The document proposes changes to the 2010 Grade 6 graduation events at Mentone Park Primary School. It suggests holding the dinner and presentations at an off-site venue to address challenges like limited space and catering workload. This would allow all parents to attend as guests rather than helping. The following day would remain a kids-only event at Kidspace. The proposal estimates costs and notes the maximum parent contribution per student would be $32 but fundraising could lower it to $15. Tradition and student involvement would still be respected under the new plan.

1. Mentone Park Primary
Graduation Proposal
2010
Created for Created by
School Council 2010 Graduation
Perry Kick (Acting Committee
Principal)
Date
cc. Louisa Downey
(Principal) 10th August, 2010

2. It’s A Tradition....
In preparation
For the 2010 Grade 6 Dinner and Presentations
Graduation, the committee has been •Held in School Hall
•Funded by School, Parents and Community
researching previous events by
•Catered for by Grade 6 Parents
reading through correspondence and •Set up by Grade 6 Parents
chatting to previous grade 6 parents •Served by Grade 6 Parents
•Themed by Grade 6 Parents
and students.
The intent being to draw on the Kids Fun Event
triumphs and challenges of previous •Held at Kidspace (booked as private venue)
•Funded by Grade 6 Parents
years and use this information as we
•Supervised by Grade 6 Parents
plan for the success of 2010.
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

3. We Know, and Have...
Dates: Tuesday, 14th December
Dinner and Presentation (School Hall)
Wednesday, 15th December
Kidspace (booked exclusively)
Financial: $500 School contribution
Committee: 15 parents (all working mums, of which 3 have confirmed availability for
set up on the day of graduation)
Guests: 34 Grade 6 Students
20 Current Teachers / 10 Past Teachers
100 +family members
Theme: Ha! Not telling!
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

4. Challenges for 2010...
Traditional ‘formula’ presents some logistical considerations
 Limited Funds
 Dinner/ Presentation set up / service is highly labour intensive
 Only 3 parents confirmed available for Set up, Catering, and serving of food
 Limited Family inclusion due to size of school hall (both in space and seating suitability)
 Hall can be uncomfortably hot (Air conditioning struggles to keep the area cool with
numbers)
 Hall seating makes presentations difficult to see/hear (unless seated in first 3 rows)
 Safe food handling a concern for such large scale catering (particularly if hot night)
 limited opportunity for children to mingle and socialise with each other
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

5. Opportunities for 2010...
A brainstorm of possibility
 Create an ‘extra special’ event for Graduation 2010 to acknowledge the truly positive
spirit of our kids; kids who have thrived in a potentially challenging learning environment
(sharing the hall as a classroom in 2009, and being moved to portables in 2010)
 Introduce increased opportunity for parents to join the event as guests, instead of
workers
 Fundraising to increase the available funds
 Source donations / gifts to increase available funds
 Change of venue: to address challenges (size, catering, workload etc)
 Outsource catering: to address food safety issues
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

6. Our
Proposal....
Graduation 2010 will be an opportunity for
students, teachers and families to ALL join together
to share, acknowledge and celebrate our combined
contribution to Mentone Park Primary School.
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

7. Something Old, Something New
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

8. As Per Tradition...
As per previous highlights, these events include
 ‘Surprise’ theme
 Student Presentations
 Student year book
 Student placemats
 Dress code for evening (chance for kids to ‘dress up’)
 Teachers and Students sharing a social event
 Photos/Videos
 Party Atmosphere
 Family Inclusion
 Respect for Tradition and Values of previous years
 Ice Cream Cake
 A chance for parents to ‘give back’ to Mentone Park Primary
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

9. Something New...
The dinner will be held at an ‘offsite’ venue
 Everything can be finalised prior to the day – allowing all parents to join
students and teachers in the celebration (instead of working during the event)
 Increased seating capacity (can invite nannas, parents etc)
 Increased space for presentations etc
 Relaxed atmosphere (air-conditioning, staffed service, comfortable seating etc)
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

10. What we really like about this idea!
This is
This concept is proposed in alignment with the values of previous Mentone Park Primary Graduations.
This is not
This change of venue is not intended to change the positioning of graduation. As with previous years, the point
of differentiation will be our theme, our children, and their presentations. The change of venue is considered
to be purely ‘administrative’ and not designed to glamorise the event. Similarly, the change of event will not
be regarded as a precedence for future graduations.
General Feeling ‘in the Playground’
Grade 6 Parents have been informally surveyed, and only three parents indicated concern.
Their reasons being; it’s a proposed change in tradition, it may impact them financially.
However, as with previous years, tradition will be respected and costs will be subsidised with the
school budget, fundraising and donations.
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

11. It looks like this...
Dinner & Presentation Kids Only Event
When: Tuesday, 14th December When: Wednesday, 15th December
Location: Dingley International Location: Kidspace
Schedule: Feast: 2 course sit down meal Schedule: Fun! Kidspace to be booked
Formalities: Children, teachers, exclusively for Mentone Park
school council presentations Primary
Guests: 34 Grade six Students Guests: Children only
20 Current Teachers (nominated parents to supervise.
No siblings)
10 Past Teachers
100 plus parents, siblings etc.
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)

12. It will cost...
Dinner and Presentation
20 x Teachers $ 500 (covered by school contribution)
34 x Grade 6 Students $ 510 ($15 per child parent contribution)
Decorations $ 200 (covered by fundraising)
Kids Only Event
34 x Grade 6 Students $ 600 (covered through fundraising)
Optional Expenses
Photos ($10+, optional), Video, Dinner guests (Siblings $15, Adults $25)
Parent Contribution
The maximum parent contribution per child will be $32.
However, fundraising will reduce this to $15 per child. (last year was $20)
Additional costs will be at parents discretion; including photos, video
and number of family members invited to the dinner.
Prepared by Grade 6 Graduation
Committee, 2010 (August, 2010)