Check list for graduating seniors

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April 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians of Members of the Class of 2015:
I sincerely hope that your student has had a productive and positive experience at Jefferson High School. In this letter I
would like to review several pieces of information which should be helpful to you as we all plan for graduation and other
special end-of-year events. I have scheduled a meeting with the entire class at 9:58 a.m. on April 29 to reinforce this
material with them, and I want to be sure that you are also aware of what will occur during the next several weeks.
 Graduation invitations and announcements were distributed to seniors on April 2. If you have not ordered your cap
and gown you must contact Greta at 270-2341.
 Caps and Gowns will be distributed Thursday, May 7 after school dismissal.
 Progress reports were distributed on April 22. Please check those reports and contact the teachers immediately if
you sense a problem. You may also call your student’s counselor or associate principal. Teachers will email
progress reports at any time during the term if you request them. You also may check your student’s current grades
in PowerSchool. You can also help by counseling your student against any letdown in effort or achievement during
these last weeks. Attendance in every class is critical!
 The Senior Prom will be held on Saturday, May 2, at The Double Tree Hotel located at the following address: 350
First Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401. Prom will be held from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. that evening. We are
sure it will be a memorable and enjoyable event. This dance is open to seniors and a guest. Student ID’s must be
presented at the door. Formal dresses or tuxedos are not required. However, formal attire should be worn to this
event and clothing should also be appropriate and acceptable for a school event. Students attending prom must also
attend classes on Friday, May 1 and be in good standing. Good standing means passing all required for graduation
classes. The Senior Class Board, along with Senior Council members, are working hard at organizing prom. The
theme this year is “Northern Lights.” Students should stay tuned to announcements about ticket sales and other
important information regarding Prom and Grand March.
 Prior to Prom, parents and family members may attend Grand March at the Double Tree Hotel, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Parking is free in the parking ramp next to the hotel. Video cameras are welcome at this time. Students are
encouraged to arrive early to get lined up. We will not be accepting couples after 8:00 p.m. Read Photography will
be available for pictures at Grand March. They will be located outside the ballroom from 6:00-8:30 p.m.
 A post-prom party, planned and supervised by a group of parents and faculty, will be held at the Helen G Nassif
YMCA downtown at 207 7th AVE SE Cedar Rapids from 11:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. on prom night for any senior
and a guest. Students may attend after prom, regardless of whether they attended the dance or not. All are welcome,
free of charge. This is an excellent way for students to spend time on prom night, and we have seen this activity
grow in popularity and attendance. Virtually all prom-goers attend each year, and parents appreciate knowing it is
a safe and substance-free event. Seniors’ families received a letter recently explaining the event and requesting
donations and chaperones.
 Please help us assure a safe prom-night celebration by cautioning your student about the use of alcohol or other
substances prior to, during, or after the events. We want to avoid having to discipline anyone at such a significant
event, and certainly we do not want any student’s judgment impaired because he or she is under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
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Wednesday, May 27 is the last school day for graduates generally, although some individuals continue until the
end of the school year to earn a diploma. In order for seniors to participate fully in the graduation ceremony, they
must be passing the required graduation classes on May 21st to have their name listed in the graduation program.
Also, seniors must be passing the required graduation classes after finals on May 27 to participate in the ceremony.
Seniors that have not met graduation requirements may remain at school until June 5th to earn their 2015 diploma.
Seniors, that have earned a diploma, leave school several days before the younger students. Because of this early
departure, the school does not authorize Senior Skip Days. The usual attendance requirements are in effect through
May 27. Please help us assure that seniors are in class each scheduled day. Graduating seniors may stop in to pay
a fee or return a book, for example, but they should not be in the building to visit teachers or to see their friends
who are still in school.
Past-due financial obligations, materials or books for current courses must be settled with the bookkeeper by May
29. Failure to complete all such obligations will delay the receipt of the diploma, and will result in the account
being referred to a collection agency. In order to avoid these problems, make arrangements with an associate
principal immediately if you cannot settle the obligation by May 29. This expectation includes money owed to the
athletic or music departments, parking tickets, textbooks, IMC books and fines, and other funds for which your
student is responsible—for this and all previous years at JHS. An updated financial statement for your student
will be mailed the first part of May. Other financial obligations can occur after the above date, such as
unreturned books, tickets, etc.
Senior Recognition Night is scheduled for Monday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the East Gym. This special occasion
is open to all seniors and their families. Many members of the class will be honored with awards and/or scholarships
that evening, and we hope to fill the gym with supporters of the Class of 2015. It will be an event to remember!
The annual Senior Assembly will occur in the gymnasium at 8:15 a.m. on May 19. This event recognizes the Class
of 2015 in front of the entire student body, faculty, and staff. Seniors wear their caps and gowns during this
assembly, and it is a required event. The schedule will be altered for the morning, but all classes will meet that day.
Parents typically do not attend this event because most of the awards announced are repeats from Monday.
Rehearsal for graduation will be held in the US Cellular Center on Friday, May 29. Students should plan to arrive
by 9:30 a.m. for this required event.
Commencement is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30, in the U.S. Cellular Center. The doors open at 6:00
p.m., and seniors should arrive by 6:30 p.m.
Clothing worn under graduation gowns must be dressy, including shoes, nylons, dresses/skirts or dressy slacks for
women; and shoes, socks, dressy slacks, and shirts, for men. Denim jeans and athletic shoes are too casual and
should not be worn. Graduates must climb stairs to reach the stage, so appropriate shoes should be chosen. Corsages
should not be worn, and purses and cameras should be left with parents or friends prior to the ceremony. Graduates
will not carry anything during the ceremony until they are handed their diploma cover on stage.
Parents need not take videotapes or photos during the graduation ceremony. A professional photographer will take
individual pictures of graduates as they receive their diploma cover on stage. Also, the commencement ceremony
will be televised live on KCRG 9.2, if you would want to DVR it.
General seating in the stands for the graduation ceremony is free. However, there are also approximately 400 VIP
floor level seats available for purchase at $5.00 per seat. Additionally, Box Seats are also available at a cost of $75
for eight people and $50 for six people. The sale of tickets will be sold only through the US Cellular Center Box
Office starting April 27. The tickets may be purchased in person only. The box office is open Monday through
Friday from 10:00 AM through 6:00 PM. All other seats are accessible from the concourse level of the U.S. Cellular
Center, including accessible seating. The accessible seating is one companion per accessible seat.
The graduation ceremony is the culmination of the entire high school experience. We view it as a formal educational event,
and commencements at Jefferson have always been impressive programs. Graduates have conducted themselves in a
responsible, adult manner, and the staff will talk with students about specific behavior expectations for this important event.
Please join us in discouraging any activities that would reflect negatively on our graduates. For example, we ask that the
audience not applaud individuals as their names are called, shout out comments, or use noisemakers of any kind during the
ceremony. Such displays are unfair to the next student whose name may not be heard, and they detract from the formality
of the ceremony. Applause for the entire class after all names have been called is the appropriate way to show your support.
Finally, I offer a note of caution about potentially dangerous activities that may occur at the end of the year. Unfortunately,
students are likely to be confronted with very difficult decisions in these next several weeks. There will be parties at hotels,
in parks, or at homes where there is no adult supervision. Some of these gatherings may include the use of alcohol or other
controlled substances. Making responsible decisions in these situations will be challenging for every young person
involved. The school has no responsibility for such proceedings, of course, but our faculty members want the best possible
end-of-year experience for the members of the Class of 2015.
We know that making such decisions is not new to these students—they have been facing similar challenges throughout
high school. However, the prom and graduation seasons are unique for many reasons. We do not want car accidents, arrests,
suspensions, or other upsetting occurrences to spoil the last weeks of a four-year experience at Jefferson. Therefore, we
hope you will talk openly as a family about how you wish to respond to the many possibilities your student may encounter.
Make practical decisions in advance that are consistent with your family’s values. We urge care, caution, and
communication throughout the prom and graduation season.
Thank you for your continued support of Jefferson High School. Working with your sons and daughters has been very
satisfying to the faculty and staff. This class has enjoyed tremendous success, and we realize the critical roles that parents
and guardians play in those achievements. For that we offer our appreciation and congratulations.
April 22
May 2
May 18
May 19
May 27
May 29
May 29
May 30
Sincerely,
Charles McDonnell
Principal
Progress Reports distributed
Prom 8:00-11:00 p.m.
Senior Recognition Night, 7:00 p.m.
Senior Assembly, 8:15 a.m.
Final Tests for seniors
Financial obligations settled
Rehearsal, 9:30 a.m. arrival
Commencement, 6:30 p.m. arrival