West Milford Township High School 67 Highlander Drive West Milford, New Jersey 07480 (973) 697-1701 (973) 208-0912 Fax Paul Gorski, Principal Karen Johnson, Assistant Principal Nicholas Pollaro, Assistant Principal Joe Trentacosta, Athletic Director HIGHLANDERS May 2017 Dear Parents and Seniors: Graduation by tradition is a happy occasion for our students and their families. The Class of 2017 will celebrate this occasion on McCormack Field, Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 6:45 PM. Since the purpose of this occasion is to honor the graduates we ask all guests to maintain proper decorum and refrain from interrupting the ceremony in any way. Noisemakers, fireworks or other actions may interfere with proper recognition of the graduates. Enclosed you will find a list of rules and regulations, including a dress code for graduates, which will be strictly enforced by the administration. This information will also be reviewed with the graduates during practice. Graduates who do not wish to comply with these regulations may choose not to participate in the ceremony and may pick up their diplomas on any day that school is open after graduation. To participate in the graduation ceremony all obligations/fines must be paid before graduation practice begins. No diplomas will be issued to students with outstanding obligations. We thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in making the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2017 the memorable and significant occasion it should be. Please sign the enclosed contract and return it to the box on the counter in the main office no later than Friday, June 2, 2017. Sincerely, Paul Gorski Principal
COMMENCEMENT 2017 Participation in the graduation ceremony is voluntary. Those who wish to take part must agree to be properly attired, wearing the cap and gown is an honor and must be respected. Those who are not properly attired will not be permitted on the field and will be removed, even at the last moment. This exclusion will also apply to inappropriate behavior. If you behave in a way that is meant to draw attention to you, the ceremony will be stopped, you will be removed, and the ceremony will not resume until you have fully exited. Do not embarrass yourself, family, friends and our school community. Female graduates should wear either a dress, dress pants (not jeans), or a skirt and blouse with dress shoes (to protect our artificial turf - no spike heels please). Attire for male graduates should consist of dark trousers (not jeans), dark socks, dress shoes, and a white or pastel dress shirt with a tie. No flip-flops. RULES AND REGULATIONS 1. Students must have zero points and no obligations. 2. Rules on conduct and behavior will begin during rehearsal. 3. All graduates and parents / guardians will sign a contract. 4. No smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol, or drugs will be permitted. Smoking is not ever permitted by any person anywhere on Board of Education property. 5. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Those graduates acting inappropriately will be removed from the ceremony itself. 6. Graduates must submit a signed contract before being admitted to rehearsal. Any graduate not participating in the rehearsal will not participate in the commencement. 7. Noisemakers, bubbles, balloons, beach balls, confetti, fireworks, or other such items will not be permitted during practice or the ceremony by either the graduates or members of the audience. 8. We ask that parents and guests follow the same guidelines as the graduates in order to make this ceremony as dignified an occasion as possible. Thank you.
This contract must be filled out, signed, and returned to the main office by FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2017 Failure to return this form will be considered a choice of nonparticipation. COMMENCEMENT 2017 STUDENT AGREEMENT CONTRACT As a member of the Class of 2017 who is participating in the commencement exercises, I agree to the stipulations listed below. I further agree that my failure to live up to the contract will result in my being removed at any time during graduation practice or the ceremony. I WILL: 1. Follow all directions of staff members. 2. Behave appropriately during the ceremony in a way that will be a credit to my family and my class. 3. Follow dress requirements for participation in the exercises. 4. Follow all rules and regulations. I WILL NOT: 1. Use alcohol, tobacco, or any other drug, nor have any such substances in my possession. 2. Use any item such as noisemakers, balloons, firecrackers, etc. or act in any way that will disrupt the dignity of the practices, procession, or actual ceremony. I am fully aware that I will be removed from the ceremony if I do so. PLEASE CHECK ONE AND SIGN I wish to participate in the West Milford Township High School graduation exercises and will abide by all requirements outlined above. I do not wish to participate in the West Milford Township High School graduation exercises as outlined above. I shall call for my diploma the day following the exercises. As the parent or guardian of (print student s name), I have read the regulations regarding graduation exercises and accept these rules and conditions. I understand that the ceremony will stop and my child will be removed from the graduation immediately for violation of the above-mentioned rules and regulations. Signature of Senior: Print Name of Senior: Signature of Parent/Guardian:
EXTRA TICKET REQUEST - OUTDOOR ONLY Return this form to the main office by Friday, June 2, 2017 GRADUATE S NAME: Each graduate will receive 4 tickets for the outdoor ceremony and 6 tickets for an indoor ceremony, 3 tickets for the Gymnasium, 1 for the Cafeteria and 2 for the Macopin Auditorium (in case of inclement weather). Tickets will be given out the day of graduation, at practice. No additional tickets can be given for inside due to occupancy limits. NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR TICKETS REQUESTED Once the total request is determined, additional tickets will be distributed. We will do our best to accommodate everyone. # of Outdoor Tickets Requested: HANDICAPPED PARKING If either you or a member of your family has a handicap, which would require that you park as near as possible to the high school field, please return this portion of the letter along with your contract. Please include the name of the person who will be using the permit, as well as your name. Permit Holders Name: Graduate Name (Please Print):
www.lorsstudio.com 923 Rahway Ave Union, NJ 07083 Congratulations West Milford Class of 2017! Lors Photography is proud to be your school s official graduation photographer. Lors will be there to capture each student as they receive their diploma in one of life s most important moments. For your convenience, a free image will be available for download from our website at www.lorsstudio.com/events. You may also choose from a variety of print sizes and other products to purchase. To find your image: Visit www.lorsstudio.com/events, Find your school, and enter the Graduation gallery. Once in the gallery, you can view, and choose, from a variety of photographs to share with family and friends. Please allow 48 hours after graduation for your images to appear on our website. You may also view and order photographs from previous school events taken throughout the year. If you have any questions regarding your images, please contact Lors customer service at (908) 964-0847.
West Milford Township High School 67 Highlander Drive West Milford, New Jersey 07480 (973) 697-1701 (973) 208-0912 Fax Paul Gorski, Principal Karen Johnson, Assistant Principal Nicholas Pollaro, Assistant Principal Joe Trentacosta, Athletic Director HIGHLANDERS May 2017 Dear Senior Parents: West Milford Township High School will be sponsoring its thirty-third annual Project Graduation this year. Project Graduation is an alcohol, tobacco, and drug free celebration for our senior class which is offered as an alternative to the graduation night drinking and driving temptations that all too often end in tragedy. Project Graduation 2017 will be celebrated on Thursday, June 22, 2017. The itinerary for the evening is as follows: Graduation Ceremony West Milford High School June 22, 2017 6:45 p.m. to approximately 8:30 pm Reception West Milford High School cafeteria approximately 8:30 pm to 9:15 p.m. Cake, cookies, and coffee will be served, and you will have a chance to enjoy a moment with your families after the graduation ceremony before your graduate leaves for Project Graduation. Board buses 9:30 p.m. Drew University Madison, NJ 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Activities will include a full gymnasium including racquetball, basketball, swimming, games, prizes, photo booth, track, squash, food, dancing, DJ, magician, hypnotist, caricature artists, and more. ** If your child has any dietary restrictions, please make a note of the restrictions on the permission slip.
Special notes: It would be irresponsible of us to expect students to drive home after staying up all night. Parents are asked to pick students up at approximately 5:30AM on Friday, June 23 rd as our graduates are extremely tired. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. There isn t time to go home and visit with friends and families after graduation and before the buses leave. We are asking that everyone remain on the school campus and visit with friends and family at the reception which is being held in the cafeteria. By signing the pledge sheet parents and students are acknowledging that they are aware that each and every student s bag will be searched before they are allowed on the bus to Drew University. Please provide a phone number (or numbers) where you can be reached that night on the permission form. We always hope that there won t be any problems, but if for some reason your senior needs to be removed from the event, it will be your responsibility to pick them up and bring them home. Locker rooms will be available at Drew University and students should plan on getting changed there. Please remind your graduate to bring a bathing suit if they plan on swimming. All students who participate must be bused to and from Drew University. There will be no exceptions. Buses will depart at 10:00 p.m. sharp from the high school and will return Friday morning at approximately 5:30 a.m. As you can see, our graduates will enjoy dancing, entertainment, and food in a night they will remember forever. The best part is that all activities are free. It is our hope that Project Graduation 2017 will be the biggest and best party ever. Last year approximately 75% of the 2016 graduating class participated in the celebration. Please take the time to discuss your son/daughter s participation in Project Graduation 2017. We know that all participants will have an enjoyable, safe evening. If your son/daughter will be participating in Project Graduation 2017, please fill out the enclosed permission form and return it to Mrs. Gerisch or to the main office by no later than June 2nd. Thank you. Should you have any other questions, please don t hesitate to contact me at (973) 697-1701 ext. 7048. Sincerely, Janice Gerisch Substance Awareness Coordinator
Project Graduation 2017 Permission Form (Please sign and return to Mrs. Gerisch or the main office) We understand that by signing below and participating in Project Graduation 2017 we are pledging to be alcohol and drug free for this event and we understand and agree to allow our bags to be searched before we board the buses to the Drew University in Madison, NJ. Furthermore, we pledge to be aware of our behaviors in the days and weeks before and after our graduation, and to make good choices that will not lead to any tragedies that involve drugs, alcohol, or poor choices behind the wheel of an automobile. Student Name: Student Signature: We understand that by signing below we are agreeing to be available on the night of June 22 nd and the morning of June 23 rd in the unlikely event that our senior behaves inappropriately and needs to be asked to leave Project Graduation 2017. We have provided a phone number(s) where we can be reached that night. Also, we as parents pledge to discuss the dangerous behaviors which this event seeks to avoid. We will encourage our graduating seniors to make good choices that prevent our family and community from having to endure any tragedies this graduation season. The undersigned authorizes the chaperones to obtain the services of a physician or hospital or both because of illness or disability of my child during this event. If in the opinion of the chaperone this is advisable, the undersigned will be notified as soon as possible for any expenses incurred. Parent name: Parent signature: Phone number(s) Cell: Home: Other: *Please note any dietary restrictions: