Since 1999 MDHSA has hosted an annual graduation ceremony to help homeschooling families celebrate this important milestone. Our ceremony helps make this a special day for the whole family.
Date/Location of Ceremony
The ceremony is held at 1:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in June at a church in Chambersburg, PA. The ceremony lasts approximately 1 to 1½ hours.
Order of Ceremony
The ceremony starts with a processional of seniors wearing traditional caps and gowns, followed by a welcome and invocation, selected student talents, a student address, and a challenge to students by a commencement speaker. It culminates with parents going up on the stage and presenting diplomas to their student while the student’s biography is read aloud by a moderator. In addition to the diploma, parents also hand their graduate an electric candle which the student carries during the recessional.
Dress Code
It is important for students and parents to dress appropriately. No jeans, shorts, sweats, etc. All students are required to wear caps, gowns, and tassels for the group graduation picture and the ceremony. Students may choose any color they wish; however, their cap and gown colors should be the same. The tassel may be of any color or combination of colors. No honor cords may be worn during the ceremony, but students may wear them for pictures before and after the ceremony.
Rehearsal
• Rehearsal is held in the morning before the graduation ceremony, usually around 9:30 a.m. All students must attend the rehearsal along with at least one parent from each family.
• MDHSA Diploma Program parents will be given their student’s diploma at this time. All parents will practice awarding the diploma to their student.
• A group picture is usually taken during rehearsal.
• Lunch break is 12:00-1:00. Families may either bring a lunch or plan on buying one at one of the local stores or restaurants.
• At 1:00, the graduates will meet with the ceremony moderators in an assigned room to go over the final details.
•The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m.
Seating/Live Stream
There will be no cap on the number of guests unless the number of RSVPs exceeds the number of seats available. Seating will be assigned by MDHSA based on the number of graduates, registration dates, and number of guests per family (e.g., parties with smaller numbers who register early are usually seated closer to the front.) MDHSA will also live stream the ceremony for guests who are unable to attend in person; registered families will be provided a password that is necessary to access the live stream.
Who can participate?
•The ceremony is open to all homeschool graduates; you do not have to reside in PA in order to participate.
•Please be aware that MDHSA is a Christian organization. You do not need to subscribe to our religious beliefs in order to participate but you should know that our ceremony will reflect those beliefs.
•Typically between 25-40 graduates participate in the graduation ceremony. Most of these are either annual members of our local Support Group or participants in the MDHSA Diploma Program. Registration opens in October for these two groups.
•Registration opens January 1 for all other homeschoolers. In order to register for the ceremony, homeschoolers who are not annual members of the Support Group or enrolled participants in the Diploma Program must purchase a temporary limited membership (cheaper than a regular membership and solely for the purpose of participating in the ceremony) in addition to paying the graduation ceremony registration fee.
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Fees & Registration
Registration fees vary depending on your eligibility to participate in the ceremony. Below are the three options to choose from. The applicable fee will be listed on each registration form. Click on the option that fits your situation.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 CEREMONY IS NOW CLOSED.
↑↑↑ Registration for these two options opens October 15 ↓↓↓
↑↑↑ Registration for all other homeschoolers opens January 1
If you have any questions, please email office@masondixonhomeschoolers.org.
“We just had to let you know how impressed we were with the…graduation ceremony….It was a beautiful ceremony. All our guests complimented how everything flowed so well. Our son was very happy that he decided to be a part of it….Your professionalism is outstanding.”
-Parent of a Graduate