Meeting Notes

Kick Off Talking Points

• Kick-Off
  • Welcome:
    • Welcome to the FHE 2024 Graduation Kick-Off
  • Introduction:
    • My name is Carla Valet. My husband Mike and I are serving as the 2024 Graduation Coordinators. This will be my second FHE graduation and I served on the FHE board for five years.
    • Bobbi Scott is acting as the Social Coordinator. This will be her first FHE graduation. 
  • What is FHE?
    • If all you know about FHE is they put on dances and have a graduation, I want to give you a little background. 
    • In March, FHE turned 40 years old working to protect Missouri homeschooling freedoms.
      • FHE has representatives that attend meetings at the capital to make sure possible laws don’t infringe on homeschool freedoms. 
      • FHE speaks at conferences and teaches Missouri Homeschooling law which is part of what I did while on the board. 
      • FHE Region 3 has been holding homeschool graduations for more than 30 years.  We are the only region in FHE that does an organized graduation. This will be the 32nd year putting on the graduation ceremony. 
  • Why do a FHE graduation?
    • As a homeschooling parent, you can do any type of graduation celebration you desire. Some people do a family party, some have a graduation through their church, some through their co-op and some through FHE. It all depends on what you and your child desire. That’s the beauty of homeschooling. 
    • The FHE graduation is more formal and that might be why you are here. 
  • Requirements:
    • You must be a FHE member for two years. If you don’t have two years, you’ll have to pay $35 for a two year membership rather than $20 per year. If you have one year of membership you can buy a second year membership. 
    • As the parent, you are responsible for all your students’ records, transcripts, grades and diploma. The diploma you will receive will be signed by you as the parents. The diploma will have the seal of FHE which is recognized.
      • The diploma will be handed out to the parent only on the night of rehearsal. Once in your hands, it’s your responsibility. If it’s lost, you will have to replace it. 
      • FHE does not provide proof of graduation but can tell those that contact them if the student has walked in the ceremony. 
    • The final requirement is that one parent and the student MUST attend the graduation rehearsal on May 10th. 
  • Parent expectation:
    • The FHE graduation year and ceremony is parent and student led. The leadership is composed of parents graduating students. The leadership team needs all the parents and the students involved to pull off an amazing year with dances, events, and ending with graduation.
      • We still have positions to fill. I have applications. You have to be approved by the FHE board to serve or the applications can be found online.
        • Social Media
        • Treasurer
    • When you complete your registration form, you’ll find a section for parents and students to sign up for some planning options. 
    • Everyone working with students are required to have a background check completed. The two of us currently serving on the leadership team voted for our budget to pay the fee for this rather than the parents. 
    • Dance chaperones will also have to sign a code of conduct agreement. It’s vital we have chaperones for the dances. The venues require a ration of 1/20. 
  • Student expectation:
    • Students, this is your year! You are expected to be involved. I’m sure there are some of you that will want to be involved in everything and some that would rather not. Trust me, there is something for everyone. 
    • Your input is needed. You’ll be voting on stole/tassel colors, class verse, class announcements, events, dance themes and much more. You must be at the meeting to vote.
      • We understand students do have other commitments and can’t be at all meetings. For that reason, we have noted on the dates when the vote will be taken. 
      • As far as social events etc, those votes will be done in person and by the social chair and committee. 
  • Cost:
    • The early bird price is $210 if paid by November 9th. 
    • After November 9th, the fee will be $250
    • Your graduation fee will include:
      • The ceremony
      • Diploma and diploma cover
      • Cap
      • Gown
      • Stole
      • Tassel
      • T-shirt
    • Announcements, cords, senior gear will be an additional cost. 
    • White cords will be provided by the leadership team for the students that participate in the planning of the senior year. 
  • Events:
    • Monthly meetings will be the 2nd Thursday of each month except December. 
    • Dances are already on the calendar and listed on the website.
      • One BIG change this year is students MUST BE REGISTERED FOR THE DANCES before the cut off. Cut off will be the Monday before the dance. 
      • Dance registration must be paid by the cut off. No payments will be taken at the door. No exceptions. 
      • Those attending the Fall and Winter dance must be between the ages of 13 and 19. No exception. You cannot be turning 13 the day after the dance or turning 20 the day before. This is because of the insurance policies that are purchased for every event. If a student attends that is under 13 or over 19 on the day of the event and something terrible happens, FHE insurance will not cover them in anyway. 
      • The Prom will be for FHE seniors and one guest between the ages of 16 and 19. Again, no exceptions. The prom will be for Sr and Jr students. Senior students will be given first option to register before registration is opened to Juniors. 
  • Deadlines:
    • As I’ve already said, there are deadlines for registering for the dances. 
    • There is a deadline for early payment. 
    • There are deadlines for Josten orders.
    • There is a final deadline for registering and paying for graduation fee.
      • The January meeting is the cut off for registering for graduation and fees must be paid by that date. Anyone not paid will be dropped. 
    • There will also be deadlines for turning in pictures, bios and tributes. For this reason, I highly recommend you have your senior pictures done early.
    • All of these deadlines are vital to the year running well. 
    • Deadlines are on the website and on Facebook. I will do everything I can to keep reminding you. 
  • Our next meeting will be September 14th. 

September 14, 2023

• Welcome
• Introduction
• Sign-in form – please look for this every week and check off your name and anything that is noted.
  • You’ll notice the form has meeting dates
  • FHE status
  • Background 
  • Other things needed
• I have several forms available for you. Currently we have 7 students that have registered. Please turn your forms in.
  • Forms are also found online at FHESeniorClass.com
  • Facebook at Region 3 Senior Class 2024
• Planning team – this entire senior year’s events, dances, and ceremony are all parent led which means we all need to pull together to make it happen. If you’ve not signed up, the second sheet is for that.
  • If you’ve signed up, please watch your email and text. I know sometimes those things get lost in spam folders. It’s very important to respond and to attend planning times that are set up. 
• We still have some key positions to fill including:
  • treasurer – this one is a lead position and an application will have to be submitted.
    • Mike Lee says he’s interested in serving in this position. Requested he submit an application. 
  • stage coordinator – Jamie Alvarez volunteered to chair. 
  • speech coordinator
  • music coordinator
  • yearbook coordinator
  • t-shirt coordinator – Dana Brotherton volunteered to chair. 
• The fall dance is just around the corner on October 28th. You are needed for this. The theme is Hula Hullabaloo – a Hawaiian theme.
  • I will be putting out the graphics for sign u
  • Each student must register for themselves because there are waivers that must be checked off. 
  • The cut off to register for the dance is October 23rd. Anyone not paid by the 25th will be dropped from registration. The cost will be $20.
  • Social Events Plans:
    • September 22 @ 11:00 am – Coffee and Cards/Games @ Adventure Cafe 1211 NE Rice Rd Lee’s Summit MO 64086
    • November – Date to be determined – Rink Ratz 
    • December 15 @ 11:00 am – Bowling at Diamond Bowling on Independence Square. 
  • If you have friends who are juniors or parents of juniors, they can get involved with the planning teams to learn what it takes to pull off a senior year. The goal is for them to be a part of the planning so they will be ready to take over for the 2024-2025 year. If you know anyone send them to me.  
  • October meeting – Jostens representative Jeff Enger will be at our meeting to discuss our graduation packet that will be handed out. We will be voting on the color for our stole/tassel, announcement, and Bible verse.
    • The color choices have been narrowed down to four we will vote on. 
    • The announcements have been narrowed down to three to choose from. 
    • We will need to narrow down to three verses to choose from. 
  • In the November meeting we will be voting for the color, announcement, and verse AND collecting your Jostens order.
    • Anything beyond the gown, cap, tassel, and stole will be paid to Jostens directly on that night. 
    • The extras include additional tassels, class rings, senior gear to wear, and cords. 
    • November’s meeting date will also be the last day to pay the early bird price of $210. After that meeting date the price will go up to $250.
  • I would like to meet with those that are working on social for a minute after the meeting. 
  • In the past, parents and students met at Freddies to hang-out. I have to say this is not a FHE event and not covered under insurance as a disclaimer. Do this at your own risk. 
  • p which you will all need to share in your circle. I’m not in homeschool groups like I used to be so I am depending on you all to help me get the word out. 
  • We will need chaperones for the dances. The venue requires a 1 to 20 ratio. If we can’t get chaperones, this will limit the number we can have at the dance.
    • You do not have to be a parent of a student to be a chaperone but you do have to have a background check. 
  • We do hire Independence police officers to be at the dances. If you have a friend or family member that is an Independence officer that would be interested in that job, let me know. 
  • Registration at the door has been stopped as well as taking payment at the door. This is a big change so please be telling all your friends.