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Decatur High School
Class of 2015
GATOR COUNTDOWN
Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 4:00 pm in the Tacoma Dome
This information is designed to help Seniors and their families plan for the last couple months of school.
13th YEAR PLAN • This is a State and District graduation requirement. If you have not received a final check off, call
Mrs. Miller, 253.945.5317 immediately. After June 19th Mrs. Miller will not be available for check off for the summer.
BACCALAUREATE • Baccalaureate will be held Wednesday, June 3, from 7-8:30 pm at Christ Lutheran Church, FW.
COMMENCEMENT • The Commencement ceremony is Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the Tacoma Dome at 4:00 pm.
Graduates need to be at the Tacoma Dome by 3:00 pm to get ready and line up. Students, please leave your purses,
valuables, etc. with your family. An area of the Tacoma Dome will be sectioned off so that parents and guests can
greet the graduates after the ceremony. There will be no formal reception after the ceremony.
COMMENCEMENT DECORUM • Every Senior deserves a special moment! Cap, gown, and graduation stole are
required to participate. The only outfit for graduation is the formal cap & gown. NO variations are allowed. If you
have questions, please see <www.RRGrad.com>.
This is a formal ceremony. There will be a professional photographer taking pictures of the students as they receive
their diploma cover. These photos are optional for purchase.
It is customary to stand for both the processional and recessional. We are requesting that guests, family members,
and commencement participants refrain from any loud noise or applause while students’ names are read. Remember
that commencement is a solemn ceremony and we want to be proud of our participants. Any inappropriate behavior
will be dealt with by escorting the offending person out of the area and that person will not be allowed to participate
in the remainder of the commencement ceremony. Please be sensitive to and respectful of all members of the Senior
class and their families. NO helium balloons, balls, or inflatables are permitted at the Tacoma Dome.
COMMENCEMENT PARKING • There will be a charge to park in the Tacoma Dome parking lot.
DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS • In accordance with Federal Way School Board policy, in order to receive a diploma,
students must have completed 23.5 high school credits in the required subject areas, their 13th Year Plan, and
must have passed all required State and/or District tests. There are no exceptions. Information regarding credits is
available from the Academic Advisor.
DIPLOMAS • Diplomas will be mailed the end of June if graduation requirements are verified as complete. If there
has been any change of student address please contact the Guidance Center.
FINAL TRANSCRIPTS • Graduates who need to have a transcript sent to a college or university MUST provide that
information to Ms. Harker in the Guidance Center.
FINALS • Finals for all Decatur students will be June 2 - 3 - 4. EOC testing dates for Seniors who have NOT met
standard are June 2 (Alg 1 & Int 1), June 3 (Geometry), and June 4 (Biology).
FINES & FEES • Students should check regularly for fines, outstanding text books, and library materials. Students
must be clear of all fines and fees to receive grades/diploma/transcripts or attend Senior Prom. Fines and fees may
be cleared with cash, money orders, or credit/debit cards.
May 2015
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Senior Newsletter • Class of 2015
GRAD NIGHT • This night is sponsored by the PTSA and is scheduled for the evening following Commencement. The
Grad Night Bus will be leaving Decatur at 9:30pm Saturday night, returning at 6:30am Sunday morning. Join your
graduating class for a night of activities, entertainment, food, laughs, and memories to last a lifetime! Tickets are $100
and will be sold through May 22nd. Questions, contact: Debbie Hansen at <[email protected]>.
HONOR CORDS • Students with a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher at the end of first semester Senior year are awarded
one gold “high honor” cord. Students with a cumulative GPA 3.0 to 3.49 are given one silver “honor” cord. Honor
cords can be picked up by eligible students June 1-12 in the Guidance Center.
LIBRARY FINES & FEES • There will be periodic automated reminders through the month of May to remind students
of outstanding fines/fees that must be paid to the Library.
MOVING UP ASSEMBLY • The final assembly with all of the student body will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, June 12th
in the Gator Dome (gym).
PICTURES AT COMMENCEMENT • A professional photographer contracts with the school to take a picture of each
graduate receiving their diploma cover. The photographer will contact the family by email, to the parent/guardian email
on file or to the email provided by student. Parents and families wishing to take pictures or use video cameras will be
permitted to do so in designated areas on the day of commencement.
REHEARSAL • SENIOR WHITE DAY • Seniors will meet in the Gator Dome (gym) on Friday, June 12th, at 11:45 am
for the Rehearsal. Seniors remain in the Gator Dome until the Moving Up Assembly at 1:30 pm.
REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE
REQUIRED!!
SCHOLARSHIPS • Decatur would like to include all scholarships in the graduation program. This information will be
included if it was given to Mrs. Novak in the Career Center in April.
SENIOR AWARDS & RECOGNITION EVENT • A Senior Awards Event will be held Thursday, May 28th in the Decatur
PA from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.
SENIOR BREAKFAST • The Senior Breakfast is Friday, June 12th at 9:00 am at Our Savior’s Baptist Church, 701 S.
320th St. Cost is $6 IN ADVANCE (tickets will be sold BEFORE June 12th ONLY), pay in the Finance Office. The
breakfast is for Seniors only and is a chance to gather and reminisce about your high school years.
SENIOR PROM • The Senior Prom is on Friday, June 5th at the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma from 8:00 to
11:00 pm.
Students must have NO fines/fees or discipline before they may purchase tickets. Non-Decatur guests are permitted
through the guest pass procedures used for all school dances. No tickets will be sold at the door. The cost of tickets
is $30 per person w/ASB and $35 w/o. Tickets must be purchased IN ADVANCE and will be sold ONLY May 18-June
5 through the Finance Office. Decatur High School Student ID is required for entry into all dances.
ALL PROM PICTURES will be taken at the Prom.
TEXTBOOK TURN IN • Seniors should turn in their textbooks as soon as they are done with them. All textbooks must
be turned in and students ‘cleared’ through the Library.
TICKETS • Tickets are NOT required for admission to Decatur’s Commencement.
YEARBOOKS • There is a limited quantity of yearbooks. The cost of the yearbook is $55.00. Senior Yearbook distribution
begins during lunch on Monday, June 1st in Portable 7. If students are not available during lunch, yearbooks can be
picked up in Portable 7 before or after school. Students MUST have ID to pick up their yearbook.
Senior Newsletter • Class of 2015
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May 2015
COUNTDOWN
2015
MAY
MAY
MAY
MAY
MAY
MAY
MAY
May 4-15 (M-F)
Advanced Placement (AP) Testing
May 19 - 6/6
Tickets on Sale for Senior Prom~
$30 per person w/ASB and $35 w/o
May 28 (Thur)
Senior Awards & Recognition Evening, 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the Decatur PA
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
June 1 (Mon)
Senior Yearbook distribution during lunch in Portable 7 - ID required for pick-up
June 1 -12
Honor Cords distributed in the Guidance Center
June 2 (Tues)
All Finals: Periods 1 & 2, (Algebra & Int. 1 EOC)
(Altered Schedule) Senior Textbook Turn In (when done)
June 3 (Wed)
All Finals: Periods 4 & 3 (Geometry EOC)
(Altered Schedule) Senior Textbook Turn In (when done)
Baccalaureate, 7-8:30 pm, Christ Lutheran Church, FW
June 4 (Thurs)
All Finals: Periods 5 & 6 (Biology EOC)
(Altered Schedule) Senior Textbook Turn In (when done)
June 5 (Fri)
Senior Prom 8-11 pm @ the Foss Waterway Seaport in Tacoma
June 8 (Mon)
Last day for Seniors who HAVE MET Standards
June 9 (Tues)
Seniors who have NOT met Standard CONTINUE CLASSES
June 10 (Wed)
Seniors who have NOT met Standard CONTINUE CLASSES
June 11 (Thurs)
Seniors who have NOT met Standard CONTINUE CLASSES
June 12 (Fri)
9:00 am, Senior Breakfast at Our Savior Baptist Church, 701 S. 320th St., FW
Cost is $6 in advance ONLY (before June 12th) at the Finance Office
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
JUNE
MAY
MAY
Dates to
Remember
Senior White Day, Seniors wear white clothes to honor the Class of 2015
Seniors Clean out lockers, pay all outstanding fines, turn in any textbooks
JUNE
11:45am - Mandatory Senior Rehearsal in the Gator Dome (gym)
1:30 - 2:00 pm, Moving Up Assembly, Gator Dome
June 13 (Sat)
Commencement Ceremonies - Tacoma Dome, 4:00 pm
Students report @ 3 pm Tacoma Dome staging area; enter through Lower “A” door
Guests enter through Upper “A” door that opens at 3:30 pm
GRAD NIGHT EVENT - Sponsored by the PTSA. The bus leaves Decatur at 9:30 pm,
and returns at 6:30 am Sunday morning.
May 2015
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Senior Newsletter • Class of 2015
CHECK-OUT
• FINANCIAL CLEARANCE:
Check REGULARLY for fines and outstanding books or materials.
$$ clear with Finance Office & Library.
• DISCIPLINE & DETENTION CLEARANCE: Check with Mrs. Perez.
• ACADEMIC QUESTIONS: see Ms. Haugen or call 253.945.5218.
Diplomas will be verified and mailed at the end of June.
Immunization records will be included.
• Please keep these items safe for future reference.
•
PLEASE NOTE
IF
THERE HAS BEEN ANY CHANGE IN STUDENT ADDRESS
PLEASE CONTACT THE GUIDANCE CENTER.
FW School District Criteria for
Commencement Ceremony Participation
Any student who began the ninth grade in the fall of 2010 will be given the option to
participate in the ceremony. However, students will be able to choose this option only
once in their school career.
It is also important to point out that participation in the ceremony does NOT equate to
earning a diploma. That will happen only when all graduation requirements have been
met.
PRACTICE
• Receive the cover with your left hand.
• Shake hands with your right hand.
Practice walking up and down stairs in your cap, gown and the shoes you will be wearing.
• Pause for the photographer in this process.
Then, with your partner, you will carefully step down the front stairs and return to your seat.
• Remain standing until the signal to be seated is given.
The TASSEL CEREMONY will occur after all students have received diploma covers.
Plan to move your tassel from left to right with your right hand
following the signals given you by your class leaders.
IMPORTANT: At the end of the ceremony, there will be a recessional.
You will be standing. Junior Marshalls will give the signal for each row to exit.
Please plan to exit in pairs directly to the staging area to get your personal belongings.
PLEASE DO NOT THROW YOUR CAPS
Senior Newsletter • Class of 2015
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May 2015