WATKINS MILL HIGH SCHOOL March 5, 2018 Montgomery County Public Schools 10301 Apple Ridge Road Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 (301) 284-4400 FAX (301) 840-3980 Office of the Principal Dear Parents/Guardians of Graduating Seniors of the Class of 2018: The purpose of this packet is to provide you with critical information about graduation and other important senior events. As you know, the Class of 2018 commencement will take place on Friday, June 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at DAR Constitution Hall. This informational packet is designed for the parent/guardian meeting on March 5, 2018, and will also be mailed to those parents/guardians who are unable to attend the meeting. Please take the time to carefully review the enclosed information: Important dates Expectations for graduating seniors and families/guests Dress expectations for graduating seniors Expectations for the graduation ceremony Diploma distribution Student Graduation Rehearsal Charter bus reservation form Ticket Request Form Commencement ceremony video order form Directions to DAR Constitution Hall I am looking forward to celebrating the Class of 2018 with you and your family. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the main office at 301-284-4400. Important contacts are: Ms. Katie Pesce, senior class sponsor, (Katie_C_Pesce@mcpsmd.org); Ms. Lauren Squier, graduation class advisor, (Lauren_L_Squier@mcpsmd.org); and Mr. Steven Orders, senior class administrator, (Steven_Orders@mcpsmd.org). Thank you for your assistance in making this a positive, joyous, and memorable occasion for all. Sincerely, CLG/sb Enclosures/Attachments Carol L. Goddard Principal
5 de marzo de 2018 WATKINS MILL HIGH SCHOOL Montgomery County Public Schools 10301 Apple Ridge Road Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 301-284-4400 FAX 301-840-3980 Oficina de la Directora Estimados Padres/Guardianes de los Estudiantes del Grado 12 Graduándose con la Clase 2018: El objetivo de este paquete de información es proporcionarles datos muy importantes sobre la graduación y otras actividades importantes para los estudiantes del Grado 12. Como saben, la graduación de la Clase 2018 se llevará a cabo el viernes 8 de junio de 2018 a las 10:00 a.m. en el DAR Constitution Hall. Este paquete informativo está diseñado para la reunión con los padres/guardianes del 5 de marzo de 2018 y también será enviado por correo a los padres/guardianes que no puedan asistir a esa reunión. Por favor dediquen unos momentos para leer detenidamente la información adjunta: Fechas importantes Expectativas para los estudiantes que se gradúan y sus familias/invitados Expectativas de vestimenta para los estudiantes que se gradúan Expectativas para la ceremonia de graduación Distribución de diplomas Ensayo de graduación para los estudiantes Formulario de reservación para el autobús alquilado Formulario de Solicitud de Entradas Formulario para ordenar el video de la ceremonia de graduación Cómo llegar a DAR Constitution Hall Espero celebrar con ustedes y sus familias la Graduación de la Clase de 2018. Si tienen cualquier pregunta o inquietud, por favor comuníquense con la oficina principal, llamando al 301-284-4400. Contactos Importantes: Srta. Katie Pesce, patrocinadora de la clase del Grado 12, (Katie_C_Pesce@mcpsmd.org); Srta. Lauren Squier, consejera de la clase que se gradúa, (Lauren_L_Squier@mcpsmd.org); y Sr. Steven Orders, administrador del Grado 12, (Steven_Orders@mcpsmd.org). Gracias por su colaboración para lograr que esta sea una ocasión positiva, feliz, y memorable para todos. Atentamente, CLG/sb Anexos/Material Adjunto Carol L. Goddard Directora
2018 Senior Class Administrator: Class of 2018 Sponsor: 2018 Graduation Advisor: Mr. Steven Orders Ms. Katie Pesce Ms. Lauren Squier (301) 284-4400 (301) 284-4400 (301) 284-4400 Steven_Orders@mcpsmd.org Katie_C_Pesce@mcpsmd.org Lauren_L_Squier@mcpsmd.org IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION Graduation tickets and additional ticket requests will be distributed at graduation rehearsal on Friday, June 7, 2018. Each student will receive up to 8 tickets. Any senior with an outstanding obligation will NOT receive any graduation tickets until the obligation is paid**. WMHS Financial Office staff will be available at the meeting if you wish to pay obligations at this time and still receive tickets. Additional ticket requests must be completed by March 16, 2018. There are only so many extra tickets we are able to give out to each family. It is based on the size of the venue and the size of the graduating class. Prom will be held on Friday, May 18, 2018, from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at The Glen Echo Park. Tickets will go on sale March 1 for 50.00 each. An installment plan is available. After May 1 tickets are $55.00 each. All obligations, including the CAP & GOWN FEE, must be paid before purchasing any tickets. If you have any question, please contact Ms. Brittany McIntyre, Brittany_N_McIntyre@mcpsmd.org, junior class sponsor. The Senior Picnic date and time TBD. Cap and Gowns will be distributed to seniors on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Any cap and gown not picked up on May 24 can be picked up at the Financial Office during regular business hours, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Cap and Gown fee is $50.00. Senior Announcements: If you have not ordered you will need to contact Jostens directly at (410) 561-1403. Senior Award Night is scheduled for Thursday, May 24, 2018, 7pm Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. in the gymnasium. Any senior who does not attend cannot walk the stage at graduation. The rehearsal takes approximately three hours. Seniors may not participate in the graduation ceremony without a cap and gown or without attending the mandatory graduation rehearsal. All financial obligations must be paid by May 31, 2018, in order to receive graduation tickets at the rehearsal. Pre-paid PTSA buses will leave promptly from WMHS at 7:30 a.m. to DAR Constitution Hall on June 8, 2018. ** Financial Obligations: If your child had a financial obligation as of March 5, 2018 you will receive a letter reflecting the obligation owed with the senior parent packet. Any obligations incurred or paid after March 5, 2018 are not reflected in the letter. In addition, the obligation report does not include any textbooks or other items that were issued for this semester. Obligations must be cleared in order to participate in all senior events, including prom and graduation. All financial obligations, including payment of the senior cap and gown fee, must be resolved by May 24, 2018 in order to receive their cap and gown on time. Cap and Gown fee is $50.00. Payment can be made between 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the financial office located across from the main office. Payment for obligations is accepted in the form of cash, check (made out to WMHS), or credit card (using School Funds Online at https://osp.osmsinc.com/montgomerymd//default.aspx. For students who have larger obligations or financial hardship, please contact Ms. Julie Broyles, business administrator, @ 301-284-4415, as soon as possible regarding the scheduling of a payment plan.
EXPECTATIONS FOR GRADUATING SENIORS, FAMILIES, & GUESTS Graduation, June 8, 2018, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. DAR Constitution Hall Please assist us by reviewing these expectations with your graduating senior. We want graduation to be a memorable event for all. Graduation Rehearsal is mandatory on June 7, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. We expect all participants and guests at graduation to conduct themselves in a dignified manner and display the high expectations that are traditional at our commencement exercise. Any student who is disruptive or demonstrates inappropriate behavior will not be permitted to participate in graduation. Any student found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be removed from graduation. Graduates are required to be at Constitution Hall by 9:00 a.m. and are to enter by the D Street entrance. Parents and guests may enter at 9:00 a.m. on the 18 th Street side. We are encouraging families to ride the PTSA buses or take Metro to avoid unforeseen traffic issues. We advise leaving the Gaithersburg area no later than 7:30 am. The closest METRO stop to Constitution Hall is the Farragut West Station. The PTSA provides air conditioned buses leaving from WMHS. A bus order form is enclosed. There is a $20.00 fee for each passenger on the bus and reservations MUST be made in advance. Anyone who enters DAR Constitution Hall must have a ticket, with the exception of the graduates. If you leave the hall for any reason, you may NOT re-enter. Family and guests are asked to be seated by 9:45 a.m. Please respect any seating that has been reserved. Reserved seats will be clearly marked. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and should conclude by 12:00 p.m. The doors to the hall are closed and LOCKED promptly at 10:00 a.m. Students are not permitted to have keys, gum, cigarettes or lighters. DAR Security will spot check and confiscate contraband. All bags are subject to be checked by DAR security. Students must stay in alphabetical order as practiced during rehearsal. Family and friends who would like to take still pictures of their children will be permitted to stand in a designated area set aside for that purpose. Please leave the photo box area immediately and allow another parent to take your place. Tripods are prohibited, as is filming from the aisle, in front of, or on the stage. WMHS staff will monitor the photo boxes to make sure there is prompt and fair turnover of picture-takers. Lifetouch will be taking a picture of each graduate receiving his/her diploma. Photos can be viewed and ordered at events.lifetouch.com about a week after graduation. The Watkins Mill High School Media Department will make a DVD of the ceremony. An order form is enclosed. Parents will not be able to visit with their children until after the entire ceremony is complete, including the recessional. Do not plan to meet inside the building. Designate a place outside and away from the hall to meet. Those who are taking buses back to Watkins Mill should report to their buses immediately.
Boys DRESS EXPECTATIONS FOR GRADUATING SENIORS Blue cap and gown as ordered (tassels on the left) Cap should be worn parallel to the floor. LETTERING OR DECORATIONS ON TOP OF THE CAP IS PROHIBITED. Dress shoes (preferably black) with socks. No sandals, no flip-flops, no athletic shoes White shirts with collar and tie Jewelry should not be worn outside the gown No cell phone on graduate and no gum Girls Blue cap and gown as ordered (tassels on the left) Cap should be worn parallel to the floor, secured with pins if necessary. Lettering or decorations on top of the cap is prohibited Dress, skirt and blouse, or dress slacks Dress shoes (preferably black). No sandals, no flip-flops, no athletic shoes (Attention excessively high heels can be quite dangerous; no one wants to fall at graduation! The stairs coming off the stage are marble and can be very slippery. Also, there is no hand railing for these stairs) Jewelry and accessories should not be visible on the outside of the gown Please avoid large dangling earrings Bags and purses are not permitted No cell phone on graduate and no gum Note: During the ceremony and through the awarding of diplomas, tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap. Together as a class, the tassels will be shifted to the right. EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GRADUATION CEREMONY Make sure all cell phones or other electronic devices are turned off before the ceremony begins. It is strongly advised not to bring electronic devices into DAR. Appropriate behavior is essential at graduation, for graduates, parents, and guests. Yelling or screaming out a graduate s name is NOT appropriate and may interfere with another parent s right to hear a graduates name called. Students who disrupt the graduation ceremony in any way, or do not follow our expectations will not receive their diploma at Constitution Hall. Instead, parents and students will need to schedule an appointment with Ms. Goddard after the last day of school (June 12, 2018) in order to receive the diploma. Remain seated as not to block the view. Please refrain from clapping or cheering until ALL of the graduates have been announced. We are making a concerted effort to make our graduation ceremony a pleasant and dignified experience for all; we will stop the ceremony and wait for a dignified silence to return to the hall if necessary. We know how proud you are of your graduate; the graduates know this, too. Loud and demonstrative displays have no place at a formal ceremony. In addition to the security provided by the Constitution Hall, WMHS provides its own security team and faculty members who help to supervise conduct at graduation. Please treat them with the same respect that our students are expected to show them. If asked at any time by a WMHS staff member to comply with a direction, please do so. Again, our security team and staff have been instructed to ensure that the ceremony is dignified and respectful. DIPLOMA DISTRIBUTION Students will receive their diploma COVER on stage. Diplomas will be distributed at tables (alphabetically identified) as the graduates exit the main hall. Students that behave inappropriately during the ceremony, or as they cross the stage, will not receive their diploma at the conclusion of graduation. Those students diplomas will be withheld and those students will need to see Ms. Goddard in order to receive their diploma. Students that do not attend the graduation ceremony may contact their counselor at 301-284-4420, to pick up their diplomas.
WATKINS MILL HIGH SCHOOL Montgomery County Public Schools 10301 Apple Ridge Road Gaithersburg, Maryland 20889 (301) 284-4400 FAX (301) 840-3980 GRADUATION TICKETS ORDER FORM Return this form to the WMHS Main Office by March 16, 2018. Questions? Email Lauren Squier (lauren_l_squier@mcpsmd.org) Student s Name: ID# Graduates do not need a ticket. All members of the audience require a ticket PLEASE CHECK THE CATEGORY THAT APPLIES TO YOUR FAMILY My family needs only eight (8) tickets. My family needs fewer than eight (8) tickets. Number of tickets needed: #. My family needs the eight (8) tickets allotted plus # additional tickets. IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR YOUR FAMILY, PLEASE CHECK BELOW Tickets needed for handicapped seating area #. Tickets needed for sign language interpreter area #. Members of my family require a foreign language translation service. Language needed: Number of people needing the translation service: Failure to return the ticket request by March 16, 2018 may result in an inability to fulfil the request Date Parent/Guardian Signature Phone # For office use only: Request received on:
2018 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY DVD ORDER FORM The Watkins Mill HS TV Production Group is offering the Class of 2018 commencement ceremony DVD s. 2018 Commencement DVD includes the complete commencement ceremony at DAR Constitution Hall. The order form below lists the cost of the DVD. Only cash or money orders will be accepted and payment is due at time of order. Orders should be submitted to Ms. Holderman in the Financial Office. Orders will be available for pickup from the Finance Office, approximately two-three weeks after the commencement ceremony. As soon as they are ready, you will be notified by phone and/or email. All DVD orders are final. Any damaged DVD will be replaced with a corrected copy. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Holderman at Lisa_A_Holderman@mcpsmd.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDER FORM 2018 Commencement Ceremony @ $20.00 ea. $ Additional Copies of 2018 Commencement Ceremony copies at @ $20.00 each TOTAL DUE $ $ (Please complete information and return to Ms. Holderman) Student Name: Parent or Guardian: Mailing address: City: State: Zip Code: Daytime Phone: ( ) Evening Phone: ( ) Email:
CHARTER BUS RESERVATION FORM SENIORS AND FAMILIES Chartered buses will be available again this year to take you and your family to and from the graduation ceremony, Friday, June 8, 2018 at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. The buses will depart Watkins Mill H.S at 7:30 a.m. and return to the school soon after the ceremony. Reservations are required. (The school does not provide transportation for seniors to the ceremony.) All passengers, including senior students, must have paid reservations. It's important to anticipate your needs now. Additional buses will not be available the day of departure. Bus seats are available on a first come first served basis, so reserve early. If your needs change, cancellations will be accepted no later than May 11. Bus assignments and tickets will be mailed to you in mid-may. Complete the reservation form below, and return it, along with a payment by check to WMHS PTSA, c/o 10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Make check payable to WMHS PTSA. Include the senior's name on the check. RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED WITH PAYMENT BY MAY 11, 2018. Questions? Call Laura Franke at (916)333-8829, or email her at: laurafranke@verizon.net --------------------- Detach for reservation -------Retain upper portion-------------------------- RESERVATION FORM Family name Phone (Home) Senior student name Phone (Day) Address with zip code Person(s) requiring handicapped access Please reserve seats on chartered bus @$20.00 each Total $ enclosed RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED WITH PAYMENT BY MAY 11, 2018. SENIOR GRADUATION Friday, June 8, 2018, 10:00 am, DAR CONSTITUTION HALL BUSES DEPART FROM WMHS BY THE STADIUM PROMPTLY AT 7:30 AM
Directions to DAR Constitution Hall (Phone # 202-628-1776) Below are suggested routes to DAR Constitution Hall, located at 1776 D St., NW, Washington, DC 20006. You may also visit their Web site at http://www.dar.org/omni/directions.cfm Wisconsin Avenue Take Wisconsin Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Go one block south of Massachusetts (because you cannot make a left turn at the Wisconsin Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue intersection), which will bring you back on to Massachusetts Avenue. Bear right on to Massachusetts Avenue and proceed to 23 rd Street. Turn right on 23 rd Street and follow direction to M Street. Make a right turn on M Street and proceed to 17 th Street. Make a left turn on 17 th Street proceed directly to DAR Constitution Hall. Connecticut Avenue Take Route 495 to the Connecticut Avenue exit. Stay on Connecticut Avenue (which becomes 17 th Street) all the way to 17 th Street. Take 17 th Street to D or C Street. DAR Constitution Hall is located on that block. Glen Echo Parkway Take Route 495 exit to River Road / Glen Echo parkway. Follow Glen Echo Parkway to Canal Road and M Street. Keep straight on M Street to the Whitehurst Freeway. Take the Whitehurst Freeway to the E Street expressway. Follow expressway to the Constitution Avenue exit (well marked). George Washington Memorial Parkway Take Route 495 across the American Legion Bridges and exit right on to George Washington Parkway immediately after crossing the bridge. Follow the parkway for approximately 8 miles to the Memorial Bridge and exit to Constitution Avenue. OR Take George Washington Parkway to Key Bridge. Make right turn on Key Bridge and then turn right on Whitehurst Freeway. Follow the freeway to the E Street expressway or take the K Street exit or take K Street exit (whichever you prefer) to 17 th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Make a right turn on to 17 th Street to DAR Constitution Hall. Using Metro: From the Orange and Blue lines (A 10-15 minute walk): Take the Farragut West metro stop. Exit the station on 17th Street, and walk south on 17th Street towards Constitution. Turn right on D Street. On Sundays, you must use the 18th Street exit; walk south on 18th Street and turn left on D Street. The main entrance is in the middle of the block. From the Red Line (A 10-15 minute walk): Take the Farragut North metro stop. Exit the station on 17th Street, and walk south on 17th Street towards Constitution. Turn right on D Street. The main entrance is in the middle of the block.