Wahoooooo, the graduation party was a huge success!

Well I can hardly believe that Ro and Ree aren’t kindergarteners any longer! On Thursday our tiny babes graduated in a flurry of pomp and circumstance and we are so proud (and a little weepy!):

Our school doesn’t do a kindergarten graduation, (and you know we like any excuse to have a party around here), so we invited the whole class and their families over to our house for a graduation ceremony and party. Two wonderful class moms volunteered to help (thank you!!!) and boy did we all have fun with it. If anyone is thinking of having a graduation party next year – do it! Here are some easy details you can replicate:

Decorations: I went with primary colors and a school theme (got the idea  here) and picked up a variety of tableware in red, yellow, green, and blue from the local dollar store. Then played up the school look with bulletin board borders taped to the edges of tables (also from the dollar store), mini chalkboards that said things like “J is for jello” “D is for drink,” brightly colored metal pails tied with helium balloons, spiral hanging school cutouts, and pencil cutouts sprinkled on the tables:

Caps and Pins: Each graduate was given a white grad cap and a “Kindergarten Graduate” star pin (a class mom made the pins) to wear as they entered the party:

Food: We had bagel bites (B is for bites), mini PJB sandwiches (P is for PBJ), grad-cap cupcakes that a class mom made (C is for cupcake), crayon pretzel treats that I made, and finger foods galore (each parent brought something to share – that’s what went on all of the tables):

Ceremony: I wrote a brief ceremony that included all of the kids, their beloved teacher, and some of the parents. We didn’t have any practice time before the real ceremony, but I just made sure to give lots of cues: “Now it’s time to do the poem you practiced at home...” “When you hear your parents cheer you get to throw your hats in the air” and that sort of thing. It turned out better than I could have imagined and was SO FUN! Here’s our program, if anyone wants to host your own graduation:

1. Kids march around yard to Pomp and Circumstance music (oh the cuteness!!):
(yes, Ro and Ree kicked their shoes off the second they got home and did the whole ceremony in bare feet)

2. Welcome students and families

3. A few words from our teacher

4. Kids perform graduation song (I rewrote a kindergarten graduation song from the internet – made it wayyyy more simple - it was sung to Love and Marriage. The kindergarten teacher was such a sweetheart and agreed to teach it to the class.)
 
Here are the words we used:

Kin-der-gar-ten
Kin-der-gar-ten
Time to say goodbye to Kin-der-gar-ten
Look at the progress we've made
So now it's time to go to (PAUSE) first grade!

Kin-der-gar-ten
Kin-der-gar-ten
Time to say goodbye to Kin-der-gar-ten
Look at the progress we've made
So now it's time to go to (PAUSE) first grade!

Reading, Writing, Math and Science
Oh (PAUSE, PAUSE) how we love it
Field trips and lots of messy projects too
(PAUSE FOR LITTLE RUN)
We're flying through it!

Kin-der-gar-ten
Kin-der-gar-ten
Time to say good-bye to Kin-der-gar-ten
Look at the progress we've made
So now it’s time--
So now it’s time--
So now it’s time to go to (PAUSE) first grade!

5. Kids say graduation poem together (I sent this poem home with the kids to practice and had the words on a big poster that they could read during the program). The words were:

Do you remember last fall?
I was only this tall *
Now look at me I am way up here **
and my I've learned a lot this year.
In fact they think I'm really great,
that's why I get to graduate! ***

* hold hand at chest height
** put a hand on top of your head
*** throw both hands in the air

6. A parent reads the ABC End of Year poem, and each student holds up his/her letter when it’s called out. (A class mom made the cool alphabet signs.)

ABC END OF YEAR

A is for the alphabet which you know how to say.
B is for busy bodies - at work and at play.
C is for colors - red, yellow, blue, and green.
D is for drawing pictures, the best we’ve ever seen.
E is for exercise to keep your bodies strong.
F is for the fun you’ve had as you have gone along.
G is for the good friends you made throughout the year.
H is for happy faces, filled with love and cheer.
I is for imagination used at every turn.
J is for good jobs and the praises you have earned.
K is for kindergartners - hip, hip, hooray!
L is for learning - more and more each day.
M is for minding and showing our respect.
N is for numbers. One, two, three, correct?
O is for the obstacles you learned to overcome.
P is for puppets and for playing rhythms on a drum.
Q is for all the questions you’ve asked throughout the year.
R is for reading stories, even those that bring a tear.
S is for different snacks, several you have tried.
T is for talking.  It's not to be denied.
U is for unusual; it fits some things you’ve done.
V is for volunteers - parents and everyone!
W is for the world of words you’ve barely dipped into.
X is for extra special kids - it's him, it's her, it's you.
Y is for yes, it has been a great year!
Z is for first-grade zest. You’re ready, have no fear!

7. A parent reads the poem Great Expectations:

Great Expectations (Author Unknown)

It's time to say good-bye.
Your school year has come to an end.
You’ve made more cherished memories
And many more new friends.

As parents, we’ve watched our children learn and grow
And change from day to day
We hope that all the things we've done
Have helped in some small way.

So it's with happy memories
We say goodbye to Kindergarten,
With great hope and expectations.
For what next year holds in store.

8. Diplomas. Each student’s name is called and he/she gets a diploma and shakes the teacher’s hand. (A class mom got our diplomas at a local teacher’s store, but you can also find inexpensive packs on the internet.)

9. Special thank you, flowers, and class gift presented to teacher. (A kindergarten student memorized an adorable little speech and presented this.)

10. Please give a cheer for the kindergarten class of 2011 (kids toss hats in air when parents cheer):

What a wonderful experience from start to finish – we’re still grinning! And we are so grateful to our awesome kindergarten teacher for taking part in this crazy idea, for all of the smiling parents and kiddos who came and happily participated and brought food (over 85 people, wow!), and to the wonderful class moms and Wela and BobBob who helped with the event.

What a great sendoff to summer!