Graduation Open House

Years ago, a student's graduation from high school was marked by small family parties. Today, in many communities, those quiet gatherings have mushroomed into all-out, open-house celebrations that seem to fill every weekend in June.

If you’re the parent of a high-school senior, and facing the challenge of organizing an graduation open house, there are steps you can take now to ensure that it will be affordable, safe, fun, and memorable. Here are some tips from folks who should know, a panel of mid-Michigan principals assembled by the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

First off, ask your graduating senior whether he or she even wants to have an open-house celebration. Some students truly prefer a quieter get-together. And some parents would rather give them the money they would otherwise spend on an open house to help pay for college, a trip, a car, or some other special purpose.

If you and your student do decide to hold an open house, Michigan principals offer these suggestions for planning the event:

    * Talk to friends and neighbors about open-house traditions in your community or school district, and seek advice from other parents who’ve been through the experience.

    * Consider throwing a joint open house for your graduating senior and a couple of his or her closest friends. Many parents have rented halls for these special occasions and had great experiences hosting multi-family parties.

    * Develop a budget for the party and stick to it.

    * Before setting a date for the open house, ask your child to coordinate with friends so as to minimize conflicts with their parties.

    * Once you’ve settled on a date, set specific beginning and ending times for the party.

    * While graduating seniors often invite their peer informally, teachers and administrators like to receive their open-house invitations by mail.

    * Don’t serve alcohol at a graduation open house. That’s the unanimous, adamant advice of Michigan principals polled by MASSP, who point especially to alcohol’s potential for putting student guests at risk.

    * Check local ordinances to make sure you’ll be in compliance with laws regarding parking, noise, and the like.

    * Be respectful of your neighbors. Better yet, invite them to attend.

    * As a host, you’re apt to find it difficult to talk with any one guest at length. So, if you’d like to visit with relatives you haven’t seen in a while, consider holding two separate events—one for friends and your child’s classmates, the other for family.

    * Talk with your child in advance about earmarking graduation gift money for a specific purpose, such as a college fund.

    * Make certain your child writes thank-you notes for all gifts received.