GRADUATION 2014
April 1, 2014
Dear Parents and Senior Students,
Twelve years of schooling, culminating amid a flurry of activities, is exciting and hectic. The intent of this lengthy
letter is to assist you with your planning by outlining events, offering explanations, and describing expectations.
FRESH FLOWER LEIS FOR YOUR GRADUATE
Vista Grande High School offers you the opportunity to purchase your graduate a fresh flower orchid lei from
Hawaii for graduation night. Enclosed you will find a pre-order form with all the details. Orders are due no later
than Monday, May 12th. This is optional, not required.
SENIOR FINALS
Thursday, May 15
Friday, May 16
Periods 1, 3 and 5
Periods 2, 4 and 6
8:00-3:00
8:00-3:00
BOOKSTORE/LIBRARY
Seniors must be cleared of all debt in the bookstore and the library in order to graduate. As of May 1st no checks
will be accepted. Cash only.
BACCALAUREATE
Baccalaureate will be Sunday, May 18th in the Vista Grande High School Auditorium at 4:00 P.M. This ceremony
is religious in nature and organized by a committee comprised of interested students from Vista Grande High
School. Students are not required to attend. Students should dress in professional attire which does not include
jeans, shorts or flip-flops.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
We have scheduled practice sessions for graduation so everyone will know the procedures. We must insist that
graduation practice on the mornings of May 21st and 22nd be mandatory in order for you to have the honor of
participating in the ceremony. Please plan on blocking out the mornings of the 21st and 22nd. It’s usually very
warm, so bring water and sun block. Hats are also recommended.
Wednesday, May 21st
Thursday, May 22nd
9:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
Small Gym/Football Field
Small Gym/Football Field
CAP AND GOWN
Cap and gown units will be distributed Wednesday, May 21st in the small gym after practice. You must have a
clearance card from Mrs. Jimenez (senior counselor) and be cleared from the bookstore and library to
receive your cap and gown.
GRADUATION
Guests may sit on either the visitor side (East) or home side (West) bleachers. Check with your graduate after
Wednesday morning’s practice to determine which side he/she will be sitting.
GRADUATION
Thursday, May 22
7:00 P.M. Graduates line up in the small gym
8:00 P.M. Graduation Ceremony Begins
All Graduates are to pick up their diplomas in the small gym after the ceremony.
CEREMONY
Guests are asked to treat the ceremony with appropriate dignity. Balloons will be prohibited inside the football
stadium. The attention should be on the graduates and not on the people in the audience. Applause is appropriate,
but common courtesy needs to be displayed so every graduate’s name is heard. Noisemakers are both distracting
and disrespectful. Spectators are expected to be seated in the bleachers throughout the ceremony. At the
completion of the fireworks display the gates will be opened and you will be allowed on the field to take pictures
and celebrate with your graduate. Following the celebration all graduates must pick up their diploma in the small
gym before leaving.
Any student who appears to be under the influence of a controlled substance will not be allowed to
participate in the ceremony.
As stated above, we expect this ceremony to be dignified and proper.
GUIDELINES FOR DRESS
YOUNG MEN should wear dress slacks, a collared shirt (tie not required but recommended), dress
shoes, and socks. No tennis shoes, flip-flops, or shorts will be allowed.
YOUNG LADIES should wear a dress (or blouse and skirt), dress shoes. No tennis shoes, flip-flops,
or shorts will be allowed.
GRAD IMAGES
In an effort to inform parents about photos at the upcoming graduation ceremony, Grad Images has developed
a cool new pre-registration system which allows you to provide your email and mailing address information to
Grad Images prior to the ceremony. You can also add up to six family members’ information as well to help share
the good news and photos! You may pre-register by going to the school web site http://vghs.cguhsd.org then click
on the link http://www.gradimages.com/index.cfm?action=main.preregistration.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
If there are inclement weather conditions that warrant postponing the ceremony, the event will be changed to
Saturday, May 24th at 8:00 P.M.
OPERATION GRADUATION
Operation Graduation is Wednesday, May 21st, 7:00-10:00 P.M. @ Ultrastar Multi-Tainment Center in
Maricopa. Graduates who purchase Operation Graduation tickets are to meet at Casa Grande Union High School at
6:00 P.M. to load the buses. Buses will leave for Maricopa at 6:15 P.M. returning to Union at approximately
10:45 P.M. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased in the bookstore. Deadline to purchase tickets is
Wednesday, May 7th.
With every ending there is a brand new beginning.