Graduation
Information Packet
SPECIAL NOTE FROM MR. BOWLING:
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. Seniors are not permitted to bring any item to the
graduation ceremony which would cause a disruption to the graduation ceremony including beach balls, silly string,
etc. If a senior is caught with any of these items before the ceremony, the principal will be notified and the principal
will determine whether the senior may participate in the ceremony.
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.
New this year – 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 11. 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 Thursday, May 21 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 Candid Color through Lifetouch 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 27, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the St. Mary’s College
gymnasium. Each senior will receive four (4) gymnasium admission tickets and three (3) auxiliary gymnasium
admission tickets. Auxiliary gym ticket holders will be able to view the graduation ceremony live via electronic
broadcast.
We have great news to share. 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
issue any additional tickets. All tickets will be issued to seniors at practice on Friday, May 22. PLEASE NOTE –
LOST TICKETS CANNOT BE REPLACED.
PRACTICES. Only Ms. McDaniel or Mr. Bowling 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. All practices begin at
8:30 a.m. and most are scheduled to end at approximately 12:30 p.m. Cell phones are to be turned off and put away.
School rules are still in effect.
If you have an emergency the morning of a practice, please contact Ms. Somerville at 301-475-0215 ext. 38116.
Please provide your name, the nature of the emergency, and a contact name and phone number.
Thursday, May 21. Seniors should plan to arrive at school after 8:00 a.m. to help minimize the road congestion on
Colton Point Road. Seniors should report promptly to the gymnasium at 8:30 a.m. 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. Seniors are not permitted in other parts of the building.
A seating chart will be posted in the hallway outside of the gymnasium, students should sit in their assigned seat.
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 21
practice.
Friday, May 22 - Dress Rehearsal. Seniors will bring caps and gowns for the Panoramic Picture. Males will wear
white dress shirt, plain black necktie – no patterns or stripes, black pants, and black dress shoes. Females will wear
skirt/blouse or dress and black dress shoes. Flip flops, spike-heeled shoes, and boots are not permitted.
Panoramic pictures will be taken by Lifetouch. Order envelopes will be distributed Thursday, May 21. Orders will
be due at the time of the picture taking. No late orders will be accepted. Checks should be made payable to
Lifetouch.
Tickets will be distributed during this practice. Please remember that lost tickets cannot be replaced.
Tuesday, May 26. 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 will be scheduled.
Wednesday, May 27. Seniors report to the Chopticon gymnasium at 8:30 a.m. for practice.
Graduation Night. Seniors report promptly to the gym at 4:15 p.m. Please park in the A lot. Seniors will board
buses for departure to the college by 4:40 p.m. No student will be permitted to drive to the college.
Dress. In addition to the cap and gown set, the following is required dress for graduation night. Male students black, long dress pants, white button shirt, plain black necktie (no stripes or patterns), and black dress shoes.
Female students - 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 Mr. Bowling’s presentation of the Class of
2015, it is traditional for the graduates to celebrate. Each senior will be given a cow bell to shake in celebration.
For the safety of others, there will be NO THROWING OF THE MORTARBOARDS.
Photographs. A Lifetouch 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 may be viewed online at http://events.lifetouch.com. You may visit the site, search for
Chopticon and select event prior to the ceremony. There is an option to enter your email address and Lifetouch
will notify you when photos are ready to view and order.
New this year – 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 Ms. Grysko or Ms. O’Day. Contracts are
mailed to students by the Office of Community Services. All forms must be turned in by the due date – 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 9th grade and no older than 21. Underclass students who
attend Project Grad are expected to be present in school on May 28.
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
PARKING
Enter here for
auxiliary gym
Red tickets – Main Gym – this is where the ceremony is held
Yellow tickets – Auxiliary Gym – this is where the ceremony will be viewed on a large screen – the graduates will
walk through here at the start of the ceremony.
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 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 the college.
Turn left onto Mattapany Road.
Follow signs and directions for
parking.
Senior Banquet/Slide Show: Friday, May 15, 2015
6:00 pm
The time has come for the Class of 2015 senior banquet/slideshow! The night will consist of
dinner and a slide show that will include all of the pictures that the seniors have shared with us of
their time in school over the last twelve years. The banquet/slide show will be on Friday, May
15, 2015 at 6:00 pm in the Chopticon High School cafeteria.
Families of all seniors are invited and asked to bring a dish that will feed at least those
attending in your family PLUS TWO MORE.
Seniors with the last names beginning A-O are asked to bring a side dish and P-Z, a
dessert.
If you do not wish to bring a dish, you may donate twenty dollars or more (check made out
to CHS).
The senior class will purchase the main entrée and a sheet cake as well as provide plates,
utensils, cups, and drinks. If you plan to attend the banquet, please fill out the form below and
return it to Mrs. Grysko in A108 no later than Friday, May 8, 2015. If you have any questions
please see or e-mail Mrs. Grysko at [email protected]
Thank you,
Mrs. Grysko, Mrs. O’Day & The Class of 2015 Officers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senior’s Name (please print)
(Last)
(First)
_______ Number attending the senior banquet/slide show
If you are donating money, please make the check out to CHS and submit it with this form
to Mrs. Grysko
_______ Amount Enclosed (if any)
Chopticon High School
Class of 2015
Barn Painting Permission Form
The CHS Barn Painting will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am here at
Chopticon High School. Painting may not be done at any other time. Students need to bring spray
paint (preferable) or brushes and paint and ladders for their own names. Students must be
academically eligible for the 3rd 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. Grysko in room A108 by Wednesday, May 13! If you have any questions, please
contact Mrs. Grysko via email ([email protected]) or at CHS (301-475-0215).
Student Name:______________________________________________ DOB:___________________
Parent Name __________________________________________________________________________
Address
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone _________________________ (home) ____________________________ (cell)
_________________________ (work)
Family Doctor ____________________________________ Phone ___________________________
Emergency Contact ________________________________ Phone ___________________________
I understand that the above-named student must be covered by a personal or family insurance
policy.
Type of insurance: (circle one): school / personal
If personal insurance, complete the following:
Name of medical insurance company that covers the student ___________________________________
Policy Number ___________________________________
I, the undersigned parent/guardian, understand that accidental injuries may occur and agree that I
will be responsible for all medical bills and costs that may be incurred as a result of medical care
and treatment for my child.
Parent/Guardian Name (printed) ________________________________________________________
Signature _______________________________________________ Date _____________________
Student Signature ________________________________________ Date _____________________
Permission to climb ladders
I give permission for the above-named student to climb a ladder at the barn painting activity.
Parent/Guardian Name (printed) __________________________________________________________
Signature___________________________________________________________