8Th Grade Graduation Party

I think a lot of people whose children do not go to CPS or to neighborhood private schools do not understand the concept of the 8th grade graduation. Unlike a typical suburban school district, kids in the city (be it public or private) do not all advance to the same high school. For example, in my Chicago neighborhood the overwhelming majority of kids go to catholic schools and have several options for high school (Rice, Marist, McAuley, St. Ignatius, Mt. Carmel, Queen of Peace, Chicago AG, St. Rita's, St. Laurance, Morgan Park Academy, and this is even before one would consider the highly selective magnet high schools or academies!). This is their last hurrah as a group of friends and the graduation from 8th grade is actually a big deal.

So...I completely get where you are coming from! This is a huge deal for the kids. Given that it will be June and you have a large number of people possibly attending, I would think that a backyard or forest preserve barbeque would be appropriate and make it open house style.

If you make it an Open House for a few hours with snacks and drinks, people can come by and not stay the entire time. That might make it less overwhelming!

Well, my family is a party family so we like to celebrate everything!!!!

My mom always had an "open house" after major events. You do lots of appetizers and have some music on and people just sort of come over and hang out for how ever long they want to be there. It was always really fun. My mom ALWAYS specified "Please don't bring a gift - just your presence is our present" (But that's obviously up to you!). But she wanted people to come over and catch up and just build relationships with friends and family.

So - that's what I would suggest. Graduation will be in the spring. You can have an open house the weekend of or weekend after her Graduation and just let everyone know they can come over anytime between 12-6.

Congrats and good luck!

forget the big party! Let her celebrate with her friends, because that's where the focus is going to be for the next few years. Coordinate the efforts with the other parents & let the kids have a blast.

Save the big party for H.S. graduation....college....etc. & coming from a different point of view, in many school districts, this is a non-issue because there is no graduation or ceremony for moving from 8th to 9th grade! It's almost a thing of the past....between nieces/nephews & our kids, we have 20+ kids & not a single 8th grade graduation!

We always have an 8th grade grad party for our kids. but it is only family. not extended family and friends etc. We save the really big hoopla party for highschool graduation. I think your party sounds fun but 64 people is really a lot to me.

I'm with the others. Save the big celebration for high school. Maybe you could take the family out to her favorite restaurant for her celebration.