Graduation Planning Meeting

Tonight was the first planning meeting for the Lighthouse Christian Homeschool Association 2008 graduation ceremony! I coordinated tonight's meeting, which drew 17 families. I think there might be another 1 or 2 people who didn't make it tonight. That's a good size group for a support group graduation ceremony! I went over the basics of the Lighthouse graduation ceremony, and we watched parts of the 2006 Graduation DVD, so everyone could see what the ceremony is like.
In essence, this is what we covered:

1. Graduation is the 1st Saturday of June ( June 7, 2008) at 2:00 PM
2. Ceremony length is 1 1/2 - 2 hours long
3. Graduate attire is black caps and gowns, with tassles and stoles of different colors, as chosen by each grad
4. Processional and recessional are played by the Lighthouse Homeschool Band
5. Diplomas are the responsibility of the parent, and they may create their own, or order from one of several different sources
6. Parents present the diploma to their own son or daughter, and have 2-3 minutes for remarks
7. Each graduate presents his/her mother with a single rose
8. Power Point slide show features 6-8 pictures of each grad - a "slice of life"
9. Simple reception follows the ceremony in the church fellowship hall

Other things we touched on were the Senior Picture Day at Winn Portrait Studio, to be scheduled for this fall; Group photo day, usually held in the spring; additional social events throughout the year for the graduating seniors; yearbook senior pages; programs, and invitations. A suggestion was made that perhaps we could videotape the seniors, one at a time, giving a short message to their families, moms, etc., and play it at the beginning of the ceremony.