Frequently Asked
Questions
1. Why is there an age requirement for
graduation with the Idaho Homeschool Graduation?
The Idaho Homeschool Graduation Ceremony provides a ceremony for those
traditional, older homeschooled students who have met their parents’
requirements for graduation from high school. The age of 17 as of
December 31st of the year before the ceremony actually allows students
younger than the public school students (by 3 months) who follow the
traditional Kindergarten through 12th grade schedule.
We respect, however, the right of parents to graduate younger students
on their own. Parents desiring to graduate students younger than the 17
as of December 31st of the year before the ceremony can choose to put
together their own ceremony with other younger students to celebrate
this important milestone. They may obtain a cap and gown package with a
diploma from HSLDA to put on a home graduation ceremony of their own.
2. What does it mean to be “privately homeschooled”?
Those who are “privately homeschooled” may take 2 or fewer core classes
in a public school and take the rest of their core and elective classes
at home.
Those students taking 3 or more core classes at a local high school
(Core classes include English, History, Math and Science) are
considered to be part of the public school attendance record and that
school district receives public tax money for those individual
students. Classes taken at colleges are not counted into the “core”
ranking (such as Jump Start or Concurrent classes that receive college
credits). Virtual Charter schools (ones who receive public money based
on student participation) are considered “public schools at home” and
are not eligible to graduate with the Idaho Homeschool Graduation.
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3. Explain the graduation fee.
The graduation fee covers the following: facility rental for the
graduation, cap/gown and tassel for the student, diploma with engraved
display case, 50 graduation invitations and envelopes, a yearbook with
the individual student’s senior page in color, all paperwork and
mailings, as well as honorariums for adult speakers connected with the
graduation ceremony.
Much research and work is done to try to keep the costs down from year
to year.
4. Why are there
so many meetings?
There are 6 one hour meetings to prepare for graduation. Each meeting
is important in the process of preparing for the graduation day
ceremony. The meetings are held in September (informational and
completing the application to participate in the graduation process),
October (ordering and measuring of caps and gowns, voting on class
hymn, class verse, and class adult speaker), January (handing in Senior
pages for the yearbook, ordering extra invitations (optional as
needed), verifying diploma names), March (handing in biography and
parent tributes, handing out invitation orders), April (passing out
caps and gowns, practicing for the actual ceremony) and May (preparing
for the final details of graduation). The meetings also provide an
avenue for the senior to become acquainted with fellow seniors. When
graduation day arrives, the students who have attended the meetings
regularly find that they enjoy their graduation day even more by
knowing their fellow classmates.
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5. We live outside the Boise/Nampa area. Do we have to
come to the meetings?
Each meeting (see number 4) is very important for the senior and
parents, in order to be fully prepared for graduation day. Our
volunteers are very careful to utilize and protect the senior’s, the
parents’ and their own volunteer time. Because we do no not have access
to meeting on a regular basis (as public and private high schools do),
the six meetings become the basis for graduation. Group meetings
provide the best use of time and resources to get vital information
about graduation to the individuals involved.
Also, by regularly attending the meetings, the senior gets to know
fellow classmates, making graduation day all the more special.
6. Why is there
such a strict dress code for graduation?
The desire for the Idaho Homeschool Graduation is to be a dignified
forum to place homeschooling in the best light possible. We have many
legislators and dignitaries who attend our graduation. Many of those
take policy making opinions back to our law makers. In addition, many
homeschooling families invite family and friends who have not been
favorable to homeschooling in the past. Because of these reasons, the
Idaho Homeschool Graduation is called to display a higher standard.
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7. Can the parents present the diplomas to their student
at the graduation ceremony?
Because of the number of students who receive their diplomas at the
Idaho Homeschool Graduation Ceremony, we have found it impossible to
organize parents to present diplomas and keep the ceremony within a
reasonable time frame.
8. What about
having a slideshow presentation of each
student during the ceremony?
Again, because of the number of students participating in the Idaho
Homeschool Graduation, we have found the time constraints involved with
both producing a slideshow showcasing each student and the actual
length of that slideshow make it virtually impossible to fit within the
program setting.
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9. Why are the class colors royal blue, silver and white?
The colors royal blue, silver and white have been a part of the Idaho
Homeschool Graduation for many years and have become a part of the
tradition that has grown over the years.
10. Can students
pass on their caps and gowns to future
class students and/or siblings?
Because of the year to year change in dye lots that result in subtle
color changes (visable to the audience eye) and the sheer number of
hours involved with either connecting families to trade and/or purchase
previous years’ gowns, as well as the difficulty of locating missing
package pieces caps, white collars, appropriate sizes of gowns, etc.),
each senior will be receiving their own cap, gown and tassel in the
year of their graduation. This cap, gown, and tassel is included in the
graduation fee and is not refundable.
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11. What are honor cords and how does one get them?
Gold and White Honor cords are worn by those who have high scores on
the SAT, ACT or the ITED tests (administered by ICHE—the Idaho
Coalition of Home Educators). They are purchased (an extra cost which
is not included in the total graduation fee) each January by qualifying
students to be worn at the graduation ceremony.
12. How long is
the actual graduation ceremony?
The graduation ceremony begins at 3:30 pm with the student prelude. Our
hope is that all guests are seated by 3:30 pm to hear students present
a musical interlude prior to the commencement of the ceremony. The
doors are closed at 3:55 pm for the graduate lineup and are not opened
to late-comers until all graduates are seated on stage. The
processional begins promptly at 4 pm. The actual ceremony lasts
approximately one and one half hour.
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13. What is the actual graduation ceremony like?
Beginning with the student prelude, we have the processional, honoring
of the American flag, invocation, student speeches, student led hymn,
student read class verse, adult class speaker, presentation of diplomas
with tributes written by the parents read as the student receives
his/her diploma,
14. Does every
graduate get a yearbook and when are they
available?
Every graduate of the Idaho Homeschool Graduation receives a yearbook
on graduation day, during the rehearsal time. They are given time to
have fellow graduates sign their yearbook. Additional yearbooks are
available for advanced purchase (deadline is March 31st) from the
yearbook editor. Freshman, Sophomore and Juniors are encouraged to send
their wallet sized picture to the yearbook committee as well as
pictures of their high school activities for inclusion in the yearbook.
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15. What other activities are available to homeschooled
Juniors and Seniors?
The Junior
Senior Banquet is a very special event held in the spring for
homeschooled juniors, seniors, alumni and their parents as well. It is
a semi-formal to formal function providing an opportunity for parents
and students to honor each other as they are approaching the end of
their homeschooling experience. A lovely buffet dinner is provided and
a program, put on by the juniors and seniors, showcases the talents of
the students. This annual event has become the highlight of the year
for many juniors and seniors and is truly an evening to remember.
The annual Snow Sneak is for the junior and senior homeschool class. It
is put on by the parents of these students and held in either January
or February. In previous years, this weekend-long event has been held
at Camp Pinewood in McCall, Idaho and gives juniors and seniors an
opportunity to get to know each other as they have fun in the snow. It
is a well-chaperoned event with separate sleeping quarters for guys and
gals and involves snow activites, games, fun and fellowship. Parents
are more than welcome to attend with their students!
16. Can Seniors
and Parents get involved in the
preparation for the Graduation ceremony?
The Idaho Homeschool Graduation would not be possible if it were not
for the countless volunteer hours by its seniors, parents and other
volunteers. Each year we are faced with the question of continuing on
this graduation tradition. It is not for want of homeschool seniors. It
is for lack of volunteers. Each graduation takes approximately 14
months to prepare for that final graduation day. We welcome seniors,
parents of seniors, alumni, parents who have completed their
homeschooling journey, etc. to help us make this tradition continue
into the future. Talk to one of the Committee members to see where you
can serve!
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