CLASS of 2018 COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION - Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. - Address to D.A.R.: 1776 D. Street, N.W.; Washington, D.C., 20006 (18 th and D Street, N.W.). - For directions to and from the commencement using metro, please refer to: www.wmata.com or call (202)637-7000 - Graduates MUST report by 8:45 a.m. and must be in the processional line in order to participate in the ceremony. - Classes will not be held for students of John F. Kennedy High School on commencement day. - Parents/Guests should plan on arriving early as the doors open at 9:00 a.m. - EVERYONE ATTENDING COMMENCEMENT MUST HAVE A TICKET. Children requiring a seat MUST have a ticket. - The Principal will address the audience and read a decorum statement at 9:50 a.m. - Doors to the public will be closed at 9:50 a.m. and the lobby cleared for graduates. NO EXCEPTIONS - Doors will reopen after the procession has ended; NO seating on the main floor after the processional. TRANSPORTATION/PARKING - There are parking garages in the area, but please remember that parking is NOT free. - Street parking is limited and somewhat difficult; Parking is metered. - We encourage parents to take advantage of chartered buses provided by the JFK Business Office to and from commencement. (See enclosed letter regarding fee and departure time.) - Arrangements have been made with the George Washington University to permit the use of their parking facilities (on a space-available basis) during the week of commencements. The two visitor locations available are at the Marvin Center Garage on H Street, N.W., between 21 st Street and 22 nd Street; and the University Parking Garage, entrance on I Street between 22 nd Street and 23 rd Street. D.A.R. FACILITY INFORMATION Graduates: - Proceed to the appropriate side of D.A.R. upon entering the building and remain until the procession. - No parents/guardians will be permitted in these locations prior to the ceremony. - Graduates will not join their families again until diplomas have been distributed following graduation. Handicapped Guests: A doorman/ticket taker and security officer will be stationed at the D Street entrance of D.A.R. Constitution Hall for the convenience of all patrons with disabilities who arrive by vehicle or use the driveway to avoid the front steps. - Students requiring handicapped seating for parents/guests should email or leave a phone message for Ms. Kia Davis at 240.74.0130, or email her at Kia_P_Davis@mcpsmd.org as soon as possible. - No wheelchairs are permitted in the aisles. - Seeing-eye dogs are permitted to accompany the owner and will be permitted under the seat or at the owner s feet. SIGNING AND LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION - Individuals who need sign language interpretation or any other special assistance to participate in the commencement exercises should contact the Office of Interpreter Requesting Services at 301-517- 5539, by voice or (301)637-2933 TTY Sorenson video phone. Please give as much notice as possible to enable staff to provide the accommodation requested. Interpreter request also can be submitted online at: www.educationalinterpreters.com/mcps - Interpretation Services: Simultaneous interpretation services can be provided. Please notify Ms. Davis by Thursday, April 26, 2018 should you need to utilize this service.
VIDEOTAPING/PHOTOGRAPHY - To accommodate parents/guardians who desire to film the graduation ceremony, all seats are removed from Boxes 14-18, and standing is permitted. - No filming will be permitted from the aisles, in front of the stage, or on the stage. Victor O Neill Studios will take a picture of each graduate shaking hands with the principal. - The photographer will send ordering information electronically or via mail to your home directly after graduation. The cost depends on the package you choose. COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL All graduates must attend rehearsal on Tuesday, June 5 and Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 7:25a.m. in order to participate in commencement. There are no exceptions. Students will receive their tickets and their cap and gown at the end of commencement rehearsal on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY EXPECTATIONS Seniors must be in the processional line in order to participate in the ceremony. Seniors are reminded to wear appropriate attire, since this is a formal affair. BOYS: 1. Wrinkle-free Black academic robe 2. Black mortarboard (cap) with tassel (on right) 3. Long dress pants 4. Dress shoes with socks 5. White shirt with collar and tie 6. Jewelry should not be worn on outside of academic robe GIRLS: 1. Wrinkle-free black academic robe 2. Black mortarboard (cap) with tassel (on right) 3. Dress or skirt and blouse 4. Dress shoes with stockings The mortarboard should be worn so that it is parallel to the floor, flat on your head. Use bobby pins to secure the mortarboard if necessary. During the processional and through the awarding of diplomas, the tassel is worn on the right side of the mortarboard. No jeans, tennis shoes, etc. will be permitted. This is a special event and everyone is expected to dress accordingly. Chewing gum, sunglasses, purses, signs, decorations, etc., are not permitted. Please note: Wear clothing with pockets if necessary. There is no security for items lost or stolen, book bags not allowed, and nothing can be left in the lobby. Graduates dress should not detract from the cap and gown, ceremony, or celebration. This not the place or venue for individualism; No one is required to participate in the ceremony in order to receive a diploma; those who choose to participate are expected to conduct themselves appropriately as a member of the senior class. This is the last time they will be together as one group. Students who have not purchased a cap and gown or cleared all financial obligations from the school by Friday, May 25, 2018 will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony. PROPER BEHAVIOR FOR COMMENCEMENT. The GRADUATES will be briefed at commencement rehearsal about proper behavior. Any graduate who believes that he/she has the right to behave in an inappropriate manner will be escorted from the hall and will not participate in the rest of the ceremony. He/she will receive his/her diploma at a later time. Any student not dressed properly or exhibiting evidence of alcohol/drug consumption will be removed from the line and not permitted to participate in the ceremony.
- Processional Line up: Parents will not be permitted in the areas where students are lining up. Teachers and staff will assist graduates with lineup; students will form alphabetical queues in the lobby. It s imperative that students arrive on time (8:45 a.m.) to get their name card which will be the only item they will be permitted to carry during the ceremony. PARENTS are reminded that they, too, are attending a formal, honorable event. We appreciate your enthusiasm for your child s achievements, however, we ask that you REFRAIN from yelling to graduates as they march in or walk across the stage. Remember, you are not the only person to have a child graduating. Please respect others around you as well. Please do NOT bring balloons as security at D.A.R. Constitution Hall will not permit them in the hall. Also, remember to switch off your cell phone once the ceremony begins. TICKETS FOR COMMENCEMENT Tickets for commencement will be distributed to each graduate at commencement rehearsal. No one is allowed to pick up tickets for his/her friends. Each graduate will receive 7 tickets. We realize that some graduates have more than seven (7) people to invite while others have fewer people. D.A.R. Constitution Hall holds approximately 3,000 guests. People with tickets will be admitted first. At 10:00 a.m. the processional will begin, and when it is over, any persons wanting to come in may do so if seating is available. If you have extra tickets available, please return them to Ms. Rosales so we can distribute them to other graduates. (See attached form to request extra tickets). Please note: We will do our best to accommodate each request for additional tickets; however, we will not be able to provide the extra tickets until we have the final count of every graduate participating in the ceremony and the tickets turned back in to us. We will disseminate the extra tickets the second day of rehearsal. Request will be honored in the order in which they are received. SENIOR PROM The Senior Prom will be held on Friday, May 25, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. at the Odyssey Cruises, 580 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024. Students should arrive to the dock no later than 7:15 p.m. The ship will set sail at 7:40 p.m. Once the ship is in motion, we will not be able to stop until we return to the dock. The tickets are $90/$95 for Kennedy Students/Non-Kennedy Students. Students who purchased tickets through their senior package received a discounted rate. The cost includes admission to the cruise, dinner, unlimited beverages, and a prom favor. Tickets will be distributed during lunch during Monday, May 21 Friday, May 25, 2018. POST-PROM PARTY The Post-Prom Party will be held from 12:00 a.m. until 4:00 a.m. at the Mid-County Recreation Center. We are looking for parents to help out with this activity. Students will not be permitted to enter after 1:30 a.m. The event is free for all Kennedy Students and their prom guests. The PTSA is seeking donations of cash, prizes, and gift cards as well as volunteers for this event. Please contact Ranell Lewis at mom2mls@verizon.net for additional details about volunteering, donations, or to contribute the $20.18 campaign.
Commencement 2018 Ticket Request Please complete and return this form only if you need additional tickets for the commencement ceremony. Seven (7) tickets will be provided to each graduate who participates in the ceremony. If you need more than the allotted seven tickets, please complete the bottom of this form. Please do not request extra tickets if you do not absolutely need them. All tickets will be handed out at the last mandatory commencement rehearsal, which is scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2018. If your child does not attend all mandatory rehearsals, he/she will not receive any tickets. This form is the only way to request extra tickets. Requests will be granted on a first come, first served basis until all tickets have been reserved. Requests must be submitted by Friday, May 25, 2018. Requests received after this date will not be honored. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Rosales in the main office at 240.740.0100. Sincerely, Principal Please return to the main office by Friday, May 25, 2018. Student Name ID #: Parent/Guardian Name Phone Number Number of extra tickets requested (beyond the 7 already allotted)
Commencement 2018 Transportation Our 2018 commencement exercise will be held on Monday, June 9, 2018, 10:00 a.m., at D.A.R. Constitution Hall. There will be no classes held at John F. Kennedy (JFK) High School on commencement day. As some of you may be aware, parking at D.A.R. is at a minimum. In order to make things easier for you, we would like to provide chartered, air-conditioned buses to and from commencement for family members (only) of our graduating seniors. A fee of $20.00 per person will be charged to secure a seat on the bus. Seating will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested in securing a seat on the bus, please make payment online at http://osp.osmsinc.com/montgomerymd, before Thursday, June 6, 2018. Buses for family and friends will depart from JFK, promptly, at 7:15 a.m. and return upon the conclusion of the commencement exercise. The buses will be located on the side of the building by the school s bus loop. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Boodhoo, Business Manager, at (301) 962-5913. Sincerely, Principal Online payment for school activities - Credit and Debit cards accepted http://osp.osmsinc.com/montgomerymd