Dedication Ceremony
This is an opportunity for the entire community to celebrate the launch of a ten+ year collaboration to promote and support each Dreamer in achieving their dreams. The ceremony is typically held in the auditorium at the high school where the Dreamers will attend. It begins with a celebration dinner (or cake) with the families, and then a ceremony provides the opportunity for those who made the Class possible, and for the Dreamers and their families, to hear the Dreamers express their goals for the future, and hear testimonials from past Dreamers and parents.
A committee is formed to plan the Dedication Ceremony. The committee is composed of the CEO, Development staff, sponsors, PD, ACs, and any interested volunteers. The PD’s role is focused on the Dreamers and the parents. Generally, the PD will be responsible for preparing the Dreamers for the ceremony, being the primary liaison at the high school, and for coordinating any parent efforts (for past celebrations, this has included decorations and food, but is open for parent consideration). See other samples of ceremony items, on the ihad server, in respective Class folders.
Sample Checklist for Planning Committee
| DEDICATION CEREMONY | |||
| To Do | Who | Due Date | Notes |
| Secure location | Lori/Nina | 11/2015 | Boulder High School |
| Determine theme/singer | Cathie | 01/2015 | Sam Steele |
| Design invitation (print and electronic) | Nina | 03/05 | |
| Make list of invitees (donors) | PD/Lori | 03/05 | Sponsors, families, board |
| Recruit Alumni Parent and Dreamer to speak | Cathie/Adriana | 03/15 | Gabriel Granillo |
| Recruit speakers and collect speeches (Principal, Superintendent, BHP ED, City of Boulder) | Lori | 03/15 | |
| Gifts for Dreamers (bags, CU gift, etc.) | Lori | 04/01 | |
| Secure book donation/order | Cathie / PD | 04/01 | |
| Arrange for photographer & videographer | Kasia | 04/01 | Tricia Rubio, Matt Corliss, Terry Bittner |
| Order certificate frames | Nina | 04/01 | |
| Press release | Kristin | 04/01 | |
| Get food donated/discounted | Nina/Adriana | 04/01 | |
| Arrange for drinks (lemonade & containers, ice) | Nina | 04/01 | |
| Cake donation (bring knives to cut cakes & plates) | Nina/Sur Rae/Elsbeth | 04/01 | One family is making a cake, request is submitted to Costco |
| Invite families, board, donors to dedication ceremony and get RSVP’s to PD | Tracy/Lori | 04/01 | |
| Prepare Dreamers for ceremony
*practice saying pledge & traits loudly w conviction *Practice saying their name, age, dream and why |
Tracy / ACs | 04/01-29 | |
| Design and print programs | Nina | 04/01 | |
| Collect and Edit speeches from parent and Dreamer
Collect speeches from Bruce Messinger, Karen Rahn, Betsey Martens, Lori Canova |
Cathie | 04/10 | |
| Inventory of plates, napkins, utensils, cups | Sur Rae | 04/10 | 363 forks, spoons, napkins 247 plates, 256 cups |
| Coordinate logistics with Boulder HS: marquee announcement, hanging of banner, lighting, podium, 2 microphones, risers, stage set up | Tracy/Nina/Sur Rae | 04/10 | |
| Site tour of Boulder HS for staging (secure 2 rooms for Dreamers to change into) | Tracy/Nina | 04/10 | |
| Determine t-shirt sizes | Tracy/ ACs | 04/10 | |
| Design and order t-shirts | Jeanette | 04/10 | Pablo Garza |
| Write agenda and script | Lori | 04/15 | |
| RSVP’s due to PD by April 15 | Tracy and Lori | 04/15 | |
| Make Dreamer certificates | Elsbeth | 04/17 | |
| Coordinate decorations committee
*pick up butcher paper (if needed) *centerpieces |
Tracy and Parents | 04/15 | |
| Make Dreamer reservation signs (four are needed) | Oak ACs | 04/15 | Bring tape to put on seats |
| Recruit and coordinate volunteers for event
*behavior management during ceremony; set up; clean up; registration; time keeper |
Ashley/Nina | 04/15 | |
| Translation of event | Cathie | 04/15 | Enrique? |
| Frame certificates and put in alpha order | Nina | 04/17 | |
| Decorate auditorium (podium placement, microphones working, banner placement, reserve rows for Dreamers) | Parents?/ACs/volunteers | Day of | |
| Set up registration (name tags, brochures, sign in sheet) | ACs and other volunteers | Day of | |
| Before event, pull out certificates for any kids who aren’t there | PD/ACs | Day of | |
| Decorate cafeteria (chairs, tables, table cloths) | Parents?/ACs/volunteers | Day of | |
| Dedication Ceremony | Everyone! | Day of | |
| Bring banners to hang (two IHAD banners) | Nina | Day of | |
| Make Class poster | Central AC? | 05/15 | |
| Recruit new mentors and tutors | Volunteer Dept | Ongoing | |
| Develop wish list of items needed for class | Lori, PD, Cathie | Ongoing |
Sample Dedication Ceremony Agenda (Program in English and Spanish)
April 29, 2014, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
3:00 – 4:45 p.m. Set up
4:45 – 5:25 p.m. Families/guests arrive – register/dinner (parents, ACs, sponsors serve)
5:25 p.m. Welcome and Thank You’s– Olimpia Mejia, Program Director
- Thank parents, Deli Cioso’s, and Costco for dinner
- Ryan Trupp Photography for the photos
- Committee and parent council for decorations
- Overview of rest of evenings agenda – at 5:30 p.m. Dreamers to classroom and everyone else get a seat in the auditorium
5:30 – 5:40 p.m. Dreamers assemble in classroom, put on t-shirts and line up in alpha order
5:40 – 5:45 p.m. Jenn Minor plays guitar/sing song – Dreamers dance
5:45 – 5:51 p.m. Lori Canova (“I Have a Dream” – Boulder County CEO
5:51 – 5:55 p.m. Don Haddad (Superintendent, SVVSD)
5:55 – 6:00 p.m. Stephen Hoel (Principal, Rocky Mountain Elementary School)
6:00 – 6:10 p.m. Dennis Coombs (Mayor of Longmont) – reads out of Dreamer book
6:10 – 6:13 p.m. Javier Perez (Dreamer Alumni)
6:13 – 6:19 p.m. Alicia Martinez (Aspen Dreamer Parent)
6:19 – 6:20 p.m. Lori introduces Olimpia Mejia, Program Director
6:20 – 6:50 p.m. Dreamer Dedication (Olimpia Mejia to introduce Dreamers, Dreamers will state their dreams and put leaves with dreams on poster, sponsors give certificates, and Dreamers get on risers)
6:50 – 7:00 p.m. Alumni Dreamer will lead the Dreamers to recite 6 traits and pledge in English & Spanish
7:00 p.m. Officially present the new Class of Dreamers!
7:00 p.m. Photos (Dreamers, sponsors and New Class Staff/AC’s), hand out Bags
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Clean up