Your thoughts on High School Graduation Announcements

[cruisnfamily]

Yes, I do believe it's a regional thing as I never heard of them nor would ever even think of sending one.

I would not send out announcements for high school graduation. I think it must be a regional thing because in MA I rarely hear about anyone sending them out.

Truthfully I never heard of it before reading the DIS. I've received invitations to graduation parties but never an announcement. Personally I wouldn't send them because I would worry that people would think we were looking for gifts. But I guess that's because it's not done around here.

I grew up on Long Island in NY and never heard of them either. I don't know anyone who ever sent announcements out. Around here, SW Florida, everybody sends them out. I thought it was a case of things that are done now that weren't done 30 years ago, but perhaps it is a regional thing and it still isn't done up North. I'll have to ask some of my friends still on Long Island.

I would have chosen #2 BUT you included attend the ceremony and most High schools only give you 2-4 tickets so I couldn't choose that. Everyone can't attend the ceremonies so that option is out.

When I graduated HS it was the same way, very limited number of tickets. But as far as DD18's graduation this year, everybody could, theoretically, attend the ceremony as it is on her high school football field. I would not be expecting everybody that we sent them to to attend but they actually could if they wanted to so that's not a problem.

 

[msjprincess]

I grew up on Long Island in NY and never heard of them either. I don't know anyone who ever sent announcements out. Around here, SW Florida, everybody sends them out. I thought it was a case of things that are done now that weren't done 30 years ago, but perhaps it is a regional thing and it still isn't done up North. I'll have to ask some of my friends still on Long Island.

When I graduated HS it was the same way, very limited number of tickets. In our case, everybody could, theoretically, attend the ceremony as it is on our high school football field. I would not be expecting everybody that we sent them to to attend but they actually could if they wanted to so that's not a problem.

I'm on LI and AFAIK it's still not done.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

The only time I see Graduation announcements being a good thing to do is when there is a limited number of people you can invite to the actual graduation ceremony.

When I graduated, there was no limit so we just send invitations to everyone, even the ones we knew could not make it.

 

[NikitaZee]

No, I wouldn't send out announcements. I'd send out invitations to the graduation party afterwards - but announcements? I don't see the point in that. It wasn't done where I grew up (Long Island). I wouldn't know what to do if I received an announcement - call and congratulate? Send a note in return?

 

[ilovepcot]

Agreed. It's that way where I am from. I forget how many announcements my parents sent out but it was a large number. They were worried that if they forgot ANYONE the individual in question would be ticked off, as in our small town, anyone who even knew you to say "hi" to you on the street expected you to send a HS graduation announcement when your kid graduated. To have NOT done so would've been seen as a serious social snub.

Same way in the town where I grew up. By the time I graduated, my parents had sent out graduation gifts for *decades* and they sent one for me to all those past "giftees". Seriously, in the town where I grew up, people really would have felt snubbed had they not received an invitation. Still that way there today.

 

[Andtototoo]

Well, we live far away from family and none of them would consider coming out here for dd's graduation and/or graduation party. So I won't bother sending invitations to them, but I will send announcements to remind them that she passed a milestone, even if they seem to have forgotten we exist.

 

[klacey1]

I honestly never thought that announcements were a gift grab or that anyone thought they were until reading the Dis! I love receiving announcements and hearing from people who I've lost touch with. I'd send them to everyone on your Christmas card list, whether they'll be attending the ceremony or not.

 

[daisyduck123]

No one.

DD16 will graduate in May. We did not order any announcements (orders were due last week).

I figure that anyone worth mentioning it to (close family, friends) already knows she is graduating this year.

 

[Kimberly]

Only if you're throwing a party, and inviting that person.

 

[MushyMushy]

No, I wouldn't send out announcements. I'd send out invitations to the graduation party afterwards - but announcements? I don't see the point in that. It wasn't done where I grew up (Long Island). I wouldn't know what to do if I received an announcement - call and congratulate? Send a note in return?

Like anything, it depends on the relationship. A distant acquaintance or family member? Just smile and be happy for the kid. Somebody closer, send a card or call. Even closer, send a card with gift/money/phone call.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think it depends on the area you live in. If it's commonplace to send them to everyone in your rea, then do so. If not, I'd probably just send them to close freinds and relatives who might be attending the ceremony or coming to the party...or maybe close freinds and relatives who wouldn't be able to attend but would still get a kik out of receiving it (like an out of town autnie or something).

Around here, a high school graduation announcement would be considered a gift rab, but I do understand that it can be a very regional thing.

 

[minkydog]

Ours go to extended family only. The only one who might go to graduation is my mother. It will take her a full day to get here. We live 400-2500 miles from all our family and they like to know what the kids are doing. When DS24 graduated it was such a miracle, it *had* to be shared.

 

[redlight]

Maybe not everybody, but you should send them to most people you know rather well.

 

[aprilgail2]

From past posts in this subject, high school grad announcements are VERY regional. Around here, everyone sends them-they are sent along with an invite to an open house grad party, not just an announcement alone. They are usually a photo the the grad announcing the graduation and the date and time of a grad party similar to a photo Christmas Card. I know in other parts of the country this is not the case. They are generally sent out like a Christmas card list-to people you want to invite to your party.

Around here they are thought of as a tacky gift grab.

Maybe not everybody, but you should send them to most people you know rather well.

See now I fellif you know them "rather well" then they would know your child is graduating- no need to send a announcement!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Why would anyone send out an announcement if it isn't for a gift? Of course it's for a gift. As the recipient I'd be irritated because I'd take it as 'I'm good enough to be expected to send you a gift but not good enough to be invited to a party

Graduations are around June. Most graduations I've ever been a part of included a BBQ in the yard where the family invites the people they care about, those who can come will bring gifts & those who can't will send them.

 

[aprilgail2]

Why would anyone send out an announcement if it isn't for a gift? Of course it's for a gift. As the recipient I'd be irritated because I'd take it as 'I'm good enough to be expected to send you a gift but not good enough to be invited to a party

.

 

[golfgal]

Around here they are thought of as a tacky gift grab.



See now I fellif you know them "rather well" then they would know your child is graduating- no need to send a announcement!

Like I said, it is regional--the over the top First Communion parties I hear about on Long Island seem tacky to us here in the midwest too. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just different.

 

[MushyMushy]

Like I said, it is regional--the over the top First Communion parties I hear about on Long Island seem tacky to us here in the midwest too. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just different.

Or the huge weddings where guests are expected to bring a gift that will cover the cost of their plates at the reception.

An announcement is just that -- an announcement. It's not an invitation or a request. It's just a card to announce an important milestone in a child's life. No gifts expected, and certainly not a gift to cover the cost of the announcement.

 

[Pigeon]

Nobody. I don't see the point.

Tacky gift grab, imo. First, I don't see graduating from high school as a big, huge deal. Essentially, you've done what the state expects you to do. Family celebration, and some graduation parties with friends, sure. But everyone and their mother doesn't need to get an announcement. Second, everyone who really knows the child will know he or she is graduating.

 

[Kellydelly]

Are you having a party or an open house? I would send the announcements to relatives out of state who you know actually care, and those friends and family that will be invited to the graduation party. I don't know many high school graduates that invite more than immediate family to their ceremony, due to limited seating or tickets.