Planning A Parade of Honor – Advice for schools
The first Parade of Honor events were held in Salem-Keizer in June 2015, and were very
successful. Participants found the events to be rewarding both personally and professionally,
and the events received positive media coverage. Many schools have asked for advice in
planning future Parade of Honor events.
A Parade of Honor is also a tool to help achieve the district’s vision: All students graduate
and are prepared for a successful life.
Community Relations and Communications planned the first events, and from that
experience has created this guidance to help schools that want to hold Parade of Honor
events in the future.
Following are links to a video and a news story about the first Parades of Honor.
https://vimeo.com/129726040
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/education/2015/06/04/mcnary-mckaygrads-honored-elementary-schools/28511033/
Event details
Who and what:
High school graduates go back to their elementary school of origin to “parade” the halls in
graduation caps and gowns, and to greet elementary students and staff.
Why:
 To celebrate the graduates
 To boost staff morale
 To strengthen relationships between schools within feeder systems
 To inspire young students to become graduates and achieve the district vision
Overview of a POH event:
 Graduates who want to participate in the parade meet at, or are transported to, the
elementary school in graduation caps and gowns.
 The elementary school principal leads graduates on a parade through the school.
 Graduates visit with teachers, media, elementary students, and take pictures for about
10-15 minutes following the parade.
 Graduates depart.
Approximate costs:
 Total time for event is about one hour, including bus travel to and from the elementary
school.
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16


Staff time to plan the event is about 40-45 hours spread over six weeks.
Other costs:
o Bus = $100
o Decorations, snacks = $100
o Postage and paper = $30
Duties and tasks
Following is a suggested division of duties for coordinating a Parade of Honor.
Elementary Schools:
Major duties = invite graduates and hold a party for them!
As early as possible
 Select a staff member to serve as event coordinator. This person takes the lead for
planning and running the event.
 Contact the event point person at the high school to pick the date and time of the event.
o Date should be after seniors have received caps and gowns, are finished with
graduation requirements, but before commencement.
o Seniors should not miss school to participate in the parade
o Only seniors who qualify to walk at commencement should be eligible to
participate in the parade
o Mid-morning is a good time because it can be hot in June.
 Work with the high school to decide if the seniors will arrive for the Parade by school bus
(this will need to be included in letters sent to seniors, so decide early).
At least four weeks in advance of event date
 Draft an invitation letter to seniors (sample attached). Include RSVP date that is at least
seven days prior to the event date, an event agenda, and a media release form (QAM
COM-F012. Sample documents can be found following these instructions
 Send letters and forms to the high school for distribution.
 Let your parents know about the upcoming event in your school newsletter.
In the two weeks leading up to the event
 Talk with the elementary students about the parade, and why graduation is important.
Involve students in making signs and decorations.
 Make sure you have a copy of “Pomp and Circumstance” (or pull it up on YouTube) and
find a way to play it during the parade (intercom, portable sound system, etc.).
 If fewer than five high school students can participate, consider cancelling the parade.
 Invite the media.
 If media will attend, identify one or two elementary students to be interviewed by
media. Get written parent permission for interviews.
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16
The day of the event
 Decorate the school (signs, banners, etc.). Use the high school’s colors.
 Share old class photos of when the seniors attended the elementary school, if you have
some.
 Decide how you will manage elementary students with photo restriction. Inform the
media which students may not be photographed.
 Have someone take photos for your own use, and to share with Community Relations &
Communications.
 Cake or cookies and punch for the graduates are nice, but not required.
High Schools:
Major duties = encourage participation, collect RSVPs and permission forms, chaperone to
and from the event(s).
As early as possible
 Identify a point person(s) to work with the event coordinator at the elementary
school(s). Things to decide early:
o Will seniors arrive at the elementary school by bus?
o What date and time for the event works best for the seniors’ schedule?
At least six weeks in advance of event date
 Create a list of eligible seniors for each elementary hosting a Parade
o Seniors should have attended the elementary school and would identify with the
elementary as “their” elementary school.
o A rule of thumb is the senior spent either the majority of his/her elementary
career at the school (three years), or spent at least his/her fifth grade year at the
school.
o Seniors must be eligible to walk at commencement to participate in the Parade
At least four weeks in advance of event date
 Send invitations to seniors either through direct mail or distributed at school (for
example, via counselors)
 Arrange bus transportation, if desired.
In the two weeks leading up to the event
 Collect media release forms and track RSVPs. Create a list of attendees who have
confirmed and share it with the elementary school.
 Select chaperone(s) to accompany seniors on the Parade. (One at a minimum, more if a
large number of graduates is participating).
 Contact those seniors who have responded to confirm participation.
 Contact those seniors who have not responded to encourage participation.
The day of the event
 Tell the graduates there are three big reasons for the event:
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16
o To celebrate them!
o To thank their elementary school!
o To encourage young students to become graduates too!

Give participating graduates the “Dos and Don’ts” for the event
The Dos:
o High fives, smiling, waving at elementary students is encouraged!
o Hug your favorite elementary teacher if you want to! (and if they want to)
o Talk to the media/reporters if you want to. Be positive and say nice things about
your schools. Talk about your plans for the future.
o Proudly and respectfully represent yourself and your school.
The Don’ts:
o Don’t take photos of elementary students. (??) Selfies, photos of other graduates
and school staff are fine. But remember, most cameras are going to be on YOU.
o Don’t wander off alone into classrooms, or spend time with elementary students
one-on-one.




After arriving at the elementary school, make contact with the principal.
When the elementary principal says the school is ready, have graduates get off the bus
and follow the elementary principal through the school in single file.
End in a common area for a few minutes of photos with staff, looking at old pictures,
mingling, snacks (if any).
Depart.
Notes:
It is recommended that staff members coordinate the event rather than volunteers because
private student information (graduation status, etc.) could be shared. However, there may
be ways volunteers can help.
Transporting the graduates to the elementary school on buses is highly recommended. The
advantages include:
 It ensures the parade starts and ends on time and so minimizes disruption to the
elementary school’s day.
 Makes a great “entrance” and builds excitement for the elementary students as they
see the bus approach.
 Makes it easy to give instructions to graduates before the event.
HEADS UP: High schools may be contacted by multiple elementary schools, each wishing to
hold a parade. If coordinating more than one event is not feasible for the high school, a
suggestion could be to hold one or two Parades per year, and rotate elementary schools
each year.
High schools may find it helpful to choose one date and time for their Parade events that
works best with seniors’ graduation schedules.
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16
Holding the Parade after an assembly or deadline for graduates at the high school worked
well.
High schools may be able to find a way to include Parade of Honor date and time in with
other communications about graduation events.
High school counselors were the key to recruiting participation in the Parade events in 2015.
It probably wouldn’t have happened without their involvement.
Costs could be split between schools.
Division of duties as outlined here is a suggestion. Do what works for you.
Principals, when leading the parade, WALK VERY SLOWLY. The whole parade goes by
quickly, and you don’t want it to be over too soon. If the elementary school is small, Parade
through twice.
Community Relations and Communications did not test the Parade of Honor concept at the
middle school level. However, middle schools can certainly give it a go if they like.
We anticipate that planning and holding these events will become very systematic and
streamlined as they become known events.
Call Karma Krause in the Communications office with questions at (503) 399-3038.
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16
Print on School Letterhead
This sample is from 2015. Be sure to
update all names, dates, times, etc.
May 6, 2015
«First_Name» «Last_Name» and Parents/Guardians
«Address»
«City», «State» «Zip»
Invitation to the
2015 Kennedy/McNary Parade of Honor
Dear «First_Name» and Parents/Guardians,
On June 4, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., graduating seniors from McNary who were enrolled at Kennedy
Elementary School are invited to a special event. McNary High School seniors who qualify to walk in
commencement exercises on June 5, 2015, are eligible to participate.
The event is called the Parade of Honor, and is designed to celebrate McNary graduates and the school
that gave them their start in education. We hope the elementary students and staff will see this as
inspiration to continue their work toward helping all of our current elementary students be ready to
succeed in high school.
Graduating seniors who want to participate in the event will be picked up at McNary and bused to
Kennedy, where they will “parade” through the school while wearing their graduation caps and gowns.
Current Kennedy Elementary School students and staff will watch the parade, and cheer for the
graduates. The Statesman Journal and Keizertimes newspapers will be invited to cover the event. Portland
media may also participate.
If you would like to accept this invitation, please RSVP by completing and returning the enclosed special
projects release form by Friday, May 29, 2015. In order to participate, we must receive your signed
release form by the deadline.
Please see the back of this letter for a timeline of the event. Also, please let me know if you need ADA or
other accommodations.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. I look forward to celebrating graduation with
you and Kennedy Elementary School!
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Contact information
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16
SAMPLE
Timeline
2015 Kennedy/McNary Parade of Honor
Parade takes place on Thursday, June 4, 2015:
10:00 a.m.
Graduates meet the bus in front of McNary High School. WEAR YOUR CAP & GOWN.*
10:05 a.m.
Bus departs for Kennedy Elementary School.
10:15 a.m.
Bus arrives at Kennedy.
10:20 a.m.
Graduates are led on a tour of Kennedy by the principal, Mr. Leonard.
10:50 a.m.
Graduates board the bus to return to McNary.
11:00 a.m.
Estimated time of arrival at McNary.
To participate, please complete and return the enclosed release form by May 29, 2015.
*If you would like to put on your cap and gown at McNary prior to boarding the bus, you may dress
in the school restrooms. Please be dressed and ready to board the bus at the front of the school at
10:00 a.m.
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16
SAMPLE
Please print on school letterhead. Update all dates, names, instructions, etc.
June 1, 2015
Student Name
Address
City, State Zip
Hi __________,
Thank you for RSVP-ing for the Kennedy/McNary Parade of Honor! I’m looking forward to meeting you
and the other McNary graduates, and to sharing your success with the elementary students at Kennedy.
They’re excited to see the parade!
As a reminder, here’s the schedule for the event:
Thursday, June 4, 2015:
10:00 a.m.
Graduates meet the bus in front of McNary High School. WEAR YOUR CAP & GOWN.*
10:05 a.m.
Bus departs for Kennedy Elementary School.
10:15 a.m.
Bus arrives at Kennedy.
10:20 a.m.
Graduates are led on a tour of Kennedy by the principal, Mr. Leonard.
10:50 a.m.
Graduates board the bus to return to McNary.
11:00 a.m.
Estimated time of arrival at McNary.
*If you would like to put on your cap and gown at McNary prior to boarding the bus, you may dress in
the school restrooms. Please be dressed and ready to board the bus at the front of the school at 10:00
a.m.
Please feel free to call or email with any questions. See you on June 4th!
Sincerely,
Name
Contact information
Salem-Keizer School District
COM-W018
1/16/16