SENIOR PARENT AND STUDENT INFORMATION PACKET

 

 

2008 COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION

 

 

Graduation Rehearsal  

Graduation rehearsal is scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, at 9:00 a.m. in the main gym at B-CC, which will be set up like Constitution Hall.  All seniors MUST attend the ENTIRE rehearsal.  If a student does not attend, he/she will NOT participate in the Constitution Hall graduation ceremony.  The rehearsal will last until approximately 1:00 p.m.  ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY.

 

 

Arrival time at Constitution Hall  

Graduation is Wednesday, June 4, at 7:00 p.m.  Students should arrive at Constitution Hall no later than 5:45 p.m.  At the rehearsal, students will be assigned to report to either the C Street lobby door or the D Street lobby door.  The doors will open to the public at 6:15 p.m.  People will be admitted by ticket only at the main entrance on 18th Street .  Persons with disabilities should enter at the D Street lobby entrance.

 

WARNING:  The doors to Constitution Hall will close promptly five minutes before the processional begins (6:55 p.m.).  The doors will not reopen until after the graduates are seated, so encourage your guests to arrive on time.

 

 

Tickets  

Admission to Constitution Hall is by ticket only.  Each graduating senior will receive six tickets to the graduation ceremony.  The tickets will be distributed at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 30, in the cafeteria at the final senior breakfast.  No student will receive tickets until all financial obligations are cleared.  Students who do not need all six tickets should return the extra tickets to Mr. Orlando as soon as possible.  If extra tickets are needed, please fill out the form requesting up to four more tickets.  Please turn the form in to Mr. Orlando.  Requests will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.

 

 

Caps and Gowns  

Caps and gowns will be distributed at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 30 in the cafeteria during the final senior breakfast.  Financial obligations must be cleared in the financial office and media center before students can receive caps and gowns.  If you have not ordered a cap and gown, please call Jostens at 301-519-9138 immediately.  Students can wear an older brother or sister’s gown if they wish as long as it is Royal Blue.  However, they will still need to order a tassel from Jostens.  The tassel can be purchased for $ 9 at the senior breakfast. 

 

 

Transportation to Constitution Hall  

Chartered buses will leave B-CC at 4:30 p.m. and will transport students, parents, faculty and staff who wish to attend the graduation and travel by bus to Constitution Hall.  The cost is $7.00 per person.  The buses will depart Constitution Hall one-half hour after the ceremony ends and return to B-CC.  If you wish to reserve a seat on the bus, please complete the attached form and return it with a check made out to B-CC H.S. to Mr. Orlando.  Space is limited, so please reserve early.  Bus reservations will NOT be accepted after Friday, May 16.

 

Metro, via Farragut West, is approximately a ten-minute walk to Constitution Hall.  From Farragut West, take the 17th Street exit, walk down 17th Street , cross Pennsylvania Avenue , and pass the Old Executive Office Building .  Constitution Hall will be on the right at 17th and D Streets.  To enter Constitution Hall, you must use the main entrance off 18th Street .  On-street two hour meter parking is extremely limited (after 6:30 p.m. the meters no longer need money).  Maps will be distributed at a later date.

 

Arrangements have been made with the George Washington University to permit use of their parking facilities (on a space-available basis).  The two visitor locations available are at the Marvin Center Garage on H Street, NW between 21st Street and 22nd Street ; and the University Parking Garage, entrance on I Street between 22nd Street and 23rd Street , also are available.

 

 

Student Attire  

Graduation is a serious affair, and students need to dress appropriately.  Parents are requested to take an active role in assuring that their son/daughter is appropriately dressed for the occasion.  Female graduates should wear a shirt with dress pants or a skirt, or a dress. Male graduates should wear a dress shirt, tie, and dress pants.  Dress shoes are also required.  Tennis shoes, sandals, shorts, jeans, and other casual attire are not permitted.  No decorations or alterations are to be made to graduation caps and/or gowns.

 

 

Parental Expectations  

Constitution Hall will try to accommodate parents and /or friends who desire to videotape or photograph the ceremony.  To accomplish this, all seats from boxes 1 - 12 will be removed, and standing in these boxes will be permitted for video, film or still photography.  This is Constitution Hall policy and no picture taking will be permitted from the aisles, in front of the stage, or on the stage.  A videotape of the ceremony will be available for purchase with an advance order only.  Details will follow.    A professional photographer will take a picture of each graduate receiving his/her diploma.  Proofs will be mailed to your home, and orders can be placed at this time.

 

Courteous behavior of all guests is necessary for a dignified graduation ceremony.  A graduation ceremony is a formal occasion.  Loud, boisterous behavior detracts from the ceremony and can prohibit the audience from hearing the names of all graduates as they are announced.  Therefore, we are requesting that both graduates and guests refrain from applause or other cheering until all names have been read.

 

All guests are expected to remain seated until the graduates leave the hall.  Guests can greet the graduates outside the hall on C or D Street immediately following the ceremony.

 

 

Collecting the diploma after the ceremony  

Immediately after the ceremony, students report to a designated area to receive their actual diplomas.  This process should take no longer than 15 minutes, and then students will meet their guests outside Constitution Hall on C or D Streets.

 

 

General academic and behavioral expectation for seniors  

Each year several issues arise concerning academic and behavioral expectation for seniors.  One of those issues is the “senior slump”, during which students devote less energy and commitment to their schoolwork.  Teachers ask for your support as they continue to expect students to complete their schoolwork and attend school regularly.  Each year some students find themselves facing the devastating consequence of losing credit in a class at the last minute or not successfully completing the assigned work.

 

We are especially concerned that some seniors will not complete their Student Service Learning hours prior to the deadline.  Failure to complete those hours, loss of credit in a class, or receiving a failing grade are situations that can cause a student not to graduate with his or her class.  Although we all know that seniors become more relaxed as the semester nears the end, we ask for your support in our efforts to assure that all the seniors have a successful ending to their high school careers.

 

Seniors also need to be aware that senior pranks or any other potentially dangerous or destructive activities are prohibited.  Students risk being suspended from school.  They also risk exclusion from any school-sponsored activity, including prom and/or graduation exercises at Constitution Hall.

 

All obligations must be paid by 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 30, 2008.  Obligations include detention or other consequences that have not been served.

 

We hope you will support our effort to provide your children with safe and enjoyable activities for the remainder of their senior year.  We look forward to many exciting and memorable times as this important phase of your child’s school life draws to a close.  We thank you in advance for your attendance at the Senior Parent meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 14 in the auditorium.

 

 

Obligations  

All obligations MUST be cleared before students will receive prom tickets, graduation tickets, and a cap and gown.  These can be cleared through Jackie Spear in the Financial Office at lunch.  Please make sure these are taken care of BEFORE the senior breakfast as this is traditionally the biggest obstacle students have during the final clearance day at the senior breakfast.

 

 

Questions
Please contact Mr. Orlando with any questions regarding Prom or Graduation.  The easiest way to contact him is through email at:  Christopher_Orlando@mcpsmd.org.  You may call the school at 240-497-6300 and leave a message if you prefer.

 



PROM AND AFTER PROM INFORMATION!

 

The Prom

The prom will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the The Galleria at Lafeyette Centre located at 1120 20th Street NW .  The prom will begin at 9:00 PM and end at 1:00 AM.  No one will be admitted after 11:00 PM.

 

Ticket sales begin at lunch on Monday, May 5th  and will be sold until Friday, May 9th.  Tickets are $50 each.  Tickets will be available in the Atrium near the Attendance Office.  If a student has an obligation, he or she will not be able to purchase tickets for the prom until the obligation(s) have been cleared.  Tickets can also be purchased online throught the B-CC School store.  These tickets can be purchased beginning Monday, May 5th and ending Thursday, May 8th.  Students will have to print the receipt and take it to Jackie Spear in the business office so she can verify that obligations are cleared.  She will then issue the actual ticket.   No tickets will be sold at the door.  The senior class would like to see all seniors attend the prom.  It is not necessary for students to have dates.  Only B-CC students and their guests are permitted to attend the Prom.

 

GUESTS

All guests for prom must be high school students unless special permission is granted to the student.  A form will be available with the tickets.

 

Dress Code: Formal

Proper attire is required for this formal event.  Gentlemen are asked to wear a tuxedo or suit and tie.  Ladies are asked to wear a formal dress or pantsuit. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, tennis shoes, and other casual wear are unacceptable and will not be allowed.

 

Prom Pictures

Lifetouch Studios will be taking formal portraits at the prom.  The price of these portrait packages will be listed in the envelope with your prom ticket.

 

After-Prom Celebration

The after-prom will be held at Dave and Buster’s located at 11301 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda .  After-prom begins at 1:30 AM and ends at 4:30 AM.  Seniors who do not attend the prom are still invited to the after-prom.

 

ALL SCHOOL EVENTS ARE DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE!

 

    

 

 

 

 

Additional Graduation Ticket Request Form

 

Each senior will receive six tickets for graduation.  Use this form to request additional tickets.  Additional tickets will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis, so submit your requests early.  You may request up to four additional tickets.  Return this form to Mr. Orlando in C107 before school, at lunch, or after school.

 

 

Name of Student: _______________________________________________________

 

Home Phone Number: ___________________________________________________

 

Email address: (Print clearly) ______________________________________________

 

Number of Additional Tickets Requested: ____________________________________

 

 

Reminder: Obligations must be paid before tickets will be issued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graduation Bus Reservations

Student Name: _________________________________________________________

Daytime Phone Number: _________________________________________________

Home Phone Number: ___________________________________________________

Number of Reservations: _________________________________________________

 

Bus Fee:                                $7.00 per person

Amount Enclosed                  $_____________

Checks should be made payable to B-CC High School.  Forms and checks should be submitted to Mr. Orlando’s mailbox in the main office or to his classroom, C107, before or after school.  Seats are limited; reservations will be accepted on a first-come first served basis.

Tickets will NOT be distributed for the bus ride to graduation.  By turning in this form, your name will be put on a list that will be used when you board the bus.

Buses will depart from B-CC promptly at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2008 and will return to B-CC approximately 30 minutes after the graduation ceremony.

Graduation begins at 7:00 p.m.

**This form MUST be turned in on or before Friday, May 16th.