Announcing Announcements-Grads

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When a homeschooled student graduates from high school, more than his own dedication and hard work are being celebrated. Homeschooling represents an enormous sacrifice on the part of the student's parents and other family members. A homeschool high school graduation is truly a milestone to celebrate!


Thousands of homeschooling families have already used our bookstore's high school diploma to add a special touch to their graduation ceremonies. This year, we are pleased to share a new item to assist you in celebrating this rite of passage: graduation announcements.


Designed especially for homeschoolers, these announcements are preprinted on quality cardstock with a Scripture verse and the year of graduation. They arrive flat, with blank interiors, so you can personalize them on a laser or inkjet printer. Choose from among three styles for the very reasonable price of $14–$18 per pack of 25 ($17–$21 for nonmembers). And be sure to call for bulk pricing if you are ordering two or more packs.


All profits from the sale of these announcements go toward the Home School Foundation's Compassion Fund, so when you place your order, you also help touch the life of a fellow homeschooler.


For more information on ordering these announcements and other graduate-specific products, please visit www.hslda.org/bookstore/default.asp.

www.hslda.org/docs/news/hslda/200503/200503291.asp

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Etiquette for Sending Graduation Announcements

Graduation Announcements are sent to friends and family to share the good news of your accomplishment. Include these same people at any other activities that might take place during this exciting time of your life.

Remember, an announcement is not necessarily an invitation to the ceremony. Sometimes schools must limit seating at graduation ceremonies, and you will need to enclose an admission ticket in the announcements of those who are invited to attend the ceremony. Even family and friends who will not be able to attend will appreciate a memento of this important milestone in your life, so be sure to include them on your list.

Addressing Graduation Announcements

Graduation Announcements are sent in two envelopes. The outer envelope (the larger envelope with the gummed flap) should be personally addressed in blue or black ink. Use complete addresses with no abbreviations and utilize zip codes.

Example:


Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith
102 North Walnut Street
Albany, New York 14528

The names of the recipients should be personally written on the front of the inner envelope as if you were speaking to them. List children by name on the inner envelope only.

Example: Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom

Place the graduation announcement in the inner envelope with the fold inserted first and the front of the announcement facing the envelope flap. Place the inside envelope facing toward the back of the outside envelope when inserting.

When Announcements Should Be Mailed


Announcements may be sent as early as two weeks prior or two weeks after the ceremony. If the announcement is sent as an invitation to the ceremony, it is customary to send via first class mail two weeks prior to the ceremony.

Etiquette for Thank You Notes

Be sure to thank anyone who sent a graduation gift with a handwritten Thank You Note. This note should simply acknowledge the gift and should be sent as soon as possible.

Example:

Dear Aunt Mary,

Thank you for the check that you sent me for my graduation. I’m sure that it will be put it to good use! I’ll thank you in person soon.


Love,

Amy

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Social Announcement Etiquette
Graduation Party or Open House?
If you are planning to hold an Open House, normally everyone with whom you are associated would be invited. This celebration is typically held in the afternoon. Refreshments and light food may be served. Guests may come and go at any time during the hours of the open house. Those who receive an open house invitation are not normally asked to "R.S.V.P." and it is generally assumed that they may bring friends along with them. Open house cards can be inserted in your announcement or mailed separately.

Graduation Parties are "invitation only" events for close friends, acquaintances and special guests. Invitations should be sent out separately from graduation announcements. Graduation parties can be held at any time of the day or evening. Refreshments and a meal may be served.

Enclose directions or a map if necessary to help guests find the location
Make it clear whether or not a meal is planned, especially if the party is in the evening


Mailing Graduation Announcements
When...
If the announcement is being sent as an invitation to the ceremony and/or a graduation party, the recipient should have them at least 14 days before the event. Three weeks ahead of the ceremony is ideal, and four weeks is even better, if people from out of town are being invited who need to plan ahead. If the card is just being used to announce the accomplishment of graduation, it is proper to send it up to two or three weeks after the ceremony.

Name Cards...
Place your card in the card holder, if your announcement includes this feature. If not, place the name card in the fold of the announcement so that your name faces away from the text. However, if the announcement verse is printed on the front of the card, then the name card should be placed on top of the announcement.

Envelopes...
Whether or not you include a name card, the announcement should be placed in the smaller envelope with folded edge inserted first. The announcement front faces the flap. You may fasten the flap using a seal. If you do not use a seal, leave it un-tucked. This envelope is placed in the mailing envelope with the flap facing the mailing address side. Seals are often used on the outer envelope instead of the inner... this is a matter of preference.

Addressing...
The outer envelope, with the gummed flap, is the mailing envelope. It should be hand-addressed using black ink. It should be formal. Do not use abbreviations except for titles and state. Example:

Mr. and Mrs. William Jones
1554 South Wallace Street
Saint Paul, MN 12345

The inner envelope does not hav a gummed flap. It holds the announcement, name card, graduation picture, confetti, etc. It should be addressed informally. Examples:

Grandma
Bob and Susan
Uncle Pete

Return Address...
Use either a printed return address (printed on back flap of envelope), a return-address label (on the back or on the front of the envelope) or a hand written return address in black ink (upper left corner of the envelope). Complete your presentation with an envelope seal!

Single Envelopes
If you have purchased a photo announcement OR a Budget announcement with a single lined envelope, address the single envelope as though it were an outer envelope. The full names of the recipients should be written in black ink, abbreviating only the titles and the state.






www.homeschooldiploma.com/announcements/etiquette.php

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www.homeschooldiploma.com/newfiles/announcements/versesuggestions.htm

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Jostens
www.jostens.com/graduation/HS/announcements/index.asp

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shop.jostens.com/Catalog.asp?CID=158586&PFID=2002052210330145726&GID=6770&PID=&mscssid=J7LJCN9R7R108JEU4LLGXC7MP8X30AL7

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Samples of what your announcement should say:

www.graduation-announcements-store.com/gsamplewording.asp