HILLGROVE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2015 Graduation Information and Schedule of Activities GRADUATION: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 3:30 P.M. Kennesaw State University Convocation Center Graduates will need to report to the Carmichael Student Center starting at 2:00 P.M. and no later than 2:15. Doors will open to the Convocation Center for friends and family at 2:45. Limited entry for handicap and elderly guests will begin at 2:30. (Students will receive more information closer to graduation concerning handicap and elderly assistance.) Tickets are required for all persons attending graduation; including children of all ages (even infants). Graduation announcements sent out by the students are not admission tickets. Tickets will be distributed at the last graduation practice on May 19. Each senior will receive seven (7) tickets. Parking for graduates will be in the Central Parking Deck (#42 on the campus map). There will be a $10 KSU parking fee for participants and guests. An option to pre- pay is available on the Cobb County website: www.cobbk12.org/graduation Graduation is an optional, dignified ceremony for graduating seniors and their families, friends and guests. No signs or balloons are allowed in the Convocation Center. Please inform your guests that the doors will close at 3:25 p.m. Guests not seated by 3:25 will not be allowed to enter until after all the graduates have entered and are seated. At this point, guests will be escorted into the ceremony. Possession of any disruptive objects (air horns, noisemakers, beach balls, etc.) or disruptive behavior will lead to immediate removal from the ceremony. Please refrain from any inappropriate noises that will distract from the dignity of the ceremony. Since this ceremony is an official function of Hillgrove, all Cobb County School District and Hillgrove school policies and regulations are in effect. GENERAL INFORMATION: Seniors must meet all requirements for graduation before the diploma will be granted. All required courses must be successfully completed by the end of the school day on May 15, or the student will not graduate with this class. All financial obligations, (payment for lost/damaged textbooks, media center fines, parking fines, lost/damaged equipment, 1
fundraiser balances, etc.) must be cleared on May 18 before the seniors will be allowed to participate in the graduation practice on May 19. See Cobb County Policy IKBD- R on Graduation Ceremonies. Participation in the graduation ceremony is optional. Students must meet all expectations and requirements in order to participate. Honor graduates (minimum of 3.5 cumulative GPA- not rounded off) will receive their honor cords at Senior Clearance on Monday, May 18. If you have not yet requested a final transcript for your college, please do so. Final transcripts are NOT mailed automatically; you must request that one be sent. MANDATORY ATTENDANCE EVENTS ATTENDANCE AT THE GRADUATION PRACTICE(S) IS A MANDATORY PREREQUISITE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE GRADUATION CEREMONY. Any student who misses graduation practice without a valid excuse, will not be able to march in the ceremony. Tickets will be handed out at the last graduation practice on Tuesday, May 19. Students must have met all financial obligations prior to practice. Mandatory Attendance Information Seniors are responsible for their own transportation! Monday, May, 18 8:30 11:30 a.m. Senior Clearance by homeroom (schedule attached) Hillgrove High School Cafeteria Tuesday, May 19 10:30 -???? Graduation Practice Hillgrove HS Gym Technical Rehearsal (speakers, singers, performers only) KSU Convocation Center 9:00-10:00 AM Wednesday, May 20 3:30 5:30 P.M. Graduation ***KSU Convocation Center Thursday, May 21 9:00 11:00 a.m. Gown return and diploma pick- up Hillgrove High School Theater Lobby (Schedule attached) ***On Wednesday, May 20, all graduates must be in their assigned areas by 2:00 P.M. Do not bring any valuables or purses. This is a public facility; personal items will not be secured. 2
GRADUATION PRACTICE AND CEREMONY BEHAVIOR All rules and policies of the school will be enforced. Students must remain properly dressed throughout the ceremony and are expected to follow ceremony procedures, or they will be excluded from the ceremony. Caps may NOT be thrown inside the KSU Convocation Center. Possession of any disruptive objects will lead to immediate removal from the commencement exercises. Students will arrive on time, follow directions, and cooperate fully during practice and the ceremony. Balloons, air horns, beach balls, noisemakers, flyers, and banners are NOT allowed at the ceremony. GRADUATION DRESS ATTIRE Caps and gowns are to be worn by all students. Please to not hem your gowns. Gowns should be placed on a hanger so wrinkles will fall out. Flowers and large pieces of jewelry are not appropriate and should not be worn with gowns. Females: Dresses should not hang below the gown. You will be walking up stairs; think about the heel height and slipping/tripping. If you wear stockings or hose, they must be skin tone. You must wear black shoes (no tennis shoes). Males: A white dress shirt with collar, dark solid slacks, black dress shows are to be worn. Caps are to be placed on the top of the head so that the mortarboard is flat and tassel is on the left side. Hair pins are suggested to secure the cap in place. Only those in proper attire will be allowed in the processional. GRADUATION CAPS AND GOWNS Graduation caps and gowns will be delivered on April 20, 2015 from 8:30-1:45 in the cafeteria. Re- delivery is scheduled for April 21 and for May 6. If you have any questions concerning these items, call Herff- Jones at (770) 795-1626 or email www.herffatlanta.com ** Gowns must be returned by graduates to Hillgrove High School at the scheduled diploma pick- up times on Thursday, May 21 from 9:00 11:00 a.m. No diploma will be given to a student until the graduation gown is returned. BAG CHECKS AT KSU In accordance with requirements set forth by Kennesaw State University, all bags and packages being brought into the Convocation Center will be searched. Guests would be advised to not bring any packages that cannot be opened or inspected, and to allow for extra time for entry as there may be delays. 3
GRADUATION PHOTOS To maintain the dignity of the ceremony, guests must remain in their seats throughout the graduation ceremony. Only hand- held cameras that do not block the view of other guests may be used. Guests may not set up tripods or other obstructions in the aisles or seating areas. Arrangements have been made with Cady and Cady Photography to take an individual photograph of each graduate as he/she receives his/her diploma. Individual proofs will be mailed home, and graduates/families will have an option to purchase photos. RECESSIONAL At the close of the ceremony, graduates will exit the Convocation Center through the lower back doors; family and friends can meet the graduates outside. Parents and other family members are not allowed inside the Carmichael Student Center prior to the ceremony. VIDEOS A graduation DVD will be available for purchase through the Cobb County School District. Graduation can also be seen live online via the home page of the Cobb County School District website at www.cobbk12.org SENIOR EXAMS Thursday, May 14 Blocks 3 and 4 Friday, May 15 Blocks 1 and 2 These are required school days; exams will be given in the regularly scheduled 90 minute period. Seniors must follow all attendance procedures during final exams. These are required school days; no exceptions for seniors. Lockers should be emptied by the end of the day Friday, May 15. Seniors will report by homerooms at assigned times on Monday, May 18, for graduation clearance. Schedules for clearance and gown return and diploma pick- up are attached. BACCALAUREATE Baccalaureate services will take place at McEachern United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. This is an optional religious ceremony not affiliated with the school or Cobb County School District. Information regarding Baccalaureate will be administered to students at a later time. 4
SENIOR CLEARANCE MONDAY, MAY 18 (CAFETERIA) 8:45 Seniors with last names A- C 9:15 Seniors with last names D- H 9:45 Seniors with last names I- M 10:15 Seniors with last names N- S 10:45 Seniors with last names T- Z GOWN RETURN AND DIPLOMA PICK- UP THURSDAY, MAY 21 (THEATER LOBBY) 9:00 Seniors with last names A- C 9:20 Seniors with last names D- H 9:40 Seniors with last names I- M 10:00 Seniors with last names N- S 10:20 Seniors with last names T- Z DIPLOMAS WILL NOT BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO DO NOT RETURN THEIR GRADUATION GOWNS! 5
CLASS OF 2015 IMPORTANT DATES APRIL 20 APRIL 21 APRIL 23 MAY 1 MAY 4-15 MAY 6 MAY 7 MAY 11 15 MAY 11 CAP AND GOWN DELIVERY/GRAD ANNOUNCEMENT REDELIVERY CAP AND GOWN REDELIVERY SENIOR PROJECT NIGHT BRAVES GAME AP TESTING LAST CAP AND GOWN DELIVERY HONORS NIGHT SENIOR WEEK SENIOR PICNIC (5:30 PM) MAY 14 SENIOR FINALS (3 RD AND 4 TH ) MAY 15 SENIOR FINALS (1 ST AND 2 ND ) MAY 18 MAY 19 MAY 19 MAY 19 SENIOR CLEARANCE GRADUATION TECHNICAL REHEARSALS (for specific seniors) GRADUATION PRACTICE/TICKET DISTRIBUTION BACCALAUREATE MCEACHERN METHODIST MAY 20 GRADUATION 3:30 MAY 21 GOWN RETURN/ DIPLOMA PICK- UP 6