than half. We kept a spare crockpot of cheese sauce heating so that when the first ran out we didn't have to try to heat it up quick from room temp. The broccoli packages could be steamed in the microwave before adding to the crockpot.

It was really pretty easy and self-serve once the potatoes were baked, just kept an eye on toppings that needed refilled.

 

[robinb]

Sure. We thought we could have up to 200 so we planned for that amount. We got the Green Giant Prime Size Bakers since they are supposed to be fairly uniformly sized. There are around a dozen potatoes per 5 pounds so we bought 85 pounds. We probably served 120 potatoes at most though. I washed them, poked them with a fork a couple of times and put them on large cookie sheets. No foil. It took maybe 1.25 hours at 425º or slightly longer with the ovens full. When baked, we transferred them to three roasters on low to keep warm. We had two ovens and I had the first ones in the oven 2.5 hours before the party started. My mom ended up being the one to keep track of when each cookie sheet-full went in but I think the majority were done before the party started.

We had one roaster with tongs at the counter and just moved more into that one as needed. Had a few steak knives right there for people to cut open their potato. Then we had a tub of margarine, bowls of sour cream, diced ham, bacon pieces, crushed Fritos, and shredded cheese; crockpots of broccoli, cheese sauce, and chili. I estimate we used about half a large tub of margarine (28 oz?), 5 pounds of sour cream, 2 pounds of diced ham, 1.5 pounds of shredded cheese, 1.25 large cans of cheese sauce from Sam's, 3 pounds of broccoli, a large crockpot of chili. I don't remember the size of the bacon crumbles we got from Sam's but we used a little more than half. We kept a spare crockpot of cheese sauce heating so that when the first ran out we didn't have to try to heat it up quick from room temp. The broccoli packages could be steamed in the microwave before adding to the crockpot.

It was really pretty easy and self-serve once the potatoes were baked, just kept an eye on toppings that needed refilled.

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation! I bet I could also bake some potatoes on our gas grill.

 

[mamacatnv]

Just my opinion but what they wear under their gown is really not up to the school to dictate - I mean really, they are wearing a gown, who really cares?
This per DD's school:

There is no direct threat of wear the above or else, thankfully. My Nerdlet the rebel is planning to wear denim shorts, a flower printed T and her maroon Doc Martin boots. I really want her to wear her bright blue high top Converse as to me, they are more "her" than the boots but not sure if a Converse high top is considered a "tennis/running shoe".
She doesn't own a dress and refuses to wear one, she also does not own dress slacks. Her idea of "dressed up" is a non-graphic T-shirt and denim jeans or shorts. She is her own person and what she wears was something I gave up dictating when she was about 4 years old as my usually compliant, people pleasing DD drew a line in the sand when it came to what she will wear. Not a hill I have ever been willing to die on.

 

[bethbuchall]

This is from my daughter's graduation a few years ago. Who can tell what they are wearing under there anyway?!?!