Some Cool Ideas on Graduation!

I had written below (see.. Graduation: Same Old Tradition) about innovations or just being a little bit creative to avoid a boring graduation ceremony. Now, I feel that I have to delve into the details to start the ball rolling for those who would like to innovate and make graduation a little bit more enjoyable. Here are some which you may start to ponder on:

* In the days leading up to graduation, have the soon-to-be graduates write a letter to their parents and ask that the parents also write a letter to their child. Ask them to exchange letters on graduation day.

* Make arrangements to record a video version of a PowerPoint presentation that includes pictures of the students throughout their lives. Sell the video at the graduation ceremony. The proceeds might be used to purchase a class gift for the school or to donate to the graduating class's local charity of choice.

* If you have a concession stand at the ceremony, proceeds might be used to purchase a school banner, books for the library, whiteboards for classrooms, bookcases, or other things the school needs.

* Prepare a special journal for each graduating student. Throughout the year, teachers, parents, community members, peers, and others might write messages to the students in those journals, which will be handed to the students at the graduation ceremony.

* Instead of presenting a journal to the students, have the students record in a journal their thoughts during the school year -- things they are thankful for -- and present that journal to their parents at the graduation ceremony.

* Teachers might divide up students' names and take responsibility for crafting a short but special introduction to each of those students. That introduction might include an anecdote, a few notes about the students' special strengths or the changes teachers have witnessed over the years, or other personal memories.

* At the end of the ceremony, have students walk down an aisle lined with students from the school they will be attending next. Those students will cheer, give high-fives, and otherwise congratulate the incoming underclass.

* As students come up to receive their graduation recognition, have the principal of the school shake their hand at one end of the stage. At the other end of the stage, the head of the school the students will next attend will shake their hand.

* As each student crosses the stage, hand the student a rose for the student to hand to his or her parents.

* Present special awards to students who have come a long way in spite of the odds that life has presented them. Don't forget awards in areas that might otherwise be overlooked -- in technology or music, for example.

* Some graduating students who play instruments in the school band or orchestra might perform solo or as part of combos at the graduation ceremony.

* A retiring teacher might give a brief speech.

* Teachers who have taught the graduating students might take turns calling out names as students come up to receive their certificates or diplomas.

* As each student is handed a diploma, he or she might turn and face the audience for a few moments so parents or others might take photographs.

* If students have been in your school for a number of years, call them up in the order in which they entered the school. This works especially well in elementaryand high schools. Those who have been in the school since kindergarten will be the first to be presented their certificates/diplomas. Those who have been in the school since first grade will follow...