TO ALL SENIORS AND THEIR PARENTS:
Please read the following guidelines in order for the graduation ceremony to be a dignified academic event. - Your cooperation is requested to make graduation a pleasant experience for all.
1.Graduation - The graduation ceremony will be held in the Koury Center on the campus of Elon University on June 10 at 6:00 p.m. At this time each senior will be allowed seven (7) reserved seats for guests. Tickets will be issued at the end of graduation practice to each senior to distribute to his or her guests. These must be presented at the door of the Alumni Gymnasium in Koury Center. The doors will open at 5:00 pm. Seniors are to meet in their designated place at 5:15 on June 10. Proper dress is required (See #4). This is a dignified formal academic event and not a festive celebration. Bubbles, balloons, confetti, etc. will not be part of your graduation ceremony. Students will be billed after the event should any fees be incurred. If a student chooses not to receive his diploma at the graduation ceremony, it may be picked up at the school on or after June 11 during school office hours. Parking information will be included with tickets.
2.Requirements - To participate in graduation, a student must have completed all requirements. Those who must attend summer school will not be able to participate. Please take care of all financial obligations to the school by May 27. Diplomas will be held until obligations are met. Please remember that you are under the rules and regulations of Western High School and Alamance-Burlington Schools until you exit the Elon University campus on the night of June 10. All rules will be enforced even if it causes a student to miss graduation by virtue of being suspended during practices or on the day of Graduation. BE CAREFUL!
3.Practice - Attendance at practice is mandatory if you plan to participate. At the conclusion of practice, students with speaking parts should plan to stay after practice to rehearse. Do not make other appointments during practice time. If there is an extenuating circumstance, call the school office (538-6020) so you may be in contact with Mr. Stephan about your situation. This is not a dress rehearsal so appropriate clothing is regular school clothes. Practice for Graduation will be Wednesday, June 10 at 10 am. Attendance at practice is mandatory if you plan to participate on Wednesdayevening. Seniors will be advised as to where to park for practice so they will not receive a ticket or be towed.
4.Proper Dress - Participating students must be properly attired in academic cap and gown. We expect all students to consider this an important event and to dress appropriately. Men are required to wear dark dress shoes, long dark (not khaki) dress pants, white shirts and dark ties. Ladies must wear dark dress shoes and dresses should not hang from under the gown. Bow ties and athletic shoes are not appropriate. Shoes that flop and/or have a strap between the toes are not appropriate. Dress sandals need a strap around the heel. The only ornamentation/decoration that is allowed will be a student's earned academic cords and medals. All students will wear white tassels.
5.$15.00 Graduation Rental Fee - We must collect $15.00 from each graduating senior participating in graduation. This money will be used to pay the rental fees at Elon. This fee, to be paid online as you have for Prom tickets, needs to be submitted in by May 27, 2015. This $15.00 fee does not include any charge for extra cleanup or damages. Please see Mr. Stephan if this is a hardship and would prevent you from participating in the ceremony.
6.Guests - Cooperation is requested in striving to make the graduation exercises very dignified academic events. These exercises are not an appropriate place for babies or small children. Cell phones should be turned off -- even on vibrate, they can interfere with the sound system. Guests are not allowed to hold seats. Guests who must leave their seat during the ceremony may be held at the door until there is an appropriate reentry time.
7.Guests Requiring “Handicapped/Special Needs Accessible" Seating - If you have guests who will require handicapped seating for Graduation, please fill out the Special Needs Seating form on the Senior and Graduation Information page on the school website and return to Stuart by Wednesday, May 27. These guests, who need to arrive by 5:40, will be issued special tickets even if they are in wheelchairs. If a form is not turned in, then no Special Needs seating can be accommodated.
8.Pictures - A professional photographer will take a picture of each student as he receives his diploma. Each senior will be able to view a proof on the photographer’s website from which an order may be placed. No one will be allowed to come down front to take a snapshot. This decision has been made so that all parents and guests may see the event without obstruction. Please notify your guests of this ruling.
9.Awards Program - Seniors should bring caps, gowns, collars, etc. to be worn at the Awards program on May 29, 2015 at 9:00 am. Be careful not to lose tassel, etc. We expect all students to consider this an important event and to dress appropriately. Shorts and flip-flops are not appropriate. The senior picnic and yearbook distribution will follow at the stadium.
10.Senior Breakfast - The senior breakfast sponsored by PTSO is June 10, 2015 at 8:00 am at Harvest Baptist Church, 3741 South Church St, Burlington, NC. Thebreakfast is free to the class of 2015 but a suggestion of $10.00 donation is appreciated. An invitation from PTSO has been given to seniors. Please RSVP by May 11 by submitting the card to the front office.
11.Transcripts - Final transcripts are required to complete your application process with the school you plan to attend. In order to mail final transcripts when they are ready, Guidance needs an envelope that has been stamped and addressed to the school with your full name and address in the upper left hand corner. This identifies whose transcript to put in the envelope, and if there is a problem in the mail, it will be returned to the student's house.Please give guidance the envelope by May 28, 2015. Please prepare an envelope for the NCAA Clearinghouse,if you have registered with the clearinghouse.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Stuart at or leave a message for her at school.
Check the Senior Page on the WAHS website under Student Life for updates.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE GRADUATION 2015 A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY!
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Senior Letter Confirmation
I have read and understand the information concerning graduation. To participate in the graduation exercises, I must be dressed properly and must attend practice.
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Senior's Printed NameSenior's Signature
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Homeroom TeacherParent's Signature