The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Homeschool Graduation

Spring is right around the corner, and that means graduation season is upon us. In just a few short weeks, grocery stores will be filling their stationary sections with balloons in the shape of mortar board caps, and mailboxes will swamped with the news that far-flung and rarely-heard-from relations are setting another 18 year-old loose from the constraints of secondary education. While at first glance, it seems that the institutional educators have a lock on this particular celebration, never fear. Just like that moment when you discovered that it didn’t take a degree in education to teach your child to read, you’ll quickly see that even a busy homeschooling parent can plan the kind of graduation that you— and your graduate— will remember for all the right reasons.

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Homeschool Graduation

The Pictures

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Homeschool Graduation

Senior photos used to be the exclusive territory of clumsy male photographers in a cordoned-off area of a stinky gym, handing kid after kid the same sweaty cap and gown in which to pose. Thankfully, the mold has been broken and nowadays, senior pics are more likely to feature the teen lounging on stone steps, standing in a dry river bed, or leaning on the back gate of his pick up. Professional photography packages can run anywhere from $100 to $750, depending on the skill of the photographer, your geographic location, and what’s included. A word to the wise: unless you really, truly know deep down in your heart that neither you nor your child will ever want to look back and remember this season, don’t entrust the job to your niece who just got an amazing DSLR camera for her birthday. Fancy cameras are a dime a dozen these days, but a camera alone does not a photographer make. Get a solid recommendation from a friend who has worked with someone specific, or scout around on your town’s most reliable Facebook haunts. Can you shoot the keepsake images yourself, or have a friend with a bit of skill try their hand? Sure. But if the project doesn’t quite pan out, do yourself a favor and preserve the memories with a professional. (And no, that’s not one of Mathaus’ graduation shots above!)

The Announcements

Guess what? These are optional. That’s right: the Graduation Police will not arrest you for failing to send out announcements. The vast majority of homeschoolers do choose to send announcements to friends and family, but opting out— or using social media to note the occasion— doesn’t mean you’re a cruddy homeschooling parent… or that your kid didn’t finish with honor!

For those that like the idea of a formal proclamation via good old snail mail, a catalog of options await. From self-designing and printing at the local copy outlet to dropping hundreds on formal embossed stationary, there’s a fit for everyone. HSLDA offers more traditional announcements (you can order a sample for $1 to help you decide), as do many larger groups with group order status. Online printing giants like Shutterfly, Snapfish, Peartree, and Minted also have customizable announcements that can be as simple or fancy as you desire.

For us, graduation announcements have been a fun way to feature the personality of our graduate. Mary Hannah’s said a lot about her:

MH graduation announcements

And the design Mathaus has chosen speaks volumes about him, as well:

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Shop around, and weigh this decision. You and your child may decide that dropping upwards of $50 on announcements doesn’t float your boat. Or it may be something you don’t want to pass on!

The Ceremony

Cue the Pomp and Circumstance! Or don’t. Homeschoolers have made a tradition of breaking traditions, so really, it’s no surprise that there are nearly as many ceremony styles are there are homeschooling styles. If you’re picturing your senior walking across the stage in a cap and gown and being handed a formal diploma, nearly every community has its accommodations. Co-ops, umbrella schools, and churches with a large number of homeschooling families host their own ceremonies, as do larger homeschooling groups and even statewide associations. Membership requirements vary, so checking into the requirements in advance is advised. Mary Hannah graduated at the event hosted by a group we were part of throughout our time in Washington in 2014, and it was a beautiful exclamation point ending on her homeschooling career. I’ve even heard of groups of families using the same curriculum (Sonlight was the one mentioned) coming together to send their seniors off in style.

Don’t want all the fuss, but like the idea of a formal, public ceremony? Talk to your pastor about allowing your family to present your child’s diploma prior to a Sunday’s service, or gather a group of friends with seniors and plan your own more intimate version of the full-scale walk. Cap and gown optional! Or host a party in honor of the graduate and present the diploma there. That’s how Mathaus will receive his official stamp of maltriculation.

What if you—or your child— would just prefer to avoid the big doing altogether. Guess what? There’s no commandment stating Thou Must Be Handed A Diploma. Plenty of families choose to celebrate the milestone quietly, at home, without any public festivities.

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Homeschool Graduation

The Party

To féte, or not to féte, that is the question. In our house, key milestones call for a hundred or so people milling around, eating food, playing soccer, laughing, and praising the Lord for the work being done in the life of the honoree. For some, an organized group dinner following the event and a more formal, sit down venue is the way to go. Still others plan a night out with close family friends, or whisk the graduate off on a holiday to a favorite destination. The key here is to celebrate in whatever way you and your teen feel best fits your family. And guess what? That may mean no party at all. And that’s o.k. Remember, just like homeschooling, you’re not doing this for anyone else’s satisfaction. Proceed as you feel led.

For those that do wish to host an in-home event, the most popular option seems to be the casual, at-home Open House. In this format, guests come, mingle, and leave within a window of a few hours, outlined on the invite. Nibbles are generally of the finger food variety, and are provided by the hosts. The concept works especially well with multi-age families, allowing younger children the freedom to roam outdoors, weather permitting, and giving older folks the chance to enjoy the air conditioning in the living room if they choose.

Here’s the good news: no matter what you decide to include or eschew in terms of celebrating your senior’s graduation, he or she will graduate. Like a wedding, it’s just one day symbolizing the end of one season and the start of another. Have fun with graduation, and don’t feel overwhelmed. You can do this… and will still be sane in the aftermath!

 

If you’re looking for themes, cakes, displays, or anything else relating to planning a homeschool graduation, check out my Pinterest board for ideas!