We homeschool somewhat year-round, taking one long break of about six weeks each year. Even though our break is shorter than many, we still like to take the opportunity to celebrate.
We like to go out for a treat on our last day of school. This year it was donuts. We also like to plan a fun activity. The "fun activity" this year was a little different, because we got that early morning call from the post office to come pick up the new batch of chicks for my oldest's egg business. So, our last day was spent getting them settled in, and enjoying the fluffy fun of new farm animals.
We participated this year in our homeschool support group's end of year program. It happened a few weeks after we were finished, but we set up a table displaying some things we had done. We participated in the program portion, as well. My kindergartner, true to the reality of homeschooling for many of us, didn't know he was in kindergarten until a few weeks before the end of school. He got to do a cute little K graduation, and he played a song he "wrote" on the piano, which was about ten notes long. One of my girls recited a Hilaire Belloc poem, and the other sang a song she has been writing. It was a fun way to see what others had been doing this year.
The biggest tradition for our family, however, is that we have an at-home program. The kids do a little performance (this year it was like a rehearsal for the support group's program.) We give them promotion certificates. We say a little bit about how each one of them has grown and matured over the year, academically and otherwise. My favorite part, however, is the last bit, where my husband prays, thanking God for the opportunities for growth in our completed school year, and praying over the year to come. The kids' favorite part is probably the fondue dinner we have while we watch a movie afterward.
Next year, I'm hoping to add a little photo slideshow in to our at-home program.
How do you celebrate the end of the year?
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