A special ceremony for students to make a commitment to scholarship and high school graduation.
School Type: High School
Activity Goal: Encourage Graduation
Prep Time: One hour
People Required: One person to organize and distribute instructions, Principal and/or Assistant Principal, Counselor, Renaissance Coordinator, and Optional: Renaissance students leaders and your Jostens Rep!
Space Requirements: Large open space for two rectangular tables, Commitment to Graduate banner, dozen Sharpie markers, one green C2G wristband for each student.
Timing: Back to School season
Materials: Commitment to Graduate banner, dozen Sharpie markers, green C2G wristbands for each student.
Cost: Less than $1/student
Submitted by: Dr. Tricia Peña, Cienega HS, Vail, AZ
INSTRUCTIONS FOR A COMMITMENT BANNER SIGNING:
- Determine if the Commitment Banner Signing will be for the specific grade or for the entire student body.
- Example: The first year, 4 banners are available for each class to sign – freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors; the following years for freshmen only.
- Order the C2G bracelets and the customized class year commitment banner from the Renaissance Store or through your Jostens rep.
- Select a day and time for the banner signing.
- An example may be the second week of school during an advisory period or it could be an activity as part of the Freshman Orientation program before classes officially begin for the year.
- Book the day for the event with the Principal, Jostens Rep, teachers and reserve the space.
- Arrange the environment! Place the banner on one table with the Sharpie markers and have an adult supervise and welcoming students to the banner, giving directions on how to sign the banner, and guiding them to the receiving line. The second table provides a physical structure for students to move on to the receiving line.
- Students are welcomed, told the purpose of the commitment banner signing then taught the meaning of a commitment – a promise.
- Relate this to students and/or athletes signing and committing to a university or professional team. Students are taught a handshake and how to make eye contact.
- In a line, students go to the signing table, sign, and proceed to receiving line. Receivers shake hands with the students. The principal asks each students if they are “Committed to Graduate” giving a handshake and making eye contact. The student responds “I am committed to graduate” and then receives the green band.
- This commitment is in writing and stated verbally – a strong and moving beginning to living the commitment!
- The banner is displayed on the gym wall above the bleachers where this class sits for rallies and remains on display for their four years of high school.
DOWNLOAD THIS STEP BY STEP GUIDE: Print version (PDF)
WANT ACCESS TO MORE SCHOOL CULTURE IDEAS FROM JOSTENS RENAISSANCE?
Contact us for a registration code or by reaching out to your Jostens rep. All Jostens customers have free access to Jostens Renaissance resources, and we’re happy to help!
If you don’t currently partner with Jostens for yearbooks or graduation regalia or other celebratory products, you can learn more here.
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