| This generation is the pioneer generation of homeschoolers who are coming of
age. Although there are numerous reasons why parents choose to teach their
children at home, homeschooled children follow a curriculum, like their
non-homeschooled peers, that eventually comes to an end. When all of the goals
of those curriculums have been achieved, a homeschool graduation ceremony is in
order. |
| While private and public school students receive their diplomas in caps and
gowns in traditional graduation ceremonies, homeschooled students hold their
ceremonies on their own in thousands of churches, convention halls and family
homes across the country. |
| Here are a few examples of how some homeschooled families will commemorate
this important rite of passage: |
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In Gettysburg, at the Presbyterian Church where Abraham Lincoln visited after
his famous address, families will gather for a ceremony featuring Civil War-era
music and a Lincoln impersonator. |
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In Bethel, Maine, at the 10th annual convention of Homeschoolers of Maine,
graduates will collect their diplomas in an intimate ceremony of fewer than half
a dozen graduates. |
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In Houston, the Homeschool Christian Youth Association (HCYA) will offer its
annual ceremony at the Second Baptist Church with a program that features a
60-second audiotape prepared by each family and a dinner cruise in the
evening. |
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| Because of the untraditional nature of homeschooling, there is no
standardized way to initiate the graduation process. Families who wish to
participate in a local or regional graduation ceremony should inquire about
graduation several months ahead, and requirements for participating in a
graduation ceremony may vary. For example, at Houston's HCYA, applicants for
this year’s ceremony were required to apply by January 12th and were evaluated
on the basis of "Christian character, church and community service, academic,
athletic, or other achievements as homeschool students, and years of
homeschooling." Most organizations accept everyone who can show that they have
been homeschooled for at least a year and meet reasonable academic requirements
for graduation. |
| Despite the growing popularity of regional graduation programs, most families
choose to honor their graduating homeschoolers with private ceremonies in their
home or church. Some may opt for a private ceremony with the pastor from their
church and both sets of grandparents in addition to Mom and Dad. Another idea is
for parents to network with friends who have held such ceremonies and to begin
collecting pictures and other mementos they plan to use at the homeschool
graduation ceremony. |
| No matter what sort of ceremony a family chooses, homeschool graduation is a
time for students to take center stage and celebrate their accomplishment. The
final year of homeschooling is a year of transition for parents and seniors! It
is a milestone. With graduation just around the corner, there are many important
decisions to make such as college, work, living arrangement and transportation,
to name a few. The future is bright and getting through that last year of home
school can be wonderful, frustrating and emotional, all at the same time. |
| Parents and seniors experience the transition in different ways, but they all
have two things in common: challenging decisions and the need for information.
The senior year of homeschool is a huge milestone for all students. The year
will fly by. |
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Announcements, Graduation Cards, Graduation Diplomas, Graduation Party
Invitations & Graduation Open House Invitations, and Graduation Wording
Ideas, Wording Verses, Wording Sayings . . .
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