1. education
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Making
H15 tory
Kinston High School
TRUE LIFE…
A senior’s guide to graduation
Table of Contents
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Letter from Principal ………………………. 2
Letter from Assistant Principal…………... 3
Calendar of Events……………………..…... 4
Graduation Practice Details……….……… 5
Commencement Details…………………… 6
Commencement Etiquette………………… 7
Commencement Conduct….…………....... 8
Commencement Attire………………..…… 9
Graduation Documents…………………... 10
After the Ceremony……………………...... 11
Payment Of School Indebtedness……… 12
Alma Mater…………………………..……… 13
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Letter from the Principal
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April 30, 2015
Dear Viking Graduating Senior:
As we approach the end of the 2014-2015 school year, your thoughts turn to the eagerly
anticipated date and time of June 13, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Kinston High School Gymnasium.
This date marks a milestone in your lives-your high school graduation. On behalf of the Kinston
High School faculty and staff, may I offer a heartfelt congratulation on your accomplishments
while being a student here at KHS! The memories you have created and the education that you
have received will prepare you for the challenges and opportunities that life will offer. Those
challenges and opportunities will begin very soon for each of you!
During your years at Kinston High School, you have met challenges and overcome obstacles to
achieve the honor of claiming your diploma. I have great appreciation for your Viking Pride,
hard work, and many talents you demonstrated while a student here at KHS. Although I know
that June 13 is near, I know you will continue to demonstrate these qualities as you successfully
complete your senior year. I also know that your experience here at KHS has prepared you for
your future. I am excited and proud of the impact you will make on our great nation and in
society as you move forward towards your goals and aspirations. I challenge you to continue to
grow as you move on and to always reach to accomplish all of your goals, dreams, and
aspirations throughout life.
You have each received a senior booklet today that contains essential information regarding
upcoming events, activities, and details for your graduation ceremony. Please read and share this
information with your parents. You are responsible for understanding and complying with all
guidelines established for this special ceremony. It is my expectation that as “KHS Vikings” you
will all fully cooperate to make each activity and the graduation ceremony a success. We will not
compromise the dignity of the occasion and the recognition that each of you deserves for any
reason. I am confident that each activity, rehearsal, and the actual graduation ceremony will be a
success, and you will demonstrate excellence in all that you do during these special times or you
will be removed.
The memories you have made throughout high school will last a lifetime. Let’s work together to
make this culmination of all of your achievements one that you will forever remember as well.
Congratulations and best wishes to you all! Go Vikings!!!
Sincerely,
Tina N. Letchworth
Principal of Kinston High School
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Letter from the Assistant Principal
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April 30, 2015
Dear Parents of Graduating Seniors:
The Commencement Program will be held at Kinston High School Gymnasium on Saturday,
June 13, 2015 at 11:00 am. We hope you all will join us for this exciting event in the lives of our
students.
Each student will receive 6 tickets at graduation rehearsal on Friday. Only guests with tickets
will be admitted to graduation. Due to fire codes, this restriction includes babies and small
children. Due to the seating capacity of the Kinston High School Gymnasium and the size of this
year’s graduating class, we will be unable to accommodate any requests for additional tickets to
graduation. We encourage students and parents to contact each other in terms of securing
additional tickets. Please note that graduation announcements are NOT tickets to the ceremony.
Official tickets to graduation will be distributed during practice on Friday, June 12th from 9-11
am. Seating on the day of the ceremony is first come, first served; doors will open at 10 am
before the ceremony for guests. The only reserved sections are the seating for seniors and
faculty.
A professional photographer will again be available to photograph the graduates as they receive
their diploma covers. The photographer will mail proofs to each senior’s household shortly after
commencement with information regarding purchase of photographs.
Families of students not graduating will be notified by administration by 7:00 p.m. on Thursday,
June 11th.
While these ceremonies are certainly joyous occasions, we are intent on maintaining the dignity
associated with honoring our graduates. Help us in this respect our suggests for attire and
etiquette with your son/daughter and with our family and guests. Congratulations on your child's
achievement! The administration and staff look forward to seeing you at the ceremony at the
Kinston High School Gymnasium.
Sincerely,
Kellan Bryant
Assistant Principal of Kinston High School
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5
Calendar of Events
MAY
Thursday 7th
Thursday 21st
Friday 22nd
Academic Banquet
Awards Day Practice
Awards Day
6:30 PM
9:20 - 10:55 AM
9:00 - 11:30 AM
KHS Gymnasium
KHS Performing Arts
Center
KHS Performing Arts
Center
Door open at 5:30 PM.
Students find assigned seats
in PAC.
Seniors line up in PAC
hallway at 8:30 AM.
JUNE
Tues. – Tues. 2nd-10th
Exams
Thurs. June 11th
Fri. June 12th
Saturday 13th
Mandatory
Graduation Practices
Commencement
KHS Gymnasium
KHS Gymnasium
Thursday, June 11th
(1:00 - 3:00 PM)
Doors open at 10:00 AM.
Friday, June 12th
(9:00 - 11:00 AM)
11:00 AM
Seniors are to line up in
designated first floor
hallways at 10:15 AM.
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Graduation Practice Details 5
MANDATORY
GRADUATION PRACTICES
Dates and Times:
Thursday June 11th (1:00 - 3:00 PM)
Friday, June 12th (9:00 - 11:00 AM)
Place: Kinston
High School Gymnasium
Seniors sit it in assigned chairs on gym floor at the start of
practice each day.
____________________________________________________________________
Important Graduation Practice Notes Checklist
____________________________________________________________________
! Seniors must be present. NO EXCUSES! You must stay the entire two hours of both
practices.
! Leave bags and other items in your car or in the bleachers during practice.
! Cell phones and other electronics devices must be turned off during practice.
! Seniors should pay close attention to the instructions provided during the rehearsal
so that the ceremony goes smoothly and the rehearsal end on time.
! Tickets for commencement will be distributed at the END of practice.
! Do NOT wear your cap and gown to graduation practice.
! Seniors who misbehave during graduation practice will not be allowed to participate
in the commencement ceremonies.
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Commencement Details 6
You are cordially invited to
KHS Class of 2015
Commencement Exercises
Date: Saturday, June 13th
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Doors will open at 10:00AM.
Seniors must arrive at school
no later than 10:15 a.m. to line
up for commencement.
Every person attending the
commencement ceremonies
must have a ticket, including
babies. (A graduation
announcement does not
substitute for a ticket!)
Place: Kinston High School
Gymnasium
Reminders
For you…
1.
2.
3.
4.
For your guests…
Wear your cap and gown to graduation. 1.
Don’t lose your tassel; it falls off easily
and cannot be replaced.
Make sure that your gown is pressed
2.
and wrinkle-free prior to the ceremony.
BE ON TIME! Late students arriving
after 10:30 PM run the risk of not being 3.
allowed to march with their classmates.
4.
5.
6.
No flowers vases, signs, balloons,
noisemakers, or wrapped packages
will be allowed inside the gym.
No one is allowed inside the gym once
the ceremony begins. Anyone leaving
will not be allowed back into the gym.
Unruly or intoxicated guests will not be
allowed inside the gym.
During the ceremony, no one will be
allowed onto the gym floor to take
pictures.
Provisions will be made for
handicapped guests.
It is recommended that if you bring a
small child, please report to the KHS
Performing Arts Center to view the
commencement on a closed-circuit TV
broadcast.
Commencement Etiquette 7
Etiquette- noun
1. Something to remember when adults are around.
2. Something practiced by high-class society.
Caps and gowns should always be warm
in a dignified way. be sure the gowns are
neatly pressed. please remember to use a
cool iron as the gowns will melt easily if
the iron is too hot. DO NOT WASH OR
DRY THE GOWNS.
Seniors will graduate in alphabetical
order. Upon hearing his/her name called,
each senior will work across the stage and
receive his/her diploma cover from the
school principal. A senior’s name is called
approximately every 10-15 seconds.
Therefore, the audience is asked to refrain
from applause or noise during the calling of
the names in order for the senior’s name to
be heard. The senior’s family will be asked
to stand as the graduate’s name is called.
Diplomas, transcripts, and other materials
will be distributed immediately after the
ceremony in the designated areas or
classroom of the senior advisors. All
unclaimed diplomas will need to be picked
up at KHS the week following graduation.
Both males and females always wear
caps STRAIGHT on the head, parallel to
the floor. A teacher supervisor will adjust
this for you if you are not wearing the cap
correctly. No hat decorations or other
alterations are allowed. Tassels are to be
worn on the right side of the cap until the
conclusion of the graduation ceremony. You
will then be instructed as a group to move
the tassels to the left side to signify your
graduation.
A professional photographer will take a
picture of each senior as he/she is presented
with his/her graduation diploma cover. A
proof will be sent to your home for ordering.
The security officers on duty at graduation do not allow parents or guests to leave their
seats and disrupt the ceremony by going onto the gym floor to photograph graduates. As
mentioned above, photographers will be at the ceremony to take pictures at the time the
student receives his/her diploma cover.
Commencement Conduct 8
No chewing gum, foods, or beverages are
to be brought with you into the lineup area
on the day of graduation.
Cat-calling, yelling, and pranks during
graduation will distract from the ceremony.
If necessary, you will be removed from the
ceremony by security, diplomas will be
withheld, and students will have to make
arrangements to pick them up at Kinston
High School.
All electronic devices must be off during the
entire ceremony. Do NOT plan to use your
phone as a camera at any point during the
ceremony.
*All school rules apply to all graduation activities.
if you do not abide by the rules, including the dress code, you will not be
allowed to participate in the ceremony. We want this to be a happy time
for you, but we also want it to be a dignified ceremony.
Commencement Attire
WOMEN
! White dress, white
shoes or sandals (No
slacks! No shorts!)
! Minimal jewelry.
! Do not wear long pants
or dresses that exceed
the length of the robe.
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MEN
! White collared dress shirt
and dark tie.
! Dark dress pants (navy or
black)(No jeans or khaki
pants!)
! Dark dress shoes (navy,
black, brown) (No tennis
shoes!)
Graduates who do not wear appropriate attire will be removed from the line-up
and will not be allowed to participate in Commencement activities.
DO NOT BRING:
Purses or
handbags
Cameras
Electronic
Devices
Cell phones
Graduation Documents
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Immediately following the ceremony, you will report to the classroom listed beside your
advisor’s name to receive your documents. You must meet your advisor in the
designated location within 20 minutes of the end of the ceremony. If you do not pick up
your documents within 20 minutes, you must pick them up from the front office
beginning on Monday, June 15th.
ADVISOR
Baker
Bridges
Carlyle
Collette
Dixon
Harris
Maness
J. Romig
Owens
Stilley
Bright
CLASSROOM
114
110
108
122
120
106
104
118
105
112
103
After the Ceremony
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! Following the graduation ceremony, you
will need to pick up important materials
from your Homeroom Teacher.
! You will immediately report to the
designated classroom on the first floor
main building to pick up your diploma,
transcript and other important materials.
! After you pick up your packet, you may
go back to the gym to meet your family
and friends.
Payment of Indebtedness 12
✓ All fees and fines must be paid in full by noon
on Friday, May 29, to Mrs. Hairr. Personal
checks will be accepted until May 1st. After that
time, any monies owed must be paid by cash,
money order, or certified bank check.
✓ Mrs. Hairr will be available before and after
school and after school any day to collect
payment in her office up to the May 29th
deadline.
✓ Seniors should check the indebtedness lists
to see what money is still owed to the school.
Please understand that additional fines and lost
book charges and other fees could be added as
late as the final day of classes, as books and
other materials are returned to your classes.
✓ Upon request, final transcripts can be mailed
to colleges within two weeks after graduation.
Seniors who fail to clear their financial responsibilities to Kinston High
School cannot participate in the commencement ceremonies.
Alma Mater
KHS Alma Mater
(Deborah Rhem Lightfoot, Class of 1973)
Our Alma Mater true,
We love and honor you,
Our gold and forest green.
Will be fore’er be seen.
To thee, our Alma Mater,
Our love will never die.
All hail to Kinston High School!
We give our best to you.
As time is quickly gone,
And life, our paths must part,
The mem’ries will live on
Deep within our hearts.
Through all the joy and sadness,
Through triumph and in tears,
We shall cherish Kinston High School
Throughout the coming years.
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