Senior Activities and Graduation Ideas

We are working to collect ideas from across the nation of what schools and districts are considering and/or planning to celebrate our seniors. From AWSP collaboration with Jostens on a virtual graduation (AWSP/Jostens: The Show Will Go On!) to little things to make the senior's year a bit better, we are updating our 2020 Resources page daily.

Here are some of the ideas from our member schools, advisers, principals, and students:

• Recognizing student involvement in activities, arts, academics, and athletics via social media and yard signs.

  • Many communities have found a way for local sign makers to make signs of encouragement and congratulations to put in their yards. There are many folks in neighborhoods that are putting these up, even without a senior in the house.

• Have students submit their “Senior Stories” and thank yous to the school.

  • Buffalo State College (SUNY) is working on social media projects called “Senior stories” where students can send in a 30 second to 1-minute video of themselves reflecting on their time on campus or thanking individuals who helped them on their journey to graduation. The plan is for the communications and marketing team to put the clips together in an end of the year video to send to the whole class. 

• Using snail mail to send handwritten notes from staff to seniors (or all students).

  • Sometimes the power of a handwritten note is amazing. Schools have been doing this as part of the graduation event, but why not write/mail these notes to their students. Create an online list of graduates, have staff select a number of students (if the entire staff participates, this is usually 5-8 cards per staff member), develop (use) a school postcard, have staff write personal notes to their selected students, mail home (either by staff or bring back to school for addressing/mailing).

  • Gown up and Drop In!

    • Have students wear graduation regalia and join a virtual meeting (Google Meet, Zoom) where they can be recognized by school leaders and have their graduation conferred virtually.

    • Enlist student leaders to help with getting the word out to help make sure every senior and family is included in the celebration and has access to a video or computer to participate.

• Drive-Through Graduation/Parade

  • Have each graduate and their family participate in a graduation caravan from their home neighborhood to the school and back. Graduates can pick up their diploma and be greeted by school leaders at the school’s campus before returning home. Provide guidance for signs and decorations that can be used to celebrate the class of 2020. Work with activity advisers and student leaders—particularly underclassmen who want to celebrate their class of 2020 peers—to help plan for solutions to make the day go seamlessly.

• Virtual Prom Live

  • Students are invited to participate in Virtual Prom Live—a series of nationwide virtual proms based on time zones. Students can dress up and listen to top regional DJs play the best school-appropriate music. Encourage your students to register today. You can also coordinate with your school or district to create your own virtual prom event.

• Signing Day Celebrations

  • While this was originally designated for college signing, help celebrate the class of 2020 by creating a virtual signing day for post high school plans. Celebrate their next step of military, career, college or wherever their next steps in life. Really it doesn’t matter what school, pathway, job, or major students will choose. Signing Day is about the commitment to ongoing education and success!

    Of course you can also join schools across the country on June 1 with a virtual College Signing Day party! Check out the College Signing Day toolkit for more information about the celebration and ideas on how you can participate.

We also have resources from our affiliates:

• NatStuCo (NASSP) Resource page

• Circleville City Schools Commencement and Senior Activity Guide

• Grown and Flown: Favorite High School Graduation Idea

• Saturday, May 2 (11am-Noon PST): Show Me Your Walk: Live Celebration for the Class of 2020 (online event)

• Check out the NAWD Zoom Meeting - April 28th: Senior Activities & Student Council Elections

  • Video of 4.28.2020 Zoom Conference

  • View the Chat from the 4.28.2020 Zoom Conference

  • Terry D’Imperio (NY) - SLIDES about Celebrating Seniors from the 4.28.2020 Zoom Conference

  • Robert Bittel’s (NY) - NOTES from the 4.28.2020 Zoom Conference

  • Kathy Coll (PA) - ADDITIONAL IDEAS from the 4.28.2020 Zoom Conference