36 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 14, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
graduation
5 tips for a memorable, stress-free graduation party
Th e nation’s high school graduation
rate continues to rise. With more than 84
percent of students graduating on time in
2016, it is at a record high, according to
recent data from the U.S. Department of
Education.
In addition, the National Center for
Education Statistics is expecting that 3.6
million students will graduate from high
school in 2017-18. With the growth in
graduates, graduation parties are increasing
and the bar is being raised on how to
best honor and commemorate this special
milestone.
For graduating high schoolers, this is
the year they will be moving on to life’s
next big adventure. It’s a time to be excited,
a time to be nervous, but above all, a
time to celebrate.
Th e season for grad parties is here, but
for many parents, planning can be a bit
tricky. Everyone wants a truly unique
experience to recognize the accomplishments
of their graduate, but at the same
time, life can be hectic, and party planning
can become stressful.
Th e good news is that with a little knowhow,
it’s possible to throw a meaningful
graduation party without going over the
edge. Th ese fi ve tips will help any timestarved
host create a truly memorable
event and stay sane at the same time!
Create personalized, printed invitations
and announcements. Digital invitations
might seem like the most convenient way
to go, but there is an easy, more personalized
and meaningful way to get the
word out. Create photo cards by simply
visiting one of the thousands of Kodak
Picture Kiosks, which can be found at
most CVS and Target locations. Here, in
a matter of minutes, party planners can
upload a favorite photo, select from dozens
of designs and make an announcement
that refl ects the graduate’s personality.
Envelopes are included with the
cost of the card, making this a truly onestop
shop for everyone’s invitation and
announcement needs.
Music, tunes and jams. Music is an
essential component of any party. To create
an ambiance that conveys a graduate’s
style, have the graduate make a playlist
of their favorite hits and most memorable
school songs. Th en all that’s needed
is a Bluetooth speaker and a smartphone
(or any other audio device with pairing
capabilities).
An answer to your dining needs. More
restaurants are off ering catering services,
so whether the graduate wants a taco
bar or pizza buff et, it’s likely that one of
their favorite restaurants can accommodate
a crowd and many off er delivery services
as well.
Create a message board. A novel way to
share memories and create new ones is to
set up a message board where guests can
jot down stories and memories. Display a
number of pictures, in any number of sizes
- from mini prints to banners - that can be
printed out at a Kodak Picture Kiosk or
easily upload images to KodakMoments.
com or the Kodak Moments App and
order prints at home or on the go.
Make it social media friendly. It’s the
21st century, and that means there’s going
to be sharing of the graduation party
on social media. Embrace it! Ask those
attending to tag their posts and photos
with a distinctive and easy-to-remember
hashtag. Th is will allow everyone to have
a selection of easy-to-look-at pictures, and
later, can be used to create an archive of
memories.
It’s not oft en that there’s a chance to
gather so many people together in one
place to celebrate your child’s achievements.
With these tips, it’s easy to create a
graduation party everyone will remember
for years to come.
Courtesy BPT