Graduation Information Packet 2018
SPECIAL NOTE FROM MRS. SUMMERS: I would like to remind all graduates that this is your graduation ceremony. How you conduct yourself is a reflection upon you, your family, and your school. You will be expected to attend all rehearsals and to be prompt and attentive. As young adults, you are expected to be respectful and courteous of your fellow graduates during practices and the ceremony. Seniors are not permitted to decorate their mortarboards or to bring any item to the graduation ceremony which would cause a disruption to the graduation ceremony including beach balls, silly string, etc. Please don t jeopardize your chance to participate in the ceremony or attend Project Grad. Any senior who causes a disruption to the graduation ceremony may have his/her diploma pulled, may forfeit his/her privilege to participate in Project Grad, and may be subject to arrest for disrupting a school activity. Paper copies of the barn painting permission form and the handicapped parking form will be available in the main office. Live Streaming the ceremony will be shown live on cable channel 96 and streamed live via a link on the homepage of the Chopticon website http://schools.smcps.org/chs/. The ceremony will also be available for free download after the event. GRADUATION CEREMONY FEE. Seniors wishing to participate in the graduation ceremony will be charged a fee of $10. This fee will assist in covering expenses incurred by the school for safety and security needs, printing of the graduation program, decorations, etc. This fee must be paid to the school bank by Monday, May 21. Personal checks will not be accepted after May 1. SCHOOL DEBTS. All money owed to the school must be paid by the end of the day on Wednesday, May 23 in order for the student to participate in practices and the graduation ceremony. Personal checks will not be accepted as payment of a school debt after May 1 only cash or money order. The school bank is open daily during all lunches. Please pay all debts at this time. NOTES FOR GUESTS. Graduation is a formal occasion that recognizes the achievements of our seniors. In honor of the young people who will graduate, we ask that all guests at the graduation ceremony: - Arrive in time to be seated by 5:45 p.m. Guests arriving late will be asked to wait outside or in the lobby until the processional is complete. - Dress in a manner appropriate to the dignity of the occasion. Please keep cheering to a minimum so that each graduate s name may be heard when announced. - Stay seated and quiet throughout the ceremony. We have contracted with Legacy Studios to take a photograph of each student as he/she receives a diploma. - Please do not bring air horns, balloons, or beach balls/other inflatables into the gymnasium or auxiliary gym. - Guests will not be admitted into the building before 4:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly. - Golf carts will be available for guests who need assistance in traveling from the handicapped parking lot to the gymnasium. If a guest needs to be seated in a wheelchair throughout the ceremony, the guest will need to provide his/her own wheelchair. A request for handicapped parking form is available in the main office and on the website. TICKETS. Graduation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Mary s College gymnasium. Each senior will receive four (4) gymnasium admission tickets and two (2) auxiliary gymnasium admission tickets. Auxiliary gym ticket holders will be able to view the graduation ceremony live via electronic broadcast.
The seniors will march through the auxiliary gym prior to entering the main gym so all guests will be able to see the seniors. For the safety of our seniors, guests must remain seated and may not stand up and walk to greet seniors during the processional, presentation of diplomas, and as seniors march out of the gymnasium. Everyone must have a ticket including infants. Due to fire code regulations regarding capacity, we will not be able to accept any requests for additional tickets. All tickets will be issued to seniors at practice on Friday, May 25. PLEASE NOTE LOST TICKETS CANNOT BE REPLACED. PRACTICES. Only Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Summers may excuse a student for being absent during practice days. Please remember, these are still school days so only emergency absences will be excused (doctor s note, court summons, etc.) Students are expected to be on time and present for the entire practice time. Students should check end times for each practice and plan their work schedules accordingly. Cell phones are to be turned off and put away. Your full attention during practice will help shorten practice times. School rules are still in effect including dress code. If you have an emergency the morning of a practice, please contact Ms. Doherty at 301-475-0215 ext. 38117. Please provide your name, the nature of the emergency, and a contact name and phone number. Thursday, May 24. Seniors should plan to arrive at school at 10:15 a.m. Seniors should report promptly to the auditorium and be seated by 10:30 a.m. Your seat location will be on a list in the hallway. Seniors will be directed to park in the B lot for all practices and vehicles will not need to have a parking permit. The B lot is located to the right side of the driveway into school. Overflow will be directed to the bus loop. Seniors are not permitted in other parts of the building. This practice will end at 2:00 p.m. so students may want to bring a lunch. A seating chart will be posted in the hallway outside of the auditorium and students should sit in their assigned seats. Seniors are expected to be on time to all practices. A senior who is tardy to practice may lose his/her privilege to participate in the graduation ceremony. Panoramic photo ordering information will be distributed during the May 24 practice. Friday, May 25 - Dress Rehearsal - Bring Caps & Gowns. Seniors will arrive at 8:15 a.m. and be seated in caps and gowns in the auditorium by 8:30 a.m. Please do not arrive prior to 8:15 a.m. so that buses have an opportunity to depart after drop-off. This is a dress rehearsal so seniors should wear white dress shirt, plain black necktie no patterns or stripes, black pants, and black dress shoes or skirt/blouse or dress and black dress shoes (low heels highly recommended - you will need to walk to the football field for the panoramic photo). Flip flops, spike-heeled shoes, and boots are not permitted. The SMCPS calendar was adjusted on 4/12/18 changing May 25 to an early dismissal day. Since we have to utilize the bus loop for the parking of cars, all vehicles will need to be out of the bus loop by noon. The barn painting will take place at 2:00 p.m. Students who participate must have a completed parent permission form. The form is included in the packet or may be picked up in the main office. The form must be turned in by May 23 - NO exceptions. Tuesday, May 29. Arrive at 8:15 a.m. and be seated by 8:30 a.m. in the auditorium. Seniors will board buses to travel to St. Mary s College for rehearsal. No student will be allowed to drive to the college. Please do not plan on returning to Chopticon until 2:00 P.M. While there are vending machines at the college, students should bring a water bottle and snacks/bag lunch. A lunch break may be scheduled if needed. Wednesday, May 30. Seniors report to the Chopticon auditorium at 8:30 a.m. for practice if needed.
Graduation Night. Seniors report promptly to the auditorium at 4:00 p.m. Please park in the A lot (Lot A is the lot in front of the main entrance to the driver's left when entering the driveway). Seniors will board buses for departure to the college starting at 4:30 p.m. No student will be permitted to drive to the college. Dress. Graduation is a formal occasion. In addition to the cap and gown set, the following is required dress for graduation night. Black, long dress pants, white button shirt, plain black necktie (no stripes or patterns), and black dress shoes or skirt/blouse or dress and black dress shoes (low heels are recommended). No sneakers, boots, flip flops, spike-heeled shoes, shorts or jeans will be permitted. Wearing of tassel. 1. During the processional and through the awarding of diplomas, the tassel is worn on the right side of the mortarboard. 2. On the signal from the principal, and after all diplomas have been awarded, tassels will be shifted by all graduates to the left side of the mortarboard. Senior Celebration. After the turning of the tassel and following Mrs. Summers s presentation of the Class of 2018, it is traditional for the graduates to celebrate. It has become a tradition that each senior will be given a commemorative cow bell to shake in celebration. For the safety of spectators and other graduates, there will be NO THROWING OF THE MORTARBOARDS. Photographs. A photographer will be at the ceremony the night of graduation to take pictures of seniors receiving their diplomas. Students and parents have the option, but no obligation, to order prints. Pictures and ordering information will be posted on our website. The ceremony will be shown live on cable channel 96 and streamed live via a link on the homepage of the Chopticon website http://schools.smcps.org/chs/. The video may be downloaded for free after the event. PROJECT GRAD. Through cooperation with Patuxent River Naval Air Station, the St. Mary s County State s Attorney s Office, Maryland State Police, the Sheriff s Department, and the Optimists Clubs of St. Mary s, there will be a Chemical-Free/Tobacco-Free Graduation Party immediately following graduation at the Naval Drill Hall. Participants and guests must board the bus together and ride the bus to and from the base. To participate in Project Grad, you and your guest must complete the contract and return it to Mrs. Collins by May 24. Contracts are mailed to students by the Office of Community Services. All forms must be turned in by May 24 NO EXCEPTIONS. Graduates and guests will board buses for Project Grad at the college. The college will provide access to locker rooms so graduates may change clothes after the ceremony. Graduates will have an opportunity to see parents and other guests after the ceremony. Project Grad Guests. If a guest is not attending the graduation ceremony, he/she will need to report to Chopticon no later than 7:45 P.M. to board a bus at 8:00 P.M. Guests will be transported from Chopticon to St. Mary s College to board the Project Grad buses. Project Grad guests may not drive directly to the college. Guests must be at least 15 years of age and/or in the 9 th grade and no older than 21. Underclass students who attend Project Grad are expected to be present in school on May 31. All graduates and their guests will be returned to Chopticon High School. There will be an early bus that leaves the base at approximately 2:30 A.M. and the last bus will leave the base at 4:00 A.M. Any changes to this schedule will be announced during graduation practice. Dress is casual. ONLY SOFT SOLE SHOES will be allowed on the floors. The pool will be available and guests who plan to swim will need to bring a bathing suit and towel. Regular shorts or cut-off pants/jeans are not acceptable bathing attire for the pool.. Guests do not need to bring money since everything at Project Graduation is FREE. No
lockers will be available to store valuables and neither the base nor class sponsors/school will be responsible for lost or stolen items. Door prizes will be awarded later in the evening, before the last bus departs the base. Meet your graduate here after the ceremony Enter here for auxiliary gym PARKING LOT Yellow tickets Main Gym this is where the ceremony is held Red tickets Auxiliary Gym this is where the ceremony will be viewed on a large screen the graduates will walk through the auxiliary gym prior to the start of the ceremony. DOORS WILL OPEN AT 4:30 P.M. SO PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY NOTES FOR GUESTS. Graduation is a formal occasion that recognizes the achievements of our seniors. All guests must have a ticket, including infants. In honor of the young people who will graduate, we ask that all guests at the graduation ceremony: - Arrive in time to be seated by 5:45 p.m. Guests arriving late will be asked to wait outside or in the lobby until the processional is complete. - Dress in a manner appropriate to the dignity of the occasion. Please keep cheering to a minimum so that each graduate s name may be heard when announced. - Stay seated and quiet throughout the ceremony. We have contracted with Lifetouch to take a photograph of each student as he/she receives a diploma. Candid photos will also be available to purchase through the Lifetouch event online link. - Please do not bring air horns, balloons, or beach balls/other inflatables into the gymnasium or auxiliary gym. - Guests will not be admitted into the building before 4:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly. - Golf carts will be available for guests who need assistance in traveling from the handicapped parking lot to one of the gymnasiums (the gym information is on the ticket). If a guest needs to be seated in a wheelchair throughout the ceremony, the guest will need to provide his/her own wheelchair. - A request for handicapped parking form is available on the website and in the main office - Guests will meet the graduates after the ceremony in the courtyard indicated on the map.
Directions follow Route 5 south through Leonardtown, past Great Mills Road, to St. Mary s City. Continue south past College Drive and past the college. Turn left onto Mattapany Road. Follow signs and directions for parking.
CHOPTICON HIGH SCHOOL Morganza, Maryland 20660 To: From: Re: All 2018 Graduating Seniors Mrs. Smith Handicapped Parking and Seating for Graduation Please complete this form if you have friends and/or relatives planning to attend graduation, who need handicapped parking. To ensure we have ample handicapped parking, we are asking guests in need of handicapped parking to complete this form, even if the driver has handicapped tags on his/her vehicle. Fill in the information below and return the form to Mrs. Doherty in the 12th grade office by Wednesday, May 23. Remember, each guest must have a ticket and seating will be provided as indicated on the ticket. Handicapped seating is available in both the main gym and the auxiliary gym. Parking passes will be distributed during graduation practices. Golf carts will be available to transport guests who need assistance from the handicapped parking lot to one of the gym doors. Due to limited seating in the cart, only one adult may accompany the guest who needs assistance in the cart. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Handicapped Parking Permit Request STUDENT S NAME: Is the handicapped guest s ticket for: (Please check) main gym auxiliary gym
Chopticon High School Class of 2018 Barn Painting Permission Form The CHS Barn Painting will be held on Friday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. here at Chopticon High School. Painting may not be done at any other time. Students need to bring non-toxic spray paint (preferable) or brushes and paint and ladders for their own names. Students must be academically eligible for the 3 rd quarter in order to participate. Parents should be aware that this activity involves climbing ladders. If you grant permission for your child to climb a ladder, please complete the addendum at the bottom of this form. In order to participate in this activity, your son/daughter must complete this permission form and return it to Mrs. Collins in room B109 by Wednesday, May 23. FORMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Collins via email (ckcollins@smcps.org) or at CHS (301-475-0215). Student Name DOB Parent Name Address Telephone (home) (cell) (work) Family Doctor Emergency Contact Phone Phone I understand that the above-named student must be covered by a personal or family insurance policy. Student Name: Parent Name: Address DOB: Telephone (home) (cell) (work) Family Doctor (phone) Emergency Contact (phone) I understand that I will be excluded from the activity, and may be subject to discipline under the St. Mary s County Public School (SMCPS) Code of Conduct, if I climb a ladder or begin painting before the start of the event, or do not follow the directions of school staff during the activity. Student Name (printed) Signature Date (Parental Consent also required if the student is under 18) I give permission for the above-named student to participate in the barn painting activity, including climbing a ladder during the event. I understand that the student will be excluded from the activity, and may be subject to discipline under the St. Mary s County Public Schools (SMCPS) Code of Conduct, if the student climbs a ladder or begins painting before the start of the event, or does not follow the directions of school staff during the activity. Parent/Guardian Name (printed) Signature Date