1. Graduation Notes and Reminders
AK Class of 2018

2. First things first: Will you walk? Check out this checklist:
____ 1. Are you passing all your classes?
____ a. Have you met credit and course requirements?
____ b. Have you completed RECOVERY?
____ 2. Have you cleared all your financial obligations?
____ a. Have you returned textbooks, materials, uniforms, etc?
____ b. If not, have you paid for them?
____ c. Have you paid Media Center fees?
____ d. Any other fees?
____ 3. Have you ordered your cap and gown?
____ 4. Have you entered your Naviance information?

3. Will you walk? A few words on discipline
Please be smart. Sure, senioritis is a thing, but this is not the time to be foolish.
Obey the law and follow school rules.
This means no skipping, no outbursts in class, no vaping/juling/smoking, no drug use, no fighting, etc.
So on your senior trip, for example, be smart!
Do NOT let one really bad choice be the reason you have to tell grandma she flew in for no reason.

4. Additional Reminders
Update all admissions decisions in Naviance: Click on the Colleges tab (top left) > click Colleges I'm Applying To; next to each college listed, there is a PENCIL under the Edit column. Click the Pencil. For each college, choose from the RESULT drop down box (accepted, denied, waitlist, etc). Scroll all the way down to the bottom and click Update Applications for each college.
* Let us know where you will be attending next year. This is where your FINAL TRANSCRIPT will be sent at the end of the year. (In Colleges I'm Applying To, scroll down under the list of colleges. Under College that I am Attending, choose from the drop-down menu and click UPDATE. ) If this is not complete by May 4 you will not receive a lanyard and risk your final transcript not being sent.
* Scholarships: If you have received ANY scholarship money this year, complete the Scholarship reporting form (extras available in Student Services) and return to Student Services. If it is received by May 4, your name will be included in the program at our Honors and Awards Night.

5. Getting Ready to Walk The Rehearsal
Rehearsal is mandatory if you want to walk.
Be at Bojangles Coliseum by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 7.
Pay attention. This is not the time to be on your phone, chatting, horseplaying, or engaging in any other tomfoolery.
Frankly, the longer we are off task, the longer it will take!
We are a LOT of people, trying to prepare for a smooth ceremony within a limited time frame. Let’s work together to make this an awesome event!

6. Pomp and Circumstance Dress Code! (If you want to walk, follow it!)
Ladies
Gentlemen
YES:
Dress or skirt
Dress shoes (walkable)
NO:
Flip-flops
Sneakers
Shoes you can’t walk in
YES:
Necktie and collared dress shirt
Dress pants/trousers
Dress shoes (closed-toe)
NO:
Flip-flops
Sneakers

7. Pomp and Circumstance Behavior Guidelines for the Big Day: the DOs
Get to Bojangles Coliseum by 7:30 a.m. on June 13!
Traffic on Independence is BAD on weekday mornings! PLAN for this! Advise your families to plan for this as well.
There is another event happening at Ovens (next door), so parking might be a challenge. Be early!!!
HAVE YOUR STUDENT ID! You can’t get in without it!
Find our spot and line up in the right order.
Have your cap and gown, tie/dress clothes/dress shoes on.

8. Pomp and Circumstance Behavior Guidelines for the Big Day: the DOs
Remind your families not to cheer and applaud at your name: they should wait until the end so everyone can hear their student’s name. Yes, for you it’s your day. It’s everyone else’s day, too.
At the end, get your diploma quickly, hug me, and go. Bojangles will be getting the next school’s ceremony ready. Take pictures in the parking lot.
Remember that this day is a big deal! Make it a happy one for you and your family.
Smile a lot and cry a little.

9. Pomp and Circumstance Behavior Guidelines for the Big Day: the DON’Ts
Be late!
Bring any nonsense: beach balls, air horns, etc. (This goes for graduates AND their families.)
Wander around through the tunnels so we can’t find you.
Get out of order.
Be on your phone during the ceremony! You can live without it for an hour and a half!
Do cartwheels or Nixon’s victory signal or selfies or anything else while you cross the stage! You will be removed!

10. A Little Inspiration