What kind of special activities are planned for graduating Seniors?

[mum4jenn]

Looking for traditions or neat ideas for schools to do for graduating Seniors.

Our school has done a big breakfast in the past but that will be ending (thankfully) but the teacher is having an absolute fit because we will not do the breakfast anymore. I have tried to tell her that there are other things they can do and they could start NEW traditions.

So...what kinds of things have been done your your kids? Or you when you were graduating????

 

[clori]

Are you talking about right after graduation? My school alternated between an overnight cruise to nowhere and a night at a fancy fitness center starting a few hours after graduation. If you are talking about leading up to graduation we had a senior week. I don't remember everything - I remember a senior awards night that parents were invited to with light refreshments (chips, punch type food), senior karaoke night, and a non fancy dance (we had a junior prom - this was more of a jeans/tshirt event).

 

[Aliceacc]

I teach in a Catholic high school on Long Island.

A few hundred of our Seniors will be heading to WDW for the Senior trip in a few weeks. The kids save for 4 years to be able to afford the trip, and just about every member of the Senior class goes.

On the last day of classes, we provide the Senior luncheon. During their lunch period, they come down to the auditorium lobby, where tables are set up and there are lots of "Class of 2012" type decorations. (ONLY Seniors and faculty are allowed anywhere near it.) Lunch is provided.

Our version of a prom is different from many. We do a dinner cruise to the Statue of Liberty. There are no limos, no gowns or tuxes (cocktail dresses/ suits) and no outside guests-- you don't need to dig up a date to go. It's a lovely evening!!!

Then, graduation day starts with the Baccalaureate mass. That afternoon, everyone returns for the ceremony.

Our yearbooks include all this. As a result, they don't arrive until early August, before our kids head off to college. There's a big BBQ on the day the yearbooks arrive, and all our recent grads are invited back to get their yearbooks and have them signed.

The next time we see most of them is for mass the day before Thanksgiving-- they return in droves!!!

 

[njmom47]

Are you talking about right after graduation? My school alternated between an overnight cruise to nowhere and a night at a fancy fitness center starting a few hours after graduation. If you are talking about leading up to graduation we had a senior week. I don't remember everything - I remember a senior awards night that parents were invited to with light refreshments (chips, punch type food), senior karaoke night, and a non fancy dance (we had a junior prom - this was more of a jeans/tshirt event).

My dkids HS did the overnight cruise to nowhere and they seemed to really enjoy it. I know of another local HS that did the upscale fitness center thing as well. DS is a sophomore; not sure what they'll do for his class.

 

[christineann]

I love that, aliceacc!

We have a small high school (usually about 70-75 graduates). We have a baccalaureate service on Thursday followed by a dance with a band for the graduates and their families, a reception at the headmaster's house on Friday afternoon, and graduation on Saturday at 5. The graduation takes place on a lawn on campus and is followed by a reception in the dining hall/cafeteria. I believe there may still be a senior trip (not school sponsored, usually to a place in the Caribbean), but my kids chose not to participate in that

 

[goofy4tink]

On their last regular day of school, just before finals start, the kids end their half day with an ice cream social. Then, the Tuesday prior to graduation, they have their Senior Ball..not nearly as dressy as prom. Then, the day before graduation, they have a seniors only breakfast, at school, followed by a rehearsal for graduation. Then, that night, there is a senior banquet, followed by baccalaureate ceremony.
The next night, after graduation, the seniors head to an indoor sporting facility, where they have a 'lock in' from 10pm to 5am. The place is decorated in a different theme each year. Food is provided, entertainment, games, prizes, bounce houses, etc. It's privately funded though...very expensive to say the least.

 

[DianeV]

Our school has on the night of commencements a Senior All Night Party at the school. Its a lock in type of thing and parents volunteer to work it and donate some of the items including prizes etc. They have a casino set up, nails and hair, games, music etc. I have heard its pretty fun for the kids, my daughter is a senior this year so we will find out

They also have a senior breakfast after their marching practice and of course the prom which is a senior prom at a local banquet place

 

[mum4jenn]

No not cruises and such but activities BEFORE the actual graduation.

Actually all during the Senior year they do activities.

For example yesterday they took group pictures in cap and gown outside on the football field, and then they started a new tradition where they go back to the Primary and Elementary schools they attended and march in a parade for the little kids (while earing cap and gown).
Later that day they grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and the seniors could skip the rest of the day after that.

One other day during the year they do little stuff where they have doughnuts and such or ice cream. I think they try to do something once a month or every other month.

I was hoping for some ideas to repalce the Senior Breakfast which was a disaster and another story that I won't even go into.LOL!!

 

[DeaverTex]

Wow. Y'all sure do a lot for kids graduating from high school. Years ago, for my senior year (and for Mrs. Tex's too) they had a senior prom, and a senior day where we got to cut class to get ready for the prom. Other than that, zippo. For me, this was Houston public schools. For her, Fremont Michigan.

Tex Jr. had a senior banquet, but that was in lieu of a prom. They had a senior trip, too, but then we're talking about a small private school where a lot of the parents are rather wealthy. (Not us!!) About half the class went on the senior trip, but that was the only activity besides the banquet.

 

[mum4jenn]

Also I thought I would add that we have around 450 seniors!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Also I thought I would add that we have around 450 seniors!!

We're probably in the low 500's.

 

[goofy4tink]

Also I thought I would add that we have around 450 seniors!!

We're at about 275.

And our after party doesn't allow any senior parents in. Yes, we can head over there before the kids get there so we can see the decorations and such. But, once the kids get there???? Only adults with no graduating seniors are allowed to work the party. Dh and I headed up the chaperones last year...junior parents routinely do this. So, we got to be there all night...have a wonderful idea of how it all works and what the kids will be doing. I'll most likely help out again next year....for this year's juniors!!

 

[Piecey]

I graduated in a class of 80 or so.

We had a breakfast in the school cafeteria, a senior awards ceremony (parents could come), graduation on a Saturday afternoon and then a senior all-night party.
It was at the YMCA and they had a casino set up, the pool and gyms were open, there were door prizes for gift certificates/fridges/TVs, etc. I think I won a savings bond.

 

[Planogirl]

DS's school had a bonfire at one of the nearby ranches. He wouldn't go but I heard that a lot of kids came out.

There was talk of a casino night but they had casino games at prom instead.

 

["Got Disney"]

We are doing a cruise on the SD bay on the Hornblower.....we are having a DJ, Dancing, All you can eat buffet, Entertainment,raffles and lots of stuff....

our entertainment is anywhere from a Hypnotist to magician to stuff like that....photo booths also......but we have been planning this since the beginning of the year.....

it begins at 10pm and we bring them back at 5:30am.....it is all a way to keep them from going to partys and drinking and doing stuff they should not be doing......

we are also having a Breakfast for them the morning of Graduation......

also no parents except for the ones that are chaperoning....it is also $85 a student.....we have over 400 Seniors.....we are also in a mad rush to get more signed up....Seniors just wait till last minute for everything....lol

 

[prncess674]

My favorite memory of Senior traditions was Awards Day. The last official day of school for Seniors was Awards Day and they gave out all kinds of awards and made the scholarship announcements. After the awards ceremony the band then plays and marches through the halls. All the underclassman gather at the doors and it so fun and exciting! The seniors are all cheering and banging on the locker doors. It is a right of passage to be part of that mini parade!

 

[asta]

In addition to the junior/senior prom and homecoming dance, my daughter's school schedules these activities for senior year:

The year starts with a Survivor party. It is a great team building activity. We made sure to divide the teams into groups that broke up cliques and spread the talent around.

During the fall or winter we held a barn dance. No dates, just seniors. We hired a square dance caller that gets everyone up and dancing.

Late spring we kick off the end of year activities with a luau.

Seniors take their exams a week early and then the headmaster and student selected teachers take a four or five day trip to the beach. The headmaster is a great guy who takes this special time to bond with the students and look back over their school years.

There is always a party on the night after graduation to discourage drinking and other unsafe behaviors. We like to use a riverboat cruise to help keep everything under control.

 

[Fire14]

Graduating class of appox. 300 WE had senior sweatshirt that is a design done by a senior and maybe voted on by all seniors. I know we had 1 week period to go to certain point and sign design before it goes to screen printers to be put on sweatshirts. Most classes did grad year we chose to do our dome/gym area. Any senior who wants can order a sweatshirt at time we signed our design I believe.
WE get our yearbooks around 2nd week of May which also happens to be a time where there is a local festival resulting in half days a few days and kids missing classes d/t particapation in festival activities, so kinda not best teaching happening days.
Graduation cermonies Start on Fri with seniors sitting on floor area in folding chairs in cap and gown and having letters, scolarships, and other sports awards announced/ given out. Saturday seems to be day of personal grad parties. Sunday is voluntary church cermamony at local Church where grads can wear caps and gowns, MOnday afternoon is Grad. practice. and Mon eve is official graduation where we received our dipolmas and After grad senior party at undisclosed location starts appox 9p with those that choose to go meeting at HS and loading on buses to be transported to party location. ours was at a bowling ally/all in one type place.

One thing that stood out to me as a senior was one of my teachers taking all us seniors out for lunch at a local resturant. ( I think they may have been 6 of us).
I'm sure there was other senior only things but those are things I recall.