Did you do anything special for your child's 8th grade "graduation"?

[4nana]

I say, to each their own and do what you feel in your heart, in spite of what others may think . 8th grade graduation is a big deal in our area w/ceremony, followed by reception, etc. For our grands 8th grade graduations we're always invited to a dinner celebration at their favorite restaurant. They receive a nice gift from their parents and we give each grand graduate a card w/$50. ( also balloons and flowers). Our DGD has worked very hard and has earned Presidential Academic Award.

I know many here feel there is no reason to be rewarded, as good grades are expected . However in our family, starting with our own kiddos many moons ago, we've always celebrated KG, 5th, 8th, HS, and college graduations, as believe you indeed reap what you sow and recognition for hard work goes a long way. Works for us!!

 

[robinb]

I'm glad this thread is here! My DD is graduating from 8th grade this year and I have not thought about a party at all . My YMCA rents out the pool on the weekend for parties, so I'm thinking of a pool party. A dessert-only trip for a small group of girls at the Melting Pot would also be a hit. Keep up the ideas everyone!

 

[Poohforyou]

I have an 8th grader who will have a daytime moving up ceremony in June. DH and I are both taking the day off from work for it and then we will do something fun together as a family in the afternoon and/or go out to eat somewhere.

DD is going on a school sponsored trip in May that's costing us close to $1000 and is bringing a friend on vacation with us in July so those are gifts enough IMO.

I forgot to add our district has an 8th grade day time party at a local club with a pool and a night time dance party as well. Both of those will cost us something and will allow DD to celebrate with her friends so no need for us to do another party even if we were so inclined.

I didn't have anything for kindergarten, elementary school or middle school in terms of celebrations. I think as a society we've gone way overboard celebrating every little thing.

 

[luvsJack]

DD and her bff had a party together. We just had music and some decorations, a nacho bar and a huge cake that said "(jr. high mascot) to (high school mascot)". The kids had fun and for many it was a great way to say good-bye. We did this the night before the ceremony. It wasn't anything more than a way for them to hang out together the night before something that was pretty meaningful to them.

The night of the ceremony we took dd out to her favorite restaurant and we gave her a necklace for a gift.


These are basically the same things we did for our sons (30 and 28) and that was done for me when I left the 8th grade. So, its not new here at all.

 

[AustinTink]

My Ds's school has a mass and graduation ceremony to honor the students. Boys in suits, girls in semi-formal dresses. The grandparents will come in from out of town.

We only have one child. He's a terrific, smart kid who has never been in trouble a day in his life. We are truly blessed to have him in our lives. I see absolutely no reason NOT to celebrate any and all of his milestones and achievements. Sooo... we booked a surprise graduation trip to Universal!

Our kids are only with us for a short time before they fly the nest. I try to make each day special.

 

[okeydokey]

There was no ceremony here. I think we went out to dinner as a family? Honestly I can't remember and it was only last year.

We did giver her a Pandora charm for her bracelet.

 

[Metsfan520]

When dd graduated from 8th we took her out to dinner and gave her a small monetary gift.

I know there will be comments about how 8th grade is not graduating, or its a whole new thing, what is this world coming to blah blah blah....
I'll be 40 this year and I graduated from 8th grade. We had a ceremony, girls wore fancy dresses, boys wore suits and we all got a diploma.
Its a way for a school to commemeorate a student's academic achievements up until that point, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Its also a way for the kids to "say goodbye" to that chapter of their life and move on to the next one, high-school.
Do whatever you feel is right for your family and don't be discouraged by any of the naysayers that will come here.

I'm going to be 52 this May and I graduated - yes graduated - from 8th grade. We had a ceremony, awards, etc. I went to Catholic school, but the public schools in my area were the same way. Most kids had family parties. My older brother graduated from high school the same year I graduated from 8th grade, so my parents had a party for both of us. Nothing fancy, a family party in our backyard, but it was so much fun.

Like others have said, celebrate how you want to. It's no one's business but yours.

 

[FantasticalWritings]

I'm pretty sure for my 8th grade graduation, my parents took me out to a nice restaurant, like Olive Garden or something, and took me out to a movie I wanted to see. They liked to celebrate special occasions.

 

[Bungle]

We will be going out for dinner. We don't do that often so it is a treat but besides that we aren't doing anything special.

 

[joviroxx]

My kids went to private school so its P3-8 and then high school. Last year DS' class had a one day trip to Disney, an awards banquet/dance/dinner and a graduation mass/ceremony. At this point, they've been in the school for so long it becomes a send off of sorts. I had the same thing and have great memories from it.

DS got a new computer last year for high school as a gift.

 

[SC Minnie]

When DD 'graduated' from 8th grade they had a ceremony during the day. No caps and gowns or anything. After the ceremony the school had a reception in the cafeteria. We didn't have a party for anything for DD. I think we did go out to eat that night.

My step sister's children all go/went to a private K-8 school. They had a big deal graduation for 8th grade- caps, gowns, etc. My mom and step dad went drove 9 hours to attend.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I imagine that we'll go to the ceremony, which isn't caps and gowns here, and then out to dinner. If I get a gift, it will be something he needs for high school. My son is very into tech theater, and I have been thinking about getting him some of his own tools to use in that. I can see making those a graduation gift.

 

[melmar136]

My DD also graduates 8th grade this year. While I do expect good grades, and good behavior, I still want to acknowledge her efforts. The beginning of jr high was rough, going from a very small school, in a small town, through all of elementary school to a regional school with so many more kids, and lots of change. DD suffered with migraines for much of 7th grade, and missed quite a few days of school, but still kept up awesome grades. This year, she was chosen for National Jr. Honor Society. So, yes, I do want to do something for her...nothing big, just something meaningful for her. I saw someone who makes the "My Adventure Book" from Up on etsy, and I think that would be something she would really like and appreciate.

 

[Liberty Belle]

The school had a ceremony and we went to that. I don't remember giving him a gift or anything, so I doubt we did anything beyond that.

Oh wait! His birthday is May29th and we took him and 3 of his friends to Kings Island (an amusement park about two hours away) and they each got a "goodie bag" with a plastic "graduate" mug along with some other stuff. I guess that we at least acknowledged it then.

 

[Fire14]

I don't recall my parents doing anything for me for 8th grade grad. but my class was first grad. class to have 9th grade credits count towards HS. I attended my 9th grade at same school I went to for 8th grade, so it was really nothing outside of a new school year for me.
Now HS graduation I did good getting parents to attend my ceremony. I was going thru extremely rough time with Ex bf and I was being a royal brat. I do recall EX BF mother giving me a card and money which I thought was really sweet of her. I didn't have a party but MY BFF from 3rd onward came back to our hometown for something so I got to spend weekend with her and I gave her a copy of our senior yearbook as a gift.
My College graduation I chose not to attend because I had more pressing things to do that night, I did attend my nursing pinning ceremony and 2 of my college friends surprised me there, my parents didn't come

 

[HM]

We went to the ceremony. Afterwards, one of her friend's parents took several girls out to lunch. That was it.

 

[luvmy3]

I imagine that we'll go to the ceremony, which isn't caps and gowns here, and then out to dinner. If I get a gift, it will be something he needs for high school. My son is very into tech theater, and I have been thinking about getting him some of his own tools to use in that. I can see making those a graduation gift.

Just curious, what is tech theater? It sounds interesting.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Just curious, what is tech theater? It sounds interesting.

The people who build the sets, hang the lights, run the sound board, etc. . .

 

[luvmy3]

The people who build the sets, hang the lights, run the sound board, etc. . .

I had never heard that term before. In middle school it was referred to as stage crew. Our HS has a pretty big drama dept, and when the kids who tried out for the play didn't get picked they were encouraged to join stage crew, but it was the painting and building of sets. My dd had done that in middle school and didn't want to another year. She would have enjoyed doing the sound but they must have experienced kids to that and the lighting.
Thanks for explaining.

 

[MomofKatie]

DD graduated from middle school last year. At her school. they have a special 8th graders only semi-formal dance a few weeks before school gets out for the summer. They also do the 8th grade honors assembly during school on the last day, complete with cake and punch- the girls wear dresses, boys wear khakis/nice shirts.

On top of what the school did, we took DD out for a nice lunch and got her a Kindle Fire. We also did something special for elementary graduation- got her a loft bed, took her out for nice dinner, and she got a very nice special award from the school.

I think for HS graduation, we will have a party for family and friends and probably let her go on a fun long weekend trip to the beach with a few friends.