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MTHEA Graduation 2015 Handbook
Parents of Graduating Seniors,
Congratulations on making it to your student’s senior year! Please grab a cup of coffee, your calendar and a highlighter!
Take the time to read through this entire packet NOW. There are several dates and forms that need your immediate
attention.
PRINT OUT THIS PACKET AND BRING TO THE MANDATORY MEETING/REHEARSAL.
As one of the most significant milestones in the life of your graduate, our utmost desire is for this ceremony to be a time
of honoring God, you as parents, and your seniors. If you have any questions after reading this graduation handbook,
please notify our Graduation Chairman at [email protected] immediately.
DETAILS OF GRADUATION
Date: May 2015 (exact date: TBA)
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Christ Church, 15354 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville 37211
(Old Hickory Blvd, between I-24 and I-65)
MapQuest.com has directions and an excellent map to the facility. If you need assistance on the day of graduation or the
Mandatory Meeting/Rehearsal, please contact Kelly at 615-545-9283. If you need to contact Kathy or the committee
before graduation, please do so via email at [email protected]. Do not call the church, please!
MANDATORY MEETING/REHEARSAL
TBA, Usually the first Wednesday in April * 1:00-3:00 p.m.
The only rehearsal we will have will be at 1:00 p.m., at Christ Church, 15354 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville 37211.
Absolutely EVERY student and at least one parent MUST be there. It is best to arrive between 12:00 and 12:30 p.m.
on this day. There will be tables set up just outside the sanctuary to collect your speaker application, pick up your gown,
and pick up or order invitations. The remaining balance of $140 is due at this mandatory rehearsal. If balance is not paid
at this meeting, space may be given to the next student on the waiting list and your student will not be able to participate
in the graduation ceremony. No exceptions and no refunds.
Roll call will be taken and rehearsal will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. We will do our best to end the rehearsal by 3:00 p.m.
If you do not attend you may forfeit your student's spot in our graduation ceremony, with no refund for your deposit.
MTHEA GUIDELINES
The Board of MTHEA requires all graduates to have been home educated for at least their entire senior year and have
current membership in MTHEA.
COST
The MTHEA 2014 Graduation will cost each graduate $240. This includes the cap, tassel, gown, diploma binder, DVD
and professional portraits (all yours to keep), as well as the facility and reception. All guests are invited to attend the light
reception immediately following the ceremony. Upon registering for graduation, a non-refundable deposit of $100 is
required by January 15, 2015. If we are not full by this deadline, we will extend the deadline until we have registered the
maximum number of students.
CAP & GOWN
Caps & Gowns (navy blue w/gold tassel) will be ordered with your registration and will be distributed at the mandatory
meeting/rehearsal. Your student may not wear a gown from a previous MTHEA graduation. Please be sure to try on the
gown immediately in case there are any problems. Mark your gown with a tag on the inside and inside the cap with your
student’s name. STEAM the gown and hang until graduation day – DO NOT IRON!
INVITATIONS, RINGS, ETC.
At the Mandatory Meeting/Rehearsal, please be sure to look for the display of “additional items” available to graduates.
You may order invitations and class rings if you so choose. This will be done on an individual basis, and not as a group. If
you need to contact Chad Bone from Josten’s, you can call him at 931-684-6717 or email [email protected].
GUESTS
Each graduate is allowed to invite up to 20 people to attend the ceremony. Parents will be seated in a reserved area up
front. Only parents walking across the stage should be in the front reserved seating - children should be seated with other
family members in the audience. Seating is first-come, first-serve. Please do not save seats.
CEREMONY ETIQUETTE
Family and guests are asked to refrain from excessively loud clapping or noise as the graduates cross the stage. Clapping
will be allowed, however noisemakers and/or excessive noise is not allowed.
DRESS CODE
As stated earlier, our goal with this ceremony is to honor God, parents and seniors. In this light, we have set forth the
following guidelines for dress. Once in the cap and gown, our graduates will be dressed in a uniform and consistent
manner. The only exception to this rule will be honor chords that the students have earned through an established program.
If your senior would like to wear honor chords, you must first notify the Graduation Chairman. Please contact Kathy
Haskins at [email protected]. Other than professionally made honor chords, added decorations to gowns and/or
mortar boards is expressly forbidden and will not be tolerated. As graduates are lining up for the procession, there will be
a board member present to approve each graduate’s appearance prior to entering the sanctuary. We reserve the right to
deny participation to any seniors who choose not to comply with these codes on the day of graduation—with no refund
of fees.
GENTLEMEN: White dress shirt, black tie, black dress pants (no jeans), dress shoes (no tennis shoes, sandals, flip-flops,
etc,)
LADIES: Black modest dress that will not show beneath the gown (be sure to check the hem line once your gown arrives),
black dress shoes (no flip-flops, casual sandals, tennis shoes, etc.) Some of the dress may show beneath the hem, and
again a bit at the collar line. Therefore, the majority of the dress should be black - no colored prints, etc.
BOTH LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
Regarding jewelry, please bear in mind that what looks good with your outfit may not look good with a cap & gown. In
the light consistency, please observe the following: no visible piercings other than ears, and earrings are to be modest (no
huge hoops, chandelier or large styles). Necklaces are to be modest and understated (no large beading, large chokers or
“collar-type” necklaces.) PARENTS: We encourage you to wear “Easter Sunday” dress.
DIPLOMAS
MTHEA requires that all graduates participating in our ceremony receive a school diploma. These are typically granted by
your church-related school umbrella program. The school releases the diploma to you. It is your responsibility to
contact your umbrella school regarding your diploma. MTHEA DOES NOT grant diplomas. We suggest that you
contact your umbrella school no later than March 1st regarding your diploma to ensure that there will be no problems
obtaining your diploma prior to the date of graduation. Each graduate is to bring the diploma to the graduation ceremony.
We will place the diplomas into binders before the ceremony. Please remember that the binder is included in your
graduation fees so if your umbrella school offers you the opportunity to purchase a binder for an additional cost, you will
not need to order one. UMBRELLA SCHOOLS ARE NO LONGER SENDING DIPLOMAS TO ANYONE OTHER
THAN THE GRADUATE; MTHEA WILL NOT ACCEPT DIPLOMAS FROM ANYONE OTHER THAN THE
GRADUATE/FAMILY ON THE DAY OF GRADUATION.
BIOGRAPHIES, LONG AND SHORT
Included in this packet are several samples of student biographies. Each graduate is to submit two bios: one long and one
short version. The long version is to be no longer than 150 words and should include a favorite quote or scripture verse
(which is INCLUDED in the word count). This version will be printed in the Graduation Program Booklet. The short
version is an abbreviation of the long version and should be 25-30 words. This will be read as the graduate walks across
the stage to receive the diploma from their parents. Please type these bios in Microsoft Word, or something comparable,
double check your word count. Biographies over the word count will be sent returned for editing. Use Times New Roman,
12-point size. Email the finished biographies by March 15th to [email protected] with “your student’s full name bio” (ex.
Jonathan Hoskins’ Bio) in the subject line.
If bios are not received by this date, a blank space will be left under the graduate’s name in the Program Booklet,
and nothing will be said as they walk across the stage. Please remember that grammar and spelling are of the utmost
importance. We reserve the right to edit all biographies.
POWER POINT PRESENTATION
On the day of graduation, we will begin the ceremony with a power point presentation. This includes two photos of each
graduate; one as a small child and one current photo (this does not have to be the senior picture). These may be fun or
serious - whatever best reflects your graduate. Close-up shots are better. Please bear in mind that we are maintaining an
honorable event. Do not send photos with inappropriate dress, activities, logos, etc. We reserve the right to remove any
photos that do not comply. Photos are due by the mandatory meeting/rehearsal. You may send them via email to
[email protected] by the mandatory meeting. Submissions should say “MTHEA Graduation Power PointStudent's Name” in the subject line, and contain the name and email address of the student.
DVD OF CEREMONY
A professional DVD will be made of the graduation ceremony. These will be mailed directly to your home, sometime in
the late summer. Please do not contact the graduation committee regarding these DVD’s unless you have not
received yours by the beginning of the following school year. The cost of one DVD is included in your graduation fee.
If you wish to order additional copies, let the committee know at the mandatory rehearsal.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Included in the graduation fee are the following photos:
~ Two 5x7’s of graduate w/parents
~ Four wallets of graduate w/parents
~ One 5x7 of graduating class
The photographer will also be available to take additional family shots for you to order. You will be responsible for
ordering any additional pictures directly from the photographer. These will be mailed to your home.
PICTURE BOARD COLLAGE
Each graduate is encouraged to display a picture board on an easel (which you supply). At the April mandatory meeting,
we will show you the area these will be displayed on graduation day. Past displays have included pictures, captions, sports
teams, church youth events, etc. The board should be approximately 2’x3’ (poster board size).
STUDENT SPEAKERS
We invite graduating seniors to apply as a student speaker for the ceremony. Applications are available in this packet.
These applications must be completed and brought to the Mandatory Meeting/Rehearsal for consideration. The graduation
committee will choose one male and one female speaker. Parents, please encourage seniors to apply for this position of
honor. Fill out and return the attached form.
MTHEA Graduation 2015
Deadlines and Checklist
Please mark these dates on your calendar now!
By January 15th
_____Fill out Intent to Graduate form and submit to MTHEA with a $100 non-refundable deposit
By January 30th
_____Submit your outstanding senior application
By March 1st
_____Contact umbrella school to determine graduation status
_____Confirm with umbrella school that you will be receiving diploma prior to graduation day
_____Order announcements, invitations, rings, etc. (optional and done on individual basis)
By March 15th
_____Two bios (one short, one long) emailed to [email protected]
_____Submit two photos through email to [email protected]
April (TBA): 1:00 p.m. (plan to arrive as early as 12:00 p.m. to submit all your material)
_____Mandatory Meeting/Rehearsal at Christ Church
_____Bring Graduation Packet
_____Bring $140 Balance per graduate (make checks payable to MTHEA Graduation)
_____Student Speaker Application (optional)
Second week in May
_____Make picture board (optional) and obtain floor easel
_____Press gown and place on hanger; put name inside cap and gown
_____Make sure your umbrella school will be sending you the diploma
Day of Graduation
_____9:30 a.m. arrive at church for last minute rehearsal and portraits
_____1:00pm ceremony begins (guests may begin arriving at 12:30pm)
MTHEA Graduation 2015
Biographical Sketch
SAMPLES
LONG VERSION SAMPLES (posted in Jonathan’s Arrow and on the program)
LAURA MORGAN ABT
Morgan was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but has lived in Dickson for most of her life. She began home schooling in
the sixth grade. Her favorite memories of home schooling have been in the field trips out of state and doing school work
in her pajamas. Morgan has also been very active in community theater. Her favorite roles include the Wicked Witch of
the West in The Wizard of Oz, Mary Hatch in It’s a Wonderful Life, and Shelby in Steel Magnolias. Morgan likes Sandra
Bullock movies, chocolate, singing, chocolate, changing clothes at least five times a day, and Godiva chocolate.
In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in
heaven. Matthew 5:16
JAMES AARON ALBRITTON
Aaron, the oldest son of Mark and Linda Albritton of Dickson, has been home schooled for thirteen years. He enjoys
classical and acoustic guitar, drama, flying, swing dancing and hanging out with his friends. Aaron’s favorite acting role
was Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has enjoyed working with children and teens as a gymnastics coach for the
past two years. He received his private pilot certificate in May through Dickson County’s Eagle Squadron and will attend
Middle Tennessee State University this fall to pursue a career in Aeronautics.
He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the LORD requires of you: to do justice, to lover mercy and to walk
humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
DOUGLAS LAMON MARTIN
Douglas, son of Dan and Elizabeth Martin, has been home schooled all his life. He is active in the Erin Baptist Church
where he serves as AWANA leader, usher, youth council member and hand bell ringer. Douglas has studied piano for
eight years and bagpipe for six years. He has been a piper with the Tennessee Scotts Pipe Band in Nashville for three
years. As a piper, Douglas has performed and competed throughout the Southeast.
Douglas received the Provost Scholarship to Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and plans to begin his studies there
this fall.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men
stumble and fall, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will
run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
SHORT VERSION SAMPLES (Read as the graduate walks across the stage to receive their diploma.)
LAURA MORGAN ABT
Home schooled since the sixth grade, Morgan has been active in drama in her community theater.
JAMES AARON ALBRITTON
A certified pilot, James plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University to pursue a career in Aeronautics.
DOUGLAS LAMON MARTIN
Home schooled all his life, Douglas received the Provost Scholarship to Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and
plans to begin his studies there this fall.
MTHEA Graduation 2015
STUDENT SPEAKER APPLICATION
Student Name: _______________________________________ # Years Home Educated: _______________
Phone: _________________________ E-Mail: __________________________________________
Please PRINT the following information:
LEADERSHIP
Academics: Please list any academic achievements (GPA based on 4.0, SAT, ACT, Scholarships, etc.)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Extracurricular: Please list any leadership roles you have assumed in the last four years and any individual
recognition received.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Service: Please list any service you have rendered in the last four years.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
MTHEA: List any MTHEA activities in which you have participated.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Awards: List any awards you have received during High School.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Public Speaking: List any previous public speaking experience.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Personal:
Who are your favorite authors?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Favorite Books/Movies:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
List some of your favorite quotes.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
In the area below, write a short paragraph on why you would like to address your peers, and an idea of what you
might say to them if given the opportunity.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Applications are due by the Mandatory Meeting
Email your application to [email protected] or send to:
MTHEA
Student Speaker Application
P.O. Box 2234
Smyrna, TN 37167
Outstanding Senior Nomination
(One nomination per student, usually submitted by parents)
Student Name __________________________________________________________________
Student’s Cell Phone: __________________________ Student’s Email: ____________________
Parent’s Names _________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________________
City __________________________________________________ ST _____ Zip ____________
Home Phone _______________ Parent’s E-mail _______________________________________
About the Student:
LEADERSHIP
Academics: Please list any academic achievements (GPA based on 4.0, SAT, ACT, Scholarships, etc.)
Umbrella School: ______________________________________ GPA of Student: ____________
Tutorial Attended:
Yes
No
Tutorial Name: ________________________________
ACT Score: ______ SAT Score: ______ How many years student was homeschooled? _________
Extracurricular: Please list any leadership roles you have assumed in the last four years and any individual
recognition received. List all school, church, service activities in which student has participated (use additional page
if necessary):
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
Service: Please list any service you have rendered in the last four years.
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
MTHEA: List any MTHEA activities in which you have participated and/or served.
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
Awards: List any awards you have received during High School.
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
Public Speaking: List any previous public speaking experience.
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
Post-high school plans: (ex: college, vo-tech, apprenticeship):
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
*_________________________________________________________________________________
Note: Outstanding Senior nominees must be MTHEA members.
Nominations and photo are due January 30, 2015
Email your nominations to [email protected] or send to:
MTHEA
Outstanding Senior Nominations
P.O. Box 2234
Smyrna, TN 37167
Thanks again for your time and attention to the many details of graduation. We look forward to meeting each of
you in April at the Mandatory Student/Parent Rehearsal. Congratulations to you and your graduate!
The 2015 MTHEA Graduation Committee