If you’re the parent of a high school student, you probably already have plenty of things to occupy your thoughts. Curfews, sporting events, grades…all of this and more probably provide you with plenty to think about regarding your child! However, if your son or daughter is in their second half of their high school days (Junior year), there is one more thing you really should start thinking about—graduation! It’s never too early to start planning everything that must take place before your child graduates and what will come after. Read on for some tips, ideas and issues you need to plan for!
Junior Year
As soon as your child enters his or her Junior year, you should have a checklist of things that need to be taken care of over the next few months. Some of them should happen while your child is still in school and some usually take place the summer before their Senior year. Crazy, right?!?!
Visit Colleges
During his or her Junior year, your child should be thinking about what colleges they are interested in and scheduling some tours. Encourage your child to not just look at four-year colleges, but to also consider some community colleges as well. The first year of college is usually the most difficult for students (and parents!) as they struggle to transition from high school and living at home to college and possibly living away from home. Major universities are also easy to get lost in and help may not be as readily available as it is in a community college. A community college offers more of a high school type atmosphere where the teachers keep track of the students and how they’re doing, if they are struggling, if they are showing up to class, etc.
Senior Pictures
Most high school students get their senior portraits done the summer BEFORE their Senior year, so it’s a good idea to start thinking about which photographer you want to use before your child finishes his or her Junior year. Yearbook deadlines are normally in September/October for those senior ads so don’t let it sneak up on you especially if you want to use their senior pictures.
The Grad Party
If you’ve properly planned when your child is a Junior, by the time the actual graduation day rolls around you’ll have a college picked out (and hopefully a great scholarship to go with it) and a great set of senior pictures that your grad has been giving out all year. Hopefully by graduation day, you’ve also planned a wonderful party too! So many possibilities with the party including combining with friends to cut back on cost, where you want to have it, what kind of food you want to serve (think finger foods and easy), etc.
Décor for the party
Whether you have your party at your home or another location, it’s always fun to display your grad’s photos for the celebration. Of course, the first pictures that come to mind are the grad’s senior portraits. Have a few of the larger portraits beautifully framed and displayed throughout the party area, perhaps on an easel by the front door or set up by the food or gift area. You might always want to have a framed ‘timeline’ made with picture of the grad through the years or a commemorative shadow or achievement box made with special mementos of your son or daughter’s accomplishments in school. Those are all fun ways to display your Senior!
Graduation is a huge milestone in your child’s life. Whether the approaching date fills you with anticipation or sadness or both, it’s important to take note how much of a turning point this is for your son or daughter and to plan accordingly. By helping them take care of what needs to be done before graduation and planning the perfect graduation party, you can send your child off in style and know that you have helped prepare them as best as you can for the real world!
