Posted by Kathy on June 30 2008 at 16:46:18:
My daughter and I attended our first PHAA graduation ceremony as spectators at the Forum in Harrisburg this past Saturday. (I wanted her to see what she could be looking forward to in a few years.) We were both SO impressed! What a lovely and well-run ceremony! Congratulations on a job well done. The student performances (speeches, musical performances and skit) were excellent. We were so impressed by the kids´ poise and talent. The commencement speaker was good too, managing to speak to both parents and graduates, touching each group. I really liked the variety of colors in the gowns, and when they marched in to ´Pomp and Circumstance´, felt tears in my eyes. (Which was completely ridiculous, since I didn´t even have a child graduating.) You could see how excited and nervous the kids were, and how special this ceremony was to them. Letting each family present the diploma to its graduating senior was very special.
THANK YOU for providing yet another wonderful service to homeschoolers in Pennsylvania!
I have one tiny suggestion: please remind adults in the audience to turn OFF their cell phones at the beginning of the ceremony. You wouldn´t think it would be necessary, and I was amazed at the number of cell phones that went off during the ceremony, often during the musical pieces, which was really a shame. Maybe a reminder in the program would be useful too.