Balfour Collegiate
Graduation
2013
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High school graduation is an important and exciting time for our Grade 12 students and their
families. The purpose of this booklet is to keep everyone informed about upcoming graduation events.
Here you will find information about the Cap and Gown Ceremony, the Banquet and Dance, and After
Grad.
It is our goal as a staff at Balfour to have an enjoyable and memorable graduation for our students
and you, their families. The information contained in the following pages should ensure that you
understand the procedures and timelines concerning graduation so that you can plan accordingly.
If you have further questions, please contact the school at 523-3200 and your call will be directed to
someone who can help you.
On behalf of the Staff Graduation Committee,
Cindy Hock, Principal
Responsibility
Staff member
Email
Coordinator
Cindy Hock
cynthia.hock@rbe.sk.ca
Financial
Lorrie Castle
lorrie.castle@rbe.sk.ca
Banquet and Dance
After Grad liaison
Chris Arnstead
Jessica Moffatt
Kathy MacPherson
chris.arnstead@rbe.sk.ca
jessica.moffatt@rbe.sk.ca
katherine.macpherson@rbe.sk.ca
Cap and Gown
Sharlene McGowan
sharlene.mcgowan@rbe.sk.ca
Graduation Photos
Carol Casswell
carol.casswell@rbe.sk.ca
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Important Dates
Thursday, December 20
Grade 12 Advisory Meeting in the Auditorium
Monday, January 21
Graduation Parenting Meeting 6:30 in the Auditorium
May
Selection of Valedictorian and Banquet speakers through
Advisory
Tuesday, May 21 to Friday, May 31 Banquet and Dance ticket payment
Friday, June 21
Pick-up of Cap and Gown
Tuesday, June 25
Graduation Cap and Gown Ceremony
Wednesday, June 26
Graduation Banquet and Dance and After Grad event
Cap and Gown Ceremony Information
Balfour Collegiate 2013 Graduation Cap and Gown Ceremony is our formal exercise to
acknowledge the success of students. Grade 12 students who have achieved the graduation
requirements as set by the Ministry of Education, as of June 21, 2013 will be eligible to
participate and to receive diplomas.
The Cap and Gown Ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25th in the
main theatre at the Conexus Arts Centre, located at 200A Lakeshore Drive in Regina.
There is unlimited seating available for this ceremony and there is no parking or
admission charge to attend. All friends and family of graduates are welcome to attend. Please
enter through the main front doors on the north side of the building. Ushers will greet you and
provide you with a program. You will be seated on the main floor of the theatre. Balcony
seating will not be used.
The front row of seats will be reserved for those wanting to take pictures during the
ceremony. Please proceed to the front row to take pictures at appropriate times and then
return to your seat so others may do the same.
Please plan to arrive well enough in advance to park and be seated before 9:30 a.m.
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Cap and Gown Pick-up
Caps and Gowns will be distributed to graduates participating in the ceremony on Friday, June 2,
2013 at 1:30 in Room 148 of Balfour Collegiate. This will allow you plenty of time for photographs in the
comfort of your own settings. The graduating student or parent must sign for the cap, stole, and gown
so please do not send others to pick them up. Students should write their name inside their cap in order
to identify it after they toss them at the end of the ceremony. Students keep the cap as a memento. The
stole and gown must be returned at the Conexus Arts Centre immediately after the ceremony. At this
time students will receive their progress report.
Banquet and Dance Information
All students currently enrolled in Grade 12 classes at Balfour Collegiate are eligible to attend and
purchase tickets for the Banquet and Dance. The Banquet and Dance will be held in the Raphael
Ballroom, Delta Hotel, Saskatchewan Drive, Regina on Wednesday, June 26. Doors open at 5:15.
Parking is available across the street in the hotel parkade. Between 5:30 and 6:30, complimentary soft
drinks will be available. After that, a fee will be charged for soft drinks.
Please bring your tickets with you to the Banquet and Dance. Ushers will be available to assist in
seating.
After their guests are seated at their tables, graduates are requested to convene in the foyer outside
of the Raphael Ballroom at 5:40 for a group photograph. Each graduate will receive a copy of the group
photo. The photographer requests that no one else take pictures during this time. Guests will be able to
take photos during the Grand March.
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The Grand March will begin following the group photo. Graduates are announced and will enter the
ballroom in pairs. Grace will be said once the Grand March is completed and the buffet dinner will be
served under the directions of the hotel staff.
A short program and speeches follow dinner and then the dance will start. The first dance of the
evening is reserved for the graduates and one of their parents. The second dance is reserved for the
graduates and their escorts. All graduates and guests are invited to stay for the remainder of the
evening to dance and enjoy the music.
Purchase and payment of Banquet and Dance Tickets
In order to establish how many tickets each graduate may purchase, grade 12 students will be asked
during advisory to indicate how many tickets they would like to reserve in advance for themselves and
their guests for the Banquet and Dance. Based on experience we have been able to accommodate the
number of tickets requested. We anticipate 900 to 1,000 people will be seated for dinner at the
banquet.
Tickets for the Banquet and Dance will be on sale from Tuesday, May 21 to Friday, May 31. Ticket
purchases can be made in the main office with cash, debit or credit. The cost of each ticket is $36.00.
Any dietary requests must be made at the time of ticket purchase. Tickets must be produced for entry
into the Raphael Ballroom. Graduates must purchase a ticket for themselves as well as one for each
family member or guest. This includes children and babies as fire regulations state that every person
must be included in our count.
Graduates may request seating close to one other group. The other party also has to make this
same request. Every effort will be made to accommodate these requests.
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Graduation Banquet and Dance Timeline
5:15 p.m.
Graduates, escorts and guests arrive at the Delta Hotel
With help from the ushers, graduates seat family and guests at their table
5:40
Graduates meeting in the foyer for a group photograph to be taken
6:00
Grand March begins, graduates are announced in pairs, enter and tour the ballroom
Parent and guest photos are welcome during this time
6:30
Grace is said and the meal begins
7:30
Program and speeches
Dance
First Dance is reserved for graduates and one parent or guardian
Second Dance is reserved for graduates and escorts
Everyone is invited to enjoy the music and dancing for the rest of the evening
After Dance
After Grad event
Graduation Banquet Speeches
There are a number of speeches delivered during the program at the Banquet and Dance. Grade 12
students are encouraged to apply for one of the following speaking parts. Information and applications
will be available through Advisory.
Master of ceremony
Toast to the Ladies
Toast to the Gentlemen
Toast to the Teachers
Toast to the Parents
Grace
Members of the Student Graduation Committee will nominate parents and teachers to deliver the
Toast to the Students and the Speech to the Graduates.
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Valedictorian
In May, Grade 12 students will nominate a student to give the Class of 2013 Valedictorian address.
Students will be asked to consider the extra-curricular and leadership individual students have made to
Balfour Collegiate before they make their choices for Valedictorian.
The Valedictorian Speech is delivered at the Cap and Gown Ceremony.
After Grad Party
This event is planned and run completely by Grade 12 parent volunteers. The After Grad Party is a
large event that allows graduates a safe, supervised, and chemical-free opportunity to celebrate their
accomplishment. The After Grad Party takes place directly following the Graduation Banquet and Dance
on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 and runs to approximately 4:00 a.m. Volunteer chaperone parents will
be present the entire evening.
Ticket prices are yet to be determined by the After Grad Committee. However, by participating in
fundraising opportunities, graduate ticket prices can be reduced. A graduate can raise funds to pay up
to the full price of their ticket. After Grad event costs include facility rental, food, beverages,
transportation and the entertainment and activities for the party. More information on the fundraising
activities will be available through further communications and Advisory in January 2013. Alternatively,
graduates and their families can opt out of the fundraising option and pay full price for the ticket(s).
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Banquet and Dance Ticket Order Form
Tickets are $36.00. Each graduate and all guests require a ticket.
Tickets are on sale from Tuesday, May 21 to Friday, May 31 in the main office of Balfour Collegiate.
If you wish to be seated near or with one other graduate, please indicate so on the form. The other
graduate must also request the same placement. Although every attempt will be made to have groups
sit together, this may not always be possible. Tables at the Delta Hotel seat 8 people, with a few tables
seating 10 people.
_________________________________________________________
Banquet and Dance Ticket Order Form: (payment must accompany order form, address questions to
Ms. Lorrie Castle at 523-3200)
Name:____________________________________ Advisory teacher ____________________________
Daytime phone number _______________________
Number of tickets ________x $36.00 each = ______________ total payment
cash debit credit
Name of one other graduate you wish to sit near _______________________________________