2015 SENIOR GRADUATION MEMO
Graduation Day is a very important day in your life and the life of your parents. Graduation symbolizes
the end of your youth and the beginning of your life as an adult. The ceremony is as much, or more, for
your parents than for you. Please make your parents proud by making this a dignified, formal event.
Every effort will be made to make this a memorable and special experience for you and your parents.
Cooperation and attention to directions and details are necessary for a successful event.
AWARDS CEREMONY – May 5, 2015
SENIOR DEBTS
Any senior that has received a scholarship needs to bring
documentation to Ms. Matherne by April 23 so you can be
recognized at the Awards Ceremony.
DEBTS ARE TO BE CLEARED NO LATER THAN 2:30
ON Monday, MAY 2. You must be cleared for all owe list
– cafeteria, library, front office and 402 .
**YOU MUST HAND IN YOUR TEXTBOOK TO YOUR
TEACHER BEFORE THE EXAM OR PAY THE FULL
PRICE OF THE BOOK IF YOU HAVE LOST IT.
SENIOR EXAMS (April 24, 27, 28, 29)
The Senior Final Exams are as follows:
th
th
Friday, April 24 – 6 and 7
th
th
Monday, April 27– 4 and 5
nd
rd
Tuesday, April 28 – 2 and 3
st
Wednesday, April 29 – 1
**Make-up exams – Wednesday, April 29
***Upon completion of each exam period, you are expected
to leave the school grounds promptly.
MAKE-UP WORK
All makeup work before exams must be completed for
each period no later than Friday, April 17, 2015. A final
list of graduates will be compiled on Monday, May 4,
2015. Any incomplete will be turned into a grade of “F”.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
A student must meet all graduation requirements in order to
participate in the Graduation Ceremony on May 11, 2015.
ONLINE COURSES:
All seniors enrolled in online courses as part of their
graduation requirements should make sure that FHS has
received their final grade. Contact Ms. Jackson in
Guidance to make sure your final grade has been received.
FUTURE PLANS
FINAL TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS: You must complete
information on the Future Plans Form during Graduation
Practice on May 6. This information will be used to forward
your transcripts to the university/college you have specified.
Your final transcript will be mailed if you go to a school out
of state or a private institution in state. All in state public
institutions get the transcript electronically.**(consent form
must have been completed and turned into guidance)
SCHOLARSHIPS: If you have been awarded a
scholarship, bring the letter to Ms. Matherne by April 23 in
Guidance as soon as possible so that it may be announced
at graduation.
TOPS: To be considered for TOPS you should complete
the FAFSA. Any questions about TOPS or the FAFSA
form; see your guidance counselor.
NAME ON DIPLOMA
Make sure you have verified the spelling of your name in
homeroom. This is how the name will appear on your
diploma – if incorrect or have questions, see Ms. Gilbert in
front office.
GRADUATION PRACTICE (May 6, 7, 8, 2015)
Wednesday, May 6 – 8:30 a.m. at FHS in gym
Thursday, May 7 – 8:30 a.m. at FHS in gym
(gowns distributed after practice –must be off owe list)
Friday, May 8 – 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at
**Southeastern LA University in Hammond
All practices are mandatory.
**Practice and Commencement at Southeastern LA.
University in Hammond will be held in the University Center.
Seniors must arrange for transportation to practice and
commencement. Please report to the parking area
adjacent to the Center promptly at the assigned time. Only
those students who report to all practices will be allowed to
participate in the commencement exercise. GRADUATION
PRACTICE IS FOR GRADUATES ONLY!!! DO NOT
BRING FRIENDS OR CHILDREN.
PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT
EVERY GRADUATING SENIOR IS EXPECTED TO
PARTICIPATE IN GRADUATION, UNLESS YOU HAVE
BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION BY MR. VITRANO. Any
student not participating in graduation must make an
appointment with Mr. Vitrano before April 17.
HONOR GRADUATES
Honor Graduates will be the students with a 3.5 GPA and
higher. Students with a 3.5 – 3.9999 will receive a white
cord. Students with a 4.0 and above will receive a gold cord.
If you have questions about Honor Graduate status, see
Ms. Gilbert in the front office.
DISTRIBUTION OF CAPS AND GOWNS
Caps and gowns will be distributed in the Gym Lobby on
Wednesday, May 6, 2014 after practice. If you do not
receive your cap and gown on Wednesday -- pick it up by
Friday, May 8 before 2:30 pm. in the front office.
NO CAPS AND GOWNS WILL BE ISSUED at practice at
Southeastern LA Univ. – you must return to school to pick it
up.
**No gowns will be issued the night of the Graduation
Ceremony.
DISTRIBUTION OF CAPS AND GOWNS(cont.)
PICTURES AND VIDEOS
The only additional items that can be worn with the cap
and gown:
Honor graduates will be given gold or white honor cords.
CNA and EKG students can wear a pin. National
Hispanic Honor Society members, French National
Honor Society members and National Art Honor Society
can wear a pin. National Honor Society members will
wear an additional stole. (only these items can be worn at
graduation)
PICTURES: A professional photographer will be on hand to
take pictures of graduates receiving their diploma. If you
are interested in having pictures, packets will be distributed
on the first day at graduation practice and must be returned
by the last day of practice (Friday, May 8)).
VIDEO OF THE GRADUATION CEREMONY: Channel 13,
the St. Tammany Parish Public School System public
television station will video the ceremony. DVD copies are
available for $15.00. Order forms are available in the front
office, Ms. Dutel, Room 220 or My Payments Plus on the
FHS website.
VIDEO – A Class of 2014 Reflections Video produced by
Bulldog TV can also be purchased for $15.00 through Ms.
Dutel, Room 220, the front office or My Payments Plus on
the FHS website.
**Both Videos can be purchased for $25.00.
If you have questions pertaining to your cap and gown or
honor cord, please see Ms. Gilbert in the front office. If
you have any questions about National Honor Society
stoles, see Ms. Easterling. If you have questions about
National Hispanic Honor Society pins, see Ms.
Randolph; French National Honor Society pins, see Ms.
Brooks, National Art Honor Society pins, see Ms. Danby;
CNA and EKG see Ms.Carambat..
DRESS FOR GRADUATION
GIRLS: Attire under the gown should not show above the
collar or below the hem of the gown. Black shoes -must
have a strap or type of back on heel(solid black or solid
black straps on top of shoe—NO SILVER, NO
RHINESTONES, NO CLEAR!!!).
**No face piercing – only earrings.
BOYS: White dress shirt, dark tie, dark dress pants (black
or navy), dark socks (a must), dark dress shoes (dark
brown, navy, or black). . NO JEANS, KHAKI PANTS, NO
SANDALS, TENNIS SHOES, CROCS, OR OTHER SPORT
SHOES WILL BE ALLOWED. NO BOW TIES.
** No face piercing – only earrings
Young men should also be clean-shaven and hair should
be well groomed and cut to a length that is in compliance
with the St. Tammany Parish School Board Policy.
CAPS AND GOWNS: All caps must be placed flat on the
graduate’s head and remain as such throughout the
ceremony. Everyone should have a supply of bobby pins.
Tassels are worn on the right side until you have graduated.
Graduation gowns must be zipped. All graduates should
have a stole. Honor graduates will wear gold or white
honor cords, CNA and EKG students, National Hispanic
Society members ,French National Honor Society AND
National Art Honor Society members will have pins
attached to the stole. National Honor Society members
will wear an additional stole.
Please take a few moments to iron your stole and gown
before arriving for the ceremony. We all want to look our
very best. If you are not dressed appropriately, you will
be pulled from the graduation line and will not be
allowed to walk.
RECEIVING YOUR DIPLOMA AFTER GRADUATION
After graduation, immediately return to the corridor to
receive your diploma. You must sign before receiving
diploma.
NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE FLOOR TO TAKE
PICTURES OR VIDEO DURING THE CEREMONY OR IN
CORRIDOR AREA WHERE GRADUATES LINE UP
BEFORE OR AFTER THE CEREMONY.
COMMENCEMENT – MAY 11, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M.
a) All graduating seniors should arrive at Southeastern by
6:00 p.m. Your homeroom teacher will make roll call at
6:30. This will be done in assigned areas in the
corridors. This area is off limits to anyone other than
graduates. DO NOT LEAVE ONCE YOU HAVE
CHECKED IN.
Homeroom teacher’s name and locations will be made
available at graduation practice.
b) PROCESSION will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.

The faculty will lead and form an honor corridor.

You are to march alphabetically as practiced.

Stage seniors will leave the stage and join their
classmates before the presentation of diplomas.

Once the procession begins, there will be no
admittance onto the floor.
c) RECESSIONAL -- You leave in pairs starting with
back row and proceed to your homeroom area to sign
for and receive diploma.
d) As our future leaders and role models, you are
expected to conduct yourselves in an exemplary
manner. REMEMBER, ALL EYES WILL BE ON YOU.
e) Commencement is the largest attended function at our
school. Your behavior will reflect on the entire class.
Please refrain from LAUGHING, TALKING, AND
CHEWING GUM DURING THE CEREMONY.
f) PLEASE TELL GUESTS: HANGING OF BANNERS IS
NOT ALLOWED BY SOUTHEASTERN LA UNIV.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING AIR HORNS OR OTHER
NOISE MAKERS.
**Anyone that appears to be under the influence of
alcoholic beverages or drugs will not be allowed to
participate.
***DO NOT bring any valuables with you when you
check in – THIS INCLUDES CELL PHONES,
PURSES, and CAMERAS – there is no place to store
these items—they will be taken by homeroom teacher.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES
TO ALL OF YOU. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
GOOD LUCK!