May 6th, 2015
Dear Graduating Students and Parents:
We are quickly approaching the end of your Secondary School journey. The purpose of this letter is to provide important
details regarding the 2014-2015 Commencement ceremony.
Venue location and details:


Evening of Wednesday, June 24th, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
Bethany Community Church, 1388 Third Street, St. Catharines, ON
Unlike our auditorium, this venue provides enough seating for our grads and two guests. Our staff members have
graciously relinquished their seats in order to maximize the seating capacity for the families of our students.
Available seating and viewing:
Graduates do not require a ticket for themselves but will receive two tickets for the Main Seating area to distribute at their
discretion. Should you not require tickets, please return them to the office at your earliest convenience for reallocation to
students who need more than two tickets.
Some Additional Seating will be available in adjacent areas where live video streaming of the event can be viewed. This
additional complimentary seating must be arranged by either: a) completing a Google Docs request found on our school
website or, b) the graduating student can complete a paper request form available from Mrs. Goldwin in the Guidance
office. Please complete this request by Wednesday June 10th. An official wait list for this limited seating will be
generated by lottery and followed accordingly.
Furthermore, out of town friends and family will be able to view the ceremony live through a link on our
www.sirwinston.ca website.
Ticket distribution:
Formal invitations, along with the graduate’s two tickets for the Main Seating area, will be distributed at Grad Breakfast
on Friday May 29th, 2015. Tickets for the Additional Seating areas will be available starting on Friday June 12th
according to the wait list that will be posted in Guidance. On Graduation Night, please ensure that you bring your tickets
to the venue as they will be collected at the ceremony. Parents should arrive early as seating will be at a premium.
Gown pick up:
As you have already purchased your gown, pick it up and sign off in person in the Guidance Department by Friday June
19th. The specific date and time will be announced and posted on our website. We expect the shipment to arrive during
the exam schedule.
Evening of Graduation:
Beginning at 5:00 p.m. students, wearing their gown, check in at the Registration table at Bethany and then proceed to the
“sashing area”. The sashes must be returned to the “sashing area” at the end of the ceremony. *Registration will close
promptly at 5:45 p.m. The official ceremony will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
Pictures:
A professional photographer from Lifetouch has been hired to take photos of the grads as they receive their diplomas on
stage. This service will avoid long delays in the ceremony, and it will ensure that each student has this valuable shot.
Graduates will be able to access and order these pictures online. Should you chose to purchase these photographs, you will
receive them in the mail.
Flowers, paraphernalia and the Alumni:
For those who are interested, flowers and graduation paraphernalia will be available for purchase by an independent
vendor as congratulatory gifts for the grads at a kiosk at Bethany Church. The Sir Winston Churchill Alumni Association
will also be available for new grads to formally join.
The teachers and administration are looking forward to celebrating your accomplishments. Frequently Asked Questions
are on the reverse side of this letter. If you have any other questions about the evening, you may call the school at
(905) 684-6349.
Sincerely,
Carol Purcer
Principal
When is graduation? - Wednesday, June 24th. The ceremony will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and grads
are dropped off by 5 p.m. for registration.
How will I know I am graduating? – You must be in Grade 12, have obtained all of your necessary
credits and have submitted your forms reflecting 40 hours of Community Service. If you are not
successful in one or more of your classes, and hence are no longer eligible to graduate, you will receive a
phone call after exams.
Do Grads need tickets? - No. All grads will be seated together as per a pre-established alphabetical
seating plan.
When do I get the tickets for my guests? – During the Grad Breakfast you will receive an invitation
which will include 2 tickets for the Main Seating area.
What do I do if I want more tickets than the 2 assigned tickets? – Some Additional Seating will be
available in adjacent areas where live video streaming of the event can be viewed. This additional
complimentary seating must be arranged by either: a) completing a Google Docs request found on our
school website or, b) the graduating student can complete a paper request form available in Guidance.
Please complete this request by June 10th. There will be a lottery for these additional tickets and these
tickets will be distributed in Guidance starting on June 12th.
When can my guests enter the auditorium? – Guests will be ushered to their seats while Grads register.
Space is limited therefore no seats will be saved for late arrivals.
Can my guests get into the auditorium if they forget their tickets? – Unfortunately not.
When do I pick up my grad gown? – As you have already purchased your gown, pick it up in the
Guidance Department the week prior to Graduation, before Friday June 19th. The specific date and time
will be announced and posted on our website. We anticipate the shipment to arrive during the week of
June 15th.
Do I need to wear the mortarboard? – Wearing the mortarboard is optional and left to each potential
grad’s discretion.
What will be in the “Graduation folder” that I receive when I cross the stage? –Your Ontario
Secondary School Diploma, a Transcript, any Certificates and Awards you may have won.
How long is the Graduation ceremony? Under 3 hours
Will my parents have an opportunity to take photos of me on stage? We have hired a professional
photographer to take your photo as you receive your diploma. These photos will be available online via a
link on our website. Parents are asked to refrain from taking photos during the ceremony. The stage will
be available after graduation.
Will I get my own copy of the program? Upon returning your sash at the end of the evening, each
student will receive a copy of the program that will be set aside for each graduate.