9 Ways to Celebrate the End of the School Year

Every kid looks forward to the end of the school year, with its class parties, special events and yearbook signings. Delays and cancellations caused by COVID-19 may give students a sense of letdown, with no way to mark the end of classes and the start of summer. Make sure they know you’re proud of them by celebrating the occasion at home.

Have a Family Celebration
Have a special dinner to honor the students in your family. Order from a local restaurant, cook a favorite dish or have a backyard picnic. The event can be as simple or elaborate as you want, with decorations in school colors and presentation of awards for “best student” or “top of the class.

Get the Message Out
Use liquid chalk markers or acrylic paint to write messages on windows. Buy yard signs or make them yourself. A fun idea: spell out a message by writing individual letters on paper or plastic plates. Attach wood dowels to anchor each plate in the ground.

Take a Picture
Students may not be able to attend a ceremony at school, but you can still capture the moment on film. Visit the school and get your student’s picture in front of the building. Be sure to get photos of the whole family, too.

Plan a Fun Activity
Order Donut Decorating Kits from Da Vinci’s Donuts and stage a decorating contest – the kit also makes a fun gift. Krispy Kreme is celebrating graduating seniors with a dozen free doughnuts – May 19 only! Seniors should wear their cap and gown or show proof of graduation at participating locations.

Give a Themed Gift
Order a few items with your college-bound graduate’s logo or colors. Put together a basket with a tee, hoodie and other swag. These insulated tumblers by Well Told are printed with maps of college towns across the U.S.

Share Memories
Send invitations to close friends and family for a virtual party. Create and present a digital slideshow with photos of your child throughout the years. (Embarrassing baby photos are fair game!)

Collect Good Wishes
Ask friends and family to write notes – a favorite story, a “congratulations” message, or memories of their own graduation. Collect the notes and read them aloud during a celebratory dinner.

Have a Safe-Distance Social
For middle or high school ages, set up chairs and invite a small number of friends to meet outside. Make sure they practice social distancing at all times.

Have a Ceremony at Home
If you’re feeling ambitious, stage your own graduation ceremony. Designate one family member to be the featured speaker and present a diploma to your grad. Don’t forget to download Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance for background music.