Graduation 2018 The culmination of twelve years of education is a special time in the life of students, parents and staff. We recognize this as an important passage and an occasion to be marked with formal ceremonies in the morning, followed by a gala banquet and dance in the evening. Western Canada High School's 2018 graduation will take place on Saturday, May 26th. Participation To be eligible to take part in the graduation ceremonies and the banquet/dance, grade 12 students must be registered in a program of courses that will enable them to complete their graduation requirements by the end of June 2017. Students who do not have the possibility of completing these courses, or who leave school during the year without completing the requirements, will not be eligible to participate in the graduation activities. The Graduation List A graduation list will be posted across the hall from the Guidance Office on Thursday, March 15, 2018. Students are asked to check for errors or omissions and report them to the Guidance Secretary, in the Counselling Office by Thursday, March 22, 2018 (Before leaving for Spring Break). Students should not assume they meet the requirements to participate in the graduation activities simply because they are registered in grade 12. The completed list will be the basis for the ticket distribution, program information and the grad composite. Things of which you need to be aware: 1. Only those students who have earned the minimum 100 credits and fulfilled the requirements for a High School Diploma by June, 2018 will be eligible to participate in the Graduation Ceremonies and Banquet/Dance. will be eligible to participate in the Graduation Ceremonies and Banquet/Dance. 2. The minimum requirements for receiving an Alberta High School Diploma are: ELA 30-1 or 30-2 Social Studies 30-1 or 30-2 10 credits in Science
Math 20-1, 20-2 or 20-3 Physical Education 10 (3 credits) Career and Life Management (3 credits) 10 credits in any combination from Career and Technology Studies, Fine Arts, Second Languages, or PE 20 or 30 10 credits in 30 level courses in addition to ELA 30-1 or 30-2 and Social Studies 30-1 or 30-2. Closing Ceremonies Students will attend the graduation rehearsal to be held on Wednesday May 23, 2018. This rehearsal will take place during Period 2 (10:30-11:50). At this rehearsal, gowns and stoles will be distributed; the procedures for Closing Exercises will be discussed, and a map of the parking lots at Stampede Park will be distributed. It is compulsory that all students attend this rehearsal. Closing Ceremony is at Calgary Stampede Park in the Stampede Corral on the morning of Saturday, May 26, 2018. Ceremony will begin at 8:45 am sharp and will conclude by 12:00 pm. Grads must arrive at the Stampede Corral 8:00-8:15 a.m. to pick up their nametag and then line up. A photographer will be booked to take a photo of graduands as they receive their diplomas. This is a complimentary photo given to each graduand from Lifetouch. Guests will not be allowed to take photos during the exercises but may do so before the Closing Ceremony. Grads are required to register the names of their guests to the ceremony online. A separate more detailed set of instructions on ceremony passes will be published in April. The website to register your guests is: https://wchs.inviteright.com/closingceremony2018 o Parking rates are TBA. An additional TBA fee at that gate will provide 1 reentry privilege for the day. This is recommended for guests returning for the Banquet & Dance. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. All grads and guests are expected to stay for the entire ceremony. All grads are expected to return their rental gown immediately after the ceremonies. Family photographs should be done prior to the event. Direct in person questions regarding the Grad2018 Ceremony to Mrs. Ellchuk or email her at VJEllchuk@cbe.ab.ca
Banquet and Dance The formal banquet and dance will take place in Hall E at the Bank of Montreal Centre on the Stampede Grounds the evening of Saturday, May 26, 2018. Per ticket cost is approx. $100 Reception: 5:30 pm Program Start: 6:30 pm (Hall doors closed to entry until program is complete) Dinner Buffet : 7:00 pm (Hall Doors reopen for late arrivals) Dance: 8:30-10:30 pm (Please schedule pickups no earlier than 9:15) You must complete THREE steps in order to ensure a place at the Graduation Banquet and Dance: Step 1: Grad List Only students on the graduation list, and with no outstanding fees, are eligible to purchase banquet tickets. If you attempt to purchase tickets online and you are restricted from purchasing tickets then check the grad list and visit the business office. Step 2: Table Planning Each graduand will have the opportunity to purchase three Banquet and Dance tickets one ticket is for the graduand the other two are for their adult guests or date. Children under age 12 are asked to remain home. Venue Capacity is limited to 1400 people. If you are on the grad list and require more than three tickets, please email Mr. Smith your extra ticket requests at bgsmith@cbe.ab.ca. A request does NOT guarantee you extra tickets. It only acknowledges a request a confirmation email will be sent. ONLY submit extra ticket requests between April 23 to April 28, 2018. Students are asked to arrange the seating for themselves and their adult guests/date. Plan FULL TABLES so there are no empty seats. When requesting extra tickets please bear in mind that tables seat eight. In mid-april, a venue seating map will be posted. This will facilitate table selection. GROUP CAPTAIN All guests within the same party designate one student as a GROUP CAPTAIN (GC). Group Captains should not have any more than six tables under their name. Larger groupings will be separated. People with the same Group Captain will be seated at the same table if the group is less than 8. If group exceeds 8 - extra guests will be at adjacent tables.
Every member of your dinner party will assign themselves this GROUP CAPTAIN (GC) when asked to do so during the online ticket purchase process. Please communicate the name of your GROUP CAPTAIN to everyone in your dinner party BEFORE they go online to purchase their tickets. Please note that GROUP CAPTAINS are NOT responsible for purchasing everyone s ticket. Every graduate logs on to purchase their own and their guests' tickets. If you are not seated with a larger group of multiple students and their associated guests - please list the graduating student as the GC. Step 3: Purchase your tickets online (see dates and time below) There will be a 24 hour advanced purchase and seat selection. This is ONLY for students who have organised a full table of 8 or a larger group that is a multiple of 8. All guests in your group need to purchase and seat themselves during this 24 hour advanced ticket purchase. There should be no empty spots at the table by end of advanced sale period. If this can t be done all party members need too to wait. 24 HR ADVANCED SALE (FULL TABLES IN MULTIPLES OF 8): FROM: Tuesday, May 1 (9AM) TO: Wednesday, May 2 (9 AM) REGULAR SALE (GROUPS NOT ORGANISED IN A MULTIPLE OF 8): FROM: Wednesday, May 3 (10 AM) TO: Friday, May 5 (3PM) To purchase your tickets you need: o Student Number o Valid email address o Names of all guests o The guests' preferred meals (Choices are: Regular, Vegetarian/Vegan or Allergy) o Group Captain (GC) (Explained Above) o Valid MasterCard, Visa or Debit card o Link to purchase tickets is: https://wchs.inviteright.com/grad2018 o The week prior to grad, organisers send seating confirmations and e-tickets to the email used in the registration process. Print and distribute e-tickets to your guests. E-tickets have your finalised table number. IMPORTANT: o TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. o BMO Centre Security searches all bags of students and patrons. o Students may not come and go from the banquet hall during the event.
o The Grad Banquet and Dance is a non-smoking and non-alcoholic event - for ALL guests. Any person coming to the event with or under the influence of alcohol will not be allowed entry. Direct in person questions regarding the Grad2018 BANQUET and DANCE to Mr. Smith or email him at BGSmith@cbe.ab.ca