John A. Ferguson Senior High June 10, :00 am

 Please do not send students to the Activities Office or the counselors unless they have a pass or appointment from these offices. No excuses! Students need to make appointments in reference to clearance or graduation.

 Cap and Gown distribution will be after school on June 1, June 3 - June 4, in the auditorium. Only students who have been cleared for graduation and purchased their materials will be allowed to pick them up.  Cap and gown distribution does not start till 2:40 pm. Do not let the students out of class early or they will not be able to pick up their cap and gown packet that day.  Students who haven’t purchased their cap and gown must pass by the Activities Office to get a clearance release letter after June 4 th. They will have to go to Herff Jones and pick it up there.

 Tickets are required for all guests. Children 5 or older must have a ticket. Students will receive 4 tickets with their cap and gown packet.  Two extra tickets are available on a first come first serve basis if students need them on June 8 th.  Again do not dismiss students early on June 8 th or they will not receive the opportunity to get the extra tickets. Distribution does not begin until 12:30 pm. Students must exit the building and then line up in the walkway between the driver’s ed lot and building 12.

 Parking is available in one of two parking garages, the “Ponce Garage” and the “Pavia Garage.”  Arrive early and allow at least 20 minutes for parking. Coral Gables traffic is unpredictable so please allot enough time to arrive safely.  Because there are other graduations that day, we cannot delay the start of our ceremony beyond 10:00 a.m. Please don’t be late.

 When you arrive to the BankUnited Center at 8:45 am, please report to the field house to complete your assignments.  Once there you will follow the Graduation “When You Get to the Arena” handout.  If you are assisting with the line up of students you will need to remain with them until it is time to line up in the Hurricane 100 room.  Each faculty member will have clearly defined roles (please refer to the “Faculty Assignment “ handout.)

 Line of March Coordinators – these faculty are to help line up students within their academies (names will be bold faced and italicized with the LOM #’s in parenthesis)  Team Leaders – provide help to the LOM Coordinators  Section Leaders – help with anything their sides need  Info. Table – help with any student needs (LOM cards, medals)  Floating helper – help where needed  Check –in table – direct students to correct side of Field House  Diploma covers – responsible for diploma covers on stage during ceremony

 If a student has a problem with their cap or gown, please assist them.  Two lines (Black and Silver) will be used for this year’s processional. The order for the processional is as follows: Principal, dignitaries and stage guests, faculty, then graduates by academy, led by their top ten percent (in alphabetical order); late additions will march last.

 At 9:35 am all participating faculty dressed in regalia will report to the Hurricane 100 room to line up in their “Faculty Line of March” order.  Leave your faculty folders backstage in the box provided.  There will be someone to assist you find your place in the faculty line up (Maria Blanco and Yolande Bruno.)  At 10:00 am the processional will begin.  Two lines (Black and Silver) will be used for this year’s processional. The order for the processional is as follows: Principal, dignitaries and stage guests, faculty, then graduates by academy, led by their top ten percent (in alphabetical order); late additions will march last.

Hail to thee, our Alma Mater, Ever loyal, brave and true; Lead us on in truth and honor In the paths that we pursue. Rising up to every challenge, May we keep our goals so high. Forever we will honor thee: Hail to Ferguson High!

 When the ceremony ends all students and faculty will file out with the last two rows leading the way.  Faculty members will remain at the inside of the aisle until all students have exited the arena. If you are working the diploma distribution, please quietly slip out before the recessional begins.  Faculty will help direct students back to the “Field House” for diploma distribution.  Counselors, lead teachers, and assigned faculty members will report to the “Field House” for Diploma Distribution (see map) after they have finished their duties at the arena.

 Graduation is a CEREMONY not a party or pep rally. Please help us present it this way to the parents. Our priority is to make this day special for the graduates. It is their ceremony and we are working.  Please bring your folders with you to the BankUnited Center. The folders and ids will be collected and reused next year!  Please DO NOT enter the VIP (Hurricane 100) room until faculty line up time. This area has been reserved for dignitaries and stage guests only. Coffee will be available in the field house for faculty members before 8:30 am, courtesy of the Class of 2010.

 Wear comfortable shoes. There is no seating available, you will be standing and walking around for approximately 2 hours.  Please DO NOT bring any personal belongings as there will be nowhere to secure these items.  Please remember to fill out a temporary duty card. There will be one in your participant folder. If you are not working but plan to attend, you must take a personal day.  Bring the John A. Ferguson ID badge found in your participant folder with you.

 The student information and video is found on the school’s website. Please send anyone with questions there or to room 11.  Participants will need to pass by the Activities Office to pick up their updated participant folder and review their duties on June 8 th or 9 th.  Most importantly…Under no circumstance do you let students out early from class for cap & gown pick up or extra ticket distribution.