Class of 2011
Graduation Information
Schedule
Monday, May 23
Tuesday, May 24
Wednesday, May 25
Wednesday, May 25
Thursday, May 26
Friday, May 27
Friday May 27
Senior Exams
Senior Exams
Make-Up Senior Exams
Graduation Practice
Graduation Practice
Report to Homeroom
Graduation Ceremony
3rd & 4th Block
1st & 2nd Block
All courses 8am-12pm
1:00 – 3:00 PM
9:00 – 11:00 AM
6:20 PM
7:00 PM SHARP!
Tickets
Each graduate receives 6 tickets to the ceremony. The gym has a limited
number of seats. If you need additional tickets, talk to fellow graduates who may
not use all that they receive. We do not “sell” extra tickets. You may also place
your name on a waiting list for one additional ticket (see Mrs. Wiggins during your
lunch). This is not a guarantee!!
You will receive your tickets (6) at the end of the last graduation practice.
Attire for Graduation
Girls- Wear white or light-colored dress or skirt and blouse with white,
black, or clear dress shoes. The bottom of your dress or skirt should not show
beneath your gown. If your gown came with a white collar, you may discard
it.
Boys- Wear white dress shirt with a tie (no bow ties), dress pants (black,
dark brown, dark blue, or khaki), dark socks and dark dress shoes. No athletic
shoes. Shoelaces must be tied.
ALL GRADUATES
 red cap and gown, cap should be flat on top of your head (not tilted
to the back)
 solid red tassel
o Beta’s and NHS’s may choose to wear black or gold tassels
as appropriate…these will be given out at graduation
practices
o All tassels will be worn to the right side.
o No jewelry outside your gown -- no medallions. No cell
phone or pagers or beeping watches.
 If you are using a cap and gown bought in another year, you
must still purchase a diploma cover from Josten’s. You
cannot get a diploma without a diploma cover.
**Notify Mrs. Wiggins IMMEDIATELY if you have not
made arrangements for your cap, gown, tassel, or
diploma cover.**
IF YOU ARE NOT PROPERLY ATTIRED, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED
TO PARTICIPATE IN GRADUATION. SEE MRS. WIGGINS IF ANY PART OF
THE ATTIRE GUIDELINES IS A PROBLEM FOR YOU.
Academic Honors stoles and tassels:
 High Honor: final SC UGP GPA greater than or equal to 4.5, these students will
wear a gold honor stole
 Honor: final SC UGP GPA greater than or equal to 3.75 without rounding, these
students will wear a gold honor cord
**Cords and stoles will be distributed on graduation night in your homerooms. ]
Be sure that you take your gown out of the bag NOW. Many of the
creases will hang out, but pressing or steaming may be necessary. You will be
expected to have a wrinkle-free gown at graduation.
*Quality Plus will press your gown free of charge if you have it to them by Monday, May 23. All
gowns must be picked up by Tuesday, May 24. Before you go to pick up your gown from them,
please call ahead (833-2330) to make sure your gown is ready.
Graduation Practice
 Two practices- Wednesday, May 25 from 1:00-3:00 PM and
Thursday, May 26 from 9:00- 11:00 AM.
 Be present inside the big gym promptly at 1:00 PM or 9:00 AM on
practice days.
 Enter from the big gym through the outside/main doors. If you are late,
you will miss important information and instructions. You must be
present at both practices to participate in graduation. Do not
arrive before 12:45 PM on Wednesday or 8:45 AM on Thursday and
do not go into other parts of the building.
 Speakers and musicians in the program will rehearse immediately after
each general practice. This includes all speakers and is mandatory.
Graduation Exercises
 Report to your homeroom by 6:20 PM on Friday, May 27. If you are
not present, your diploma will be pulled and you will not be allowed to
participate. You should enter the front doors of the school. NO ONE
ELSE CAN ENTER WITH YOU. All graduation guests should enter
the main entrance of the new gym (and must have a ticket to enter).
 Teachers will be with you in homeroom to assist you with
caps/gowns/tassels. All tassels will be pinned in place and caps will be
adjusted. Your attire will be checked at this time.
Take Care of Business
 You are expected to clean out your locker before you leave school for
the last time. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO USES THE LOCKER- IF
IT IS YOURS, IT MUST BE EMPTY!
 Clear all debts. You may owe for a variety of things: lost or damaged
books, uniforms, library fines, and lunch. These debts must be cleared
for you to receive your diploma.
 Finish strong!!!!! This is the time to make your best grades and finish
your requirements. If you do not have the twenty-four units
required by the state, you will not be allowed to participate in the
graduation ceremony.
A Class Act
Graduation is a group event. It’s about all of you! No one should draw
extra attention to him/herself. This is an occasion you will remember
always. Conduct yourself with dignity and respect others. Every senior
wants to hear his/her name called. You’ve earned it! Don’t steal someone
else’s moment.
Information for Your Family and Guests
 Every person of any age who enters the gym must have a ticket (not a
graduation announcement). Doors will open at 6:15 PM Guests should use
the main entrance to the new gym (at the back of the school).
 Children under age 6 should be sent to the nursery. This is an event with a
very large crowd. It’s difficult for any small child to sit still and quiet for that
long -- up to two hours. Be fair to them and to your fellow graduates -- use
the nursery. It also frees up a ticket for someone else to use. (See Mrs.
Wiggins to sign up for the nursery.)
 Please talk with your family and guests about our expectations. This is a
dignified ceremony. It is neither courteous nor respectful to yell, scream, or
cheer for you when your name is called. We will cheer together when ALL
GRADUATES have been called.
 Graduates or guests who disrupt the ceremony will be escorted from the
premises by a police officer.
 ALL cell phones, pagers, and beeping watches SHOULD BE TURNED OFF.
 Graduation begins at 7:00pm SHARP!!!! Please ask your guests to arrive
early. Most people will park some distance from the gym entrance. It will
take at least 20 minutes to walk to the gym, get inside and find a seat. NO
ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE GYM ONCE THE CEREMONY
BEGINS. PLEASE ASK THEM TO BE ON TIME!!!!! ONCE THE
CEREMONY BEGINS, NO ONE WILL BE ADMITTED IN THE GYM.
 Parking will be available for disabled individuals near the gym. This is very
limited. Arrive early. There is limited seating on the floor for those in wheel
chairs and those who cannot climb the steps. Other family members should
sit in the bleachers and save those floor seats for others who need them.
Pictures:
 Classic Photography of South Carolina will photograph every senior during
the awarding of diplomas. You will receive in the mail a complimentary color
proof and the opportunity to purchase 5X7 photographs.


o Please contact Classic Photography with your current addresses if
you have reason to believe the address provided at the start of the
school year may be out of date.
o If you provide the company with an e-mail address, proofs will be emailed within 24 hours of the ceremony.
o Questions? E-mail Classic Photography at info@gradphotos.com
or call (800) 768-3987
Mr. Charles Steele will video the ceremony. He will attend graduation
practice to sell these videos.
Guests MAY NOT LEAVE THEIR SEATS to take pictures or video. NO ONE
IS ALLOWED ON THE FLOOR DURING THE AWARDING OF DIPLOMAS.
Please ask your family and guests to be considerate of those around them by
not standing in front of others to take pictures or videos.
ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO ATTEMPTS TO DISRUPT THE GRADUATION CEREMONYGRADUATE OR GUEST- WILL BE ESCORTED OUT BY POLICE OFFICERS.
FINAL TRANSCRIPTS- the school you plan to attend needs a final transcript, issued
after graduation with your last credits and your graduation date. We will send this for
you -- at no cost, but you must let us know which school to send it to. Complete a “Final
Transcript Form” and we’ll take care of this for you right after graduation. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL THIS SUMMER TO DO THIS…THESE TRANSCRIPTS WILL BE MAILED
OUT THE WEEK FOLLOWING GRADUATION. You do not want to wait until late July
to have your transcript sent out.

NCAA Clearinghouse
o Mark the appropriate section on your final transcript form.
o Students must send official test scores from SAT and/or ACT.

Dual Enrollment Students
o Piedmont Tech – directions may be found at http://www.ptc.edu/studentservices-ce/student-records/441-transcripts
 You may complete a request in person or by mail or fax
o USC Union – see Mrs. Wiggins for transcript release forms
Scholarship Information is printed in the graduation program. Turn in a copy of your
college’s financial award letter, and scholarships that you are awarded will be included
in the program. (Because LIFE is awarded with the final GPA, this scholarship will not
be printed in the program.) Your financial award letter and copies of scholarship award
letters must be turned in to Mrs. Wiggins by Friday, May 20.
Financial Award Letters… please bring to Mrs. Wiggins to copy. We keep a total of
scholarship dollars won by your class.
YEAR END CHECKLIST FOR SENIORS:
o Turn in scholarship info (and copies of your financial award
letter) to Mrs. Wiggins by Friday, May 20
o Complete and turn in final transcript form by Thursday,
May 26
o Turn in pictures for the slide show to Coach Wofford (seniors
in groups)
o Sign up for the nursery if you will need it at graduation…the
list will be in Mrs. Wiggins’ office.
o Let Mrs. Wiggins know if you have already committed to the
military for after graduation.
o Remove gown from bag and try it on to be sure it fits
 Take gown to Quality Plus cleaners for pressing by
May 23
 Pick up gown by May 24
o Acquire proper clothing and shoes to wear
o Complete class work….pass classes needed to graduate
o Clean out locker (even if you don’t use it)
o Settle all debts (including lunch charges), turn in all books
to teachers and/or library
o Attend graduation practice on May 25 and May 26