Hats Off To The Class of 2014: Graduation Ceremonies
April 11, 2014
Within the next couple of months, schools all around the world will be getting ready to say farewell to the class of 2014. For students of every age, graduation is one of the biggest milestones in their academic career and, as teachers and administrators, it’s your job to plan a ceremony that they will take with them as they move on. In the eyes of students, graduation is more than just receiving a diploma and advancing to the next level, it’s a day of reflection and congratulations on all of the hard work and effort they have put in for the past several years. Since graduation tends to be your school’s largest ceremony of the year, it’s important to stay focused and be organized as you begin preparation. To help, we’ve collected some tips on how to plan the perfect graduation for your students:
Communicate: It’s essential for administrators to communicate with each other, students, parents, and any other groups of people who will be involved in the ceremony. Communication should include discussions on when and how things will take place, and what to do in case of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance. If you’re planning graduation for an elementary, middle, or high school that’s within a school district, make sure to communicate with the other schools around you as to not conflict times and dates – you never know when someone will have a sibling graduating from another school in the same year!
Set a Schedule: Before the ceremony, establish a timeline that you will follow throughout the day/evening. This includes start and end times and any plans for refreshments or special events that will take place afterwards. It’s also important to plan keynote speakers in advance, and try to set a time limit for speeches in order to keep the ceremony running smoothly.
Consider the Weather: Depending on the size of your graduating class, you may have to plan an outdoor ceremony. If this is the case, have a back up plan even if it means conducting two or three separate ceremonies indoors due to weather circumstances. As you get closer to the day of, monitor the weather and if need be, alert faculty, students and parents as early as possible with any changes.
Make Accommodations: Work with your school’s maintenance staff to make sure that your campus and ceremony is accessible to all guests. This may include sectioning off certain areas for guests with disabilities or other needs. Also, make an effort to ensure there will be enough parking for guests of students, even if this means faculty must park outside of the school’s parking lots.
Go Out With a Bang: Always end on positive, uplifting note. This can be done through a keynote speaker, a student speaker, or even a special send-off event. Fireworks anyone?
At Nickerson Corporation, we realize what an important day graduation is and pride ourselves on our ability to help schools plan seating solutions for an outstanding ceremony. Whether you are planning an indoor or an outdoor ceremony, we can supply you with everything you need to make sure your event is successful. Partnering with leading manufacturers, services include auditorium and fixed seating, bleachers, folding chairs and portable seating, outdoor grandstands, and stages and risers. We are also available to inspect and repair your seating to guarantee comfort, safety and efficient use of space. Call us today at 631-666-0200 for more information.