If you have a Mac, this is SUPER easy to do with iPhoto and iMovie.

My gift to the kiddos included: their writing folder, and art portfolio, and a DVD slideshow of pictures from the year.

I also had an additional gift for each child out on two or three long tables around the room for them to pick up as they were leaving. I always had pictures of the Kinders up around the room, and a picture frame of the class on each table.Depending on the year, sometimes I would make little centerpieces to go in the middle of the tables, and sometimes I would have a parent volunteer to do it for me.It was also a way for the 1st grade parents to say “thank you” for last year’s ceremony. A nice tradition at my school was that instead of the Kindergarten parents handling the reception and setting up for it, the 1st grade room parents would do it! It was definitely a weight off my mind that they took care of setting up all the food.We mainly served coffee, juice, donuts, sweet rolls, and fruit. After the ceremony, we always had a small reception for families to take pictures and have a little snack with the kids.Another student would narrate on the microphone what was being placed on the table.

Like our class teddy bear, flag, Bible, bucket (for bucket fillers), special picture books, etc… These items would be brought forward by some of my shier students and would be placed on a table right below the stage. During the ceremony, I would also highlight objects that were “special” to our class.I even would have a “Kinder Valedictorian” who would give a small speech about his/her Kindergarten memories.The kids would open the ceremony by saying “thank yous” to their teachers, families, friends, etc….We practiced for about 2 weeks, and I would always send home the lines ahead of time so that parents could practice with them too. They would come up to the microphone and read or say their line when it was their turn. Each of my kiddos would have a line to say, or a special job during the ceremony.I feel it is the PERFECT Kindergarten song!! I cried every year!! The song I used for the procession was: “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story. The chairs they sat on during the ceremony were facing the audience. I would have them stop in the middle of the stage and give each other a hug or a high five before they sat down on their chair. They would walk in holding hands (so adorable) and would walk up the stairs to the stage. Kiddos would process into the ceremony down a center aisle with a partner.

Kindergarten graduation