I want to throw a party for my son's entire senior class?

Question

They graduate in May of course, but I want to throw a party for all of them in April. I was thinking a cook out on a Saturday afternoon so they could still 'go out' that night.

So, my questions are:
Is it OK to have a party for him that also honors the rest of the class, etiquette-ly speaking?
Is April 15 too soon?
Do I invite the parents?
What are some good festive ideas to make this special?
What sort of party favor should I get each of them?
I was going to make everyone a CD of 'graduation' songs, is that cheesy?


Of course, the focus will be my son, but I want to honor the entire class because they have all gone to school together for so long. Of course, we don't want anyone bringing gifts.

I welcome any ideas and suggestions on how to make this cookout they all will enjoy and remember--things to do, eat, give away, themes, anything!!! Thanks! There are about 60 kids in his class.

Answer 1

I think it would be nice to have a party! If the weather will be nice where you are in April I don't think that is too soon. After all, the closer it gets to graduation they will be more and more busy with things to do, etc that it will actually be easier and more relaxing for them to start off this time with a party! I'm sure the parents would appreciate being invited, if you think you can accomodate that many people. I would perhaps address the invitation to the student "and family" and require them to RSVP with the amount of people that will be attending so they feel included but you still can get an idea of how many people will come. I think a CD would be a good favor idea. . . Just being able to be with each other will probably be fun, especially if it's a nice day. Maybe sent up some games like racquet ball or something, and lots of food, and music, maybe hire a DJ. . . If you wanted, you could give away some prizes, like a random door prize. I think a nice idea would be to also maybe have a raffle, where you could sell tickets, even just cheap like 50 cents or a dollar each, and then pick a winner for a really good prize. The money you collect from the tickets could be donated either to the school, or to a local charity in the name of the class. Maybe give away disposable cameras so they have lots of memories of the time. I would just use decorations in the school colors, and keep it sort of simple.

Answer 2

What a very generous and thoughtful idea. It's all the more special because I'll bet some of these kids won't have any party thrown for them at home, as you know. It will give them each a chance to feel special. I'd invite a handful of parents you know well, or you will be outnumbered as far as keeping an eye on things so they don't get out of hand and as far as keeping the food filled up, etc.
The CD is a good idea, but I think what I'd do is make it a variety of "hit" songs from this year in a few genres. This is what they will always remember when they hear these songs and think of senior year. A graduation songs CD would only be played for a limited time and wouldn't be as much of a keepsake. As a party favor, since this will be held the month before their graduation, you might check out Oriental Trading. I got my daughter and her friends these little dry-write graduation caps and pens with a magnet. It says "____Days Until Graduation." They put them on their lockers. Or, if you can afford it, you might get a bulk price on disposable cameras for each of them. They will sure come in handy, if not at your party then for all the events to come.
As for a theme, I know it will be overdone this year, but the kids are really getting a kick out of the James Bond tie in of '007. You can do a lot of fun things with that. (If it's outdoors, you might even give them all squirt guns. They never seem to get too old for those.) You could do up a "special agent" ID for each of them and play some James Bond music at the beginning when they are all arriving, etc. In a case like this, the cheesier the better, I say. My daughter graduates this year, and I know she and her friends would really be into it.
If you know anyone who has a really awesome two-seater sports car that they'd be willing to bring and park at the event (they could stay so they wouldn't be nervous about it), you could do keepsake photos of each of the kids sitting in the driver's seat of the awesome spy-looking car.
It would be even more awesome if you could get a great price on a couple limos and have all the kids picked up at a few designated spots and brought to the party in limos. It would be a small investment if you did it that way, and yet it would give them all a great "sense of arrival."

Answer 3

Cook out idea is fantastic and since there's only 60 kids, it's not TOO big of a day---but I think April 15th is a bit too soon--I'd have it more towards May if you could.
The cd of songs isnt cheesy at all, and if you could get some photos scanned in or a powerpoint presentation (check with the yearbook staff, they might be able to do this even for you!), that could be on there, too
You sound like a cool mom.

Answer 4

i think that is a great idea!!! A cook out sounds great. Maybe you can have a slide show with pictures of all the seniors. Ask you son to ask everyone to send you pictures so you can put it together and maybe you can put the slide show on a CD and that can be there favor. It will take a lot of work, but I think it would be fun.

have fun!!