Grad 2002 Information for Parents

Graduation 2017

Information

Package

PENTICTON SECONDARY SCHOOL

GRADUATION 2017 INFORMATION PACKAGE

Please keep this document for future reference.

PARENTS

The following information is provided to help explain many of the grad activities for this year’s grad class. In brackets, at the end of each section, is the name of the staff sponsor and their email address. Please contact that person should you have any specific questions about the event. You may also reach them by phoning the Main Office at 250-770-7750. Parents should also check the School Newsletters and the School Website , for the latest grad updates. *** For updates directly to your phone: Enter the # 587 333 2789 and text @6c99k. (Remind Me App allows groups messages to be communicated via text). Other inquiries should be directed to Mrs. A DeVito at

STUDENTS

Every possible effort is made to keep grads and parents apprised of important information related to graduation. Grads should keep a close eye on the Daily School Bulletin, the Monitors in the Hall & the Grad Bulletin Window located near the Counseling Office, for important grad announcements. Grad meetings will be held several times throughout the year. All grads, including those who complete grad requirements early (January 2016), should make every effort to attend the meetings. IT IS THE POTENTIAL GRADUATE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANT DATES AND TO MEET ALL DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS.

Grad meeting dates are:

• Oct. 6, 2016
• Dec. 6, 2016
• Feb. 15, 2017
• May 29, 2017 (Cap & Gown Distribution)
• June 2, 2017 (Rehearsal)

GRAD APPLICATION

All students who are intending to graduate in June 2017 must complete and submit a Graduation Application to the office on or before Monday, January 8, 2017. All Grads attending the 1stnGrad meeting of the school year will have the opportunity to complete the Grad Application form. Additional copies of the form are available on- line or from the office. (Mrs. A DeVito or Ms. D. Moroz)

GRAD LISTS

The official list of students eligible to take part in the school graduation ceremonies will be posted 3 times during the school year. The Grad List will clearly indicate if the potential grads have completed the necessary forms or paid grad fees. Potential Grads will not be permitted to participate in the Graduation Ceremony unless all obligations are met.

1st posting Dec. 5, 2016 Students must attain 80 or more credits to be able to graduate.

2nd posting February 20, 2017 Takes into consideration courses passed and failed from Semester 1.

3rd & Final posting May 12, 2017 The Final Graduation List - Grads must be in a position to successfully complete all required courses and attain 80 credits; as well, all Grad forms need to be completed and all fees paid. (Mrs. A DeVito)

USE OF LEGAL NAME

Students must check the Grad Lists to ensure that we are using their legal names and that the spelling is correct. This is the name that will appear on their official certificates produced by the Ministry of Education. If it is incorrect on the list, it will be incorrect on grad certificates and program. Corrections must be submitted to the office before final posting of the grad list. (Office)

GRAD PORTRAITS: Information will be provided once we have established our photographer.

BABY PHOTO / YEARBOOK WRITE UP (see attachment)

The grad section in the school yearbook includes a baby photo and write-up for each of the graduates.

Due Friday, January 13, 2017. The photo will be returned to the graduate.

(Mr. P. Belbin ).

GRADUATION TRANSITIONS PLAN

All Gr. 12 students are required by the Ministry of Education to complete the Graduation Transitions Plan (GTP). The GTP requires students to document that they have completed: 30 hours of work experience or volunteer activities; 80 hours of fitness related activities and a Graduation Transition Plan that began in Planning 10 course. The deadline for completion of the GTP is May 11, 2017

(Mrs. A. DeVito or the Careers Office).

EXTRA COURSES / COURSES OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR TIMETABLE

Students who are not on the 1st or 2nd grad list because they are deficient in course credits and/or who are taking courses through the ConnectEd, Distance Education, External Credit courses, Stride or the Learning Centre, will only be considered for inclusion on the final Grad list if the extra courses are completed by May 11, 2017. If a potential graduate is nearing completion of the course by that date, they may request that their teacher(s) or Program Counsellor indicate this in writing to the administration so that they may be included on the final Grad List. Please note that students are permitted to participate in one grad ceremony. (Counselors)

GRAD FEES

The $80.00 grad fee covers the cost of the ceremony including the rental of grad gown (grads get to keep the cap and tassel), invitations, grad photo, certificates, scrolls, facility costs and other expenses associated with the ceremony. Grad fees are due on or before Friday, January 6, 2017 and may be paid at the Accounting Office. (Ms. L. Boothman )

SENIOR WINTER FORMAL

The Senior Winter Formal is dance/social held at Pen High in the Multi-Purpose Room, likely in the last week of November. The event is open to grade 11 and 12 students only. Tickets are limited so be sure to get yours early. In the interest of student safety, breathalyzers will be used for all participants at the door.

“FAIRY GRAD MOTHER” PROJECT

The Fairy Grad Mother Project (formerly the Cinderella Project) assists graduating students in Penticton who are in financial need with the costs associated with graduation. Applications are available from the office or a counsellor and are treated confidentially. The deadline for submissions of the completed application is Monday, March 13, 2017. (PSS Alpha-Counselors).

CAP & GOWNS

Cap and gowns are ordered well in advance of the grad ceremony. They will be distributed at the Grad Meeting on Monday, May 29, 2017. Students will be issued their cap, tassel, V-Stoll and gown and are encouraged to wear them in advance of the ceremonies for family photos. All gowns & V-stolls MUST be returned immediately after the graduation ceremony; grads keep the cap & tassel. Grads will be charged the replacement cost of the gown if it is not returned is $150.00.

GRADUATION CEREMONY WRITE-UPS

Grad ceremony write-ups will be completed online before Friday, March 10, 2017. The Grad Ceremony Write up is not the same as the Yearbook Write up. The Grad Ceremony Write Up will be used to create a brief profile that will be read as the graduate crosses the stage at the Graduation Ceremony. Grads will be working on and submitting this during their English 12 / Communications 12 classes.

GRADUATION CEREMONY

Our Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2017 at the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC). Grads will meet at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre that day at 6:15 p.m. to organize for the processional. Parents and guests are asked to be seated at the SOEC by 6:45 p.m. Please remember that parking will be at a premium. (Mrs. A. DeVito)

GRADUATION CEREMONY REHEARSAL

All grads must attend the grad ceremony rehearsal at 1:30 p.m. on Friday June 2, 2017 at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre. No exceptions! If students are not in attendance at the rehearsal they will not know the routines for the ceremony. Grads are advised to wear the same shoes to the rehearsal that they plan to wear to the ceremonies. Grads do not wear their Grad Gown at the rehearsal. The rehearsal should be completed by 3:00 p.m. (Mrs. A. DeVito)

GRADUATION CEREMONY TICKETS

We anticipate that there will be approximately 300 graduates taking part in the ceremony this year. In order to ensure that every graduate receives a reasonable number of seating tickets, we will be distributing tickets from the Box Office at the SOEC April 10 – May 19, 2017. Box Office Hours are 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Grads / Parents may receive up to six tickets for reserved seating at that time. On May 23, 2017 the remaining ceremony tickets will be available at the SOEC Box Office. Special seating requests – for guests with mobility issues or split families can be accommodated by alerting the SOEC Box Office Staff.

GRAD CEREMONY PHOTOS

Professional photographs are also taken during the Grad ceremony as each student crosses the stage at the Grad Ceremony. The cost of these 5 inch x 7 inch photo(s) is included in the grad fee. The photos will be available for pick up at Photography By Chris 385 Martin Street Penticton in mid-June 2017. Additional copies are available by contacting Photography by Chris.

(Chris Cornett 250-492-2355)

GRAD PARADE

The Grad Parade follows a route from the main Pen High parking lot to the Lakeside Resort. The Grad Parade precedes the Prom on Thursday, June 29, 2017. The parade begins at 6:00 p.m. sharp and includes grads and their guests riding in motorized and non-motorized vehicle vehicles of all descriptions. Some participants choose to walk the parade route. The grad parade leaves the Pen High parking lot, heads West on to Eckhardt Avenue then North along Main Street, across Lakeshore Drive and concludes at the Lakeside Resort.

Safety is a primary concern during the parade - if you are not sure if a particular vehicle is acceptable, please check with the school administration well ahead of time. Once the parade vehicles reach the Lakeside Resort, the parade is completed. Grads should not leave the Lakeside Resort at the conclusion of the parade.

Mr. Alan Stel – () or Mr. Brian Allanson ().

PROM & PROM GUESTS

The Prom is held at the Penticton Lakeside Resort on on Thursday, June 29, 2017. The ballroom doors open at 6:30 p.m. This incredible evening includes a sumptuous buffet dinner, beverages, prizes and a dance. Details of the prom will follow as students and the sponsors plan the event. In the interest of student safety, breathalyzers will be used for all participants at the door. Prom is followed by the Parents’ Dry Grad event. Anyone who is not Pen High Graduate of 2014 is considered a prom guest. The Grad hosting a prom guest must complete and submit a prom Guest Request Form to the Administration at the Main Office by June 24, 2016. All Prom guests will be screened in the interest of student safety.

Ms. M. Moroz () or Ms. S. Gunning ()

PROM PHOTOS

A professional photographer, will be taking individual and group photos at the prom. Students may pre-book a photo sitting at school at a reduced price. Prices and booking information will be available in early May 2017.

DRY GRAD CELEBRATION

Following the parade and prom, a dry grad celebration takes place at Pen High. Dry Grad is an event for Pen High grads only. A Dry Grad Parent Committee plans, sponsors and organizes this incredible experience for Pen High grads. A parents’ planning meeting is scheduled for October. Parents will be contacted regarding this important meeting. Please stay tuned for fundraising opportunities and be sure to get involved.

(Mrs. A. DeVito)

GRAD RINGS

Orders for grad rings will take place during the school year. Representatives from Jostens and a local jeweler, Oslund Jewelers, will be in the school in fall and in the spring to take orders and deposits. Those dates will be announced in the Daily Bulletin. (Office)

GRAD CLOTHING

This year Grad clothing will be available prior to Winter Break and again in the spring. Unique grad hoodies and sweat pants are designed by Pen High students in conjunction with a local supplier. Grad clothing order forms will be available at the office in mid-November. Order forms and pre-payment should be handed into the Accounting Office. (Ms. D. Moroz)

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES

Again this year, local scholarships and bursaries will be presented to graduates during the graduation ceremony on Friday, June 2, 2017 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm at the South Okanagan Event Centre. During the ceremony last year, over $130,000 in local awards were presented to Penticton’s graduating students through the Penticton Secondary Schools Scholarship and Bursary Foundation. A student information meeting for these awards will be held shortly before Spring Break. Students who are going on to a full-time, accredited post-secondary program next year are eligible to apply. Students must attend this meeting if they are applying for local scholarships and bursaries. Outside awards are not presented at the ceremonies.

The Pen High Scholarship & Bursary Booklet has been put together to inform students and parents about a variety of awards offered by post-secondary institutions (Part 1) and awards offered by individuals, businesses, unions, associations, etc. (Part 2). The booklet also contains helpful information regarding the application process. (Mrs. M. Glibbery - )

TRANSCRIPT EDITING

The school has sent preliminary information to the Ministry of Education for all grade 12’s to report the courses they have completed and are currently enrolled in. Students can a review their unofficial transcript by accessing the Ministry Student Secure website to verify the courses that will appear on their transcript. If students feel courses are missing from their transcript they should see their counsellor.

TRANSCRIPT EDITING (continued)

Please note: Students will need their Personal Education Number (PEN) to access this Student Secure Website. PENs can be found on your report card or students can contact their alpha-counsellor.

Student Secure Website:

https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/tsw/tsw/student/

Last Name Counsellor

A-G Ms. Robyn

H-O Ms. Karen Boyd

P-Z Ms. Michelle Glibbery

Counsellors will be reviewing Transcript Verification Report (T.V.R.) for all grade 12 students in early November to confirm graduation requirements. When necessary, counsellors review T.V.R.s with students to confirm graduation status. Students will also be issued a copy of the Transcript Verification Report in April to confirm their address, courses, etc. In early August, each grade 12 student will receive, in the mail, their transcript from the Ministry of Education. The transcript shows all courses passed and a student’s graduation status. The Ministry of Education will post an unofficial version of the transcript of grades, called the “Unofficial Transcript of Grades” on their web site: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/student.htm

For further information regarding the Graduation Program, please review the Ministry of Education web site at http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation.

PENTICTON SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATION 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Penticton Secondary Grads

Yearbook Write Up

Due: January 13th, 2017 (If you do not get it in by this date you not be able to get a write up in the yearbook this year!)

Please note: The Yearbook write up and the Grad Ceremony Write Up are not the same. You are required to complete them both.

Suggestions (It is not necessary to fill out all areas below)

(Necessary)

First Name:______Last Name:______

Favourite Quote:

______

______

Future plans: Activities/Plans/School:

______

______

Thanks to:

______

______

Grad write up can be a maximum of 100 characters.

______

______

______

______

______

Write up rules:

• Please remember we are one of the last schools to allow yearbook write ups.
• Use proper English.
• All abbreviations will be deleted so include the full word.
• Please keep all comments appropriate for an educational publication (imagine this is something that you would read to your grandmother so no illegal references to drugs/alcohol or sex will accepted)
• All write-ups will be screened by the Yearbook and school staff.