Anonymous wrote:Not into graduation ceremonies for anything except 12th grade, unless it's for a special program like CES, immersion, etc.

Regarding community feel, from my experience, parents in special programs or in schools with good, welcoming leadership tend to be tighter knit and communicate more.

CES is only two years and immersion is just luck of the lottery. Why are they more deserving of a ceremony than kindergarten, "regular" 5th grade, 8th grade, etc? I don't get all the hate towards promotion ceremonies. They're fun for kids who are already getting the fun sucked out of their childhood. It's a commemoration of growing up a little more, and finishing something that was a major part of life.

My kids' MCPS school did a kindergarten picnic at a park that was walking distance from the school. There was no "graduation ceremony" but the teachers gave out superlative awards and each kid got something. It was cute and fun.

We had a little classroom thing at the end of K. It was pleasant, took a picture, ate a cookie. Took kid home early (probably the teacher's goal).

Not into graduation ceremonies for anything except 12th grade, unless it's for a special program like CES, immersion, etc.

Regarding community feel, from my experience, parents in special programs or in schools with good, welcoming leadership tend to be tighter knit and communicate more.

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of a public school doing a Kindergarten graduation. Honestly over all these ceremonies for just going to the next grade which 99.999% of all kids will do.

My MD school has one for pre-k, kindergarten, and 8th grade. Parents show up in droves for them. It's the first and only time I've ever met or communicated with most of the parents. Most of them don't return class, messages or notes.

Never heard of a public school doing a Kindergarten graduation. Honestly over all these ceremonies for just going to the next grade which 99.999% of all kids will do.

It varies from school to school. (In some cases from teacher to teacher) I the school where I work, there was some kind of end of year celebration prior to covid but the teacher could decide what they wanted to celebrate, usually there were little awards sometimes there was a class play or children shared a story or poem that they had written.

With covid my principal has been very hesitant to have any large gatherings.

I would ask your child's teacher if they're planning to do something and definitely offer to help if the teacher needs anything.

Email the teacher or principal to see if there is a promotion ceremony. Usually, a notice has been sent by now. But it's not too late to remind the poor overworked teachers.

You do not graduate from kindergarten, or any other grade but 12th.

Public schools typically do a closing ceremony/promotion to middle school at the end of 5th grade, and then something similar at the end of 8th grade as students transition to high school.

No. There may be a picnic or informal class party at the end of the year, but there's no "K graduation" ceremony.

My child is currently in K, and we used to attend a private preschool that also has a kindergarten class. At our preschool, we would have end of school year celebration and a "graduation" ceremony. I am guessing there is nothing lie that in our MCPS ES? One of my friends is shopping for a kindergarten graduation ceremony outfit for kid.