April, 2015 Dear Seniors of the Class of 2015, The Grand Blanc

April, 2015
Dear Seniors of the Class of 2015,
The Grand Blanc High School graduation ceremony is just around the corner. Let me congratulate you
on your upcoming achievement.
This packet is being provided as a means of helping you navigate the busy spring of your graduation
year. Hopefully this information helps you coordinate all the various activities, fees and commitments of
your upcoming graduation. Perhaps it may even answer questions you did not know you had.
I can honestly state that I can see the maturity of young adulthood in most of the seniors. However, I
would be remiss if I did not remind each of the students in the graduating class that the Students Rights
& Responsibilities Handbook is applicable to all upcoming activities. While I am proud of the manner in
which most seniors conduct themselves, I am concerned about the attitude of some seniors and their
perception of acceptable behavior at the end of the year. In the past, seniors were suspended due to
their behavior and did not participate in senior activities, including Senior Honors Night,
Commencement Exercises, and the Post Grad Celebration. Suspending seniors or excluding them
from activities would be unpleasant for the school and embarrassing to the family.
Commencement will be held at the Perani Arena and Event Center on Thursday, May 28th at 7:00 p.m.
We are promoting positive activities for our seniors as they end their high school careers. This is a
formal event. Dress code and behavior should reflect the maturity you need to demonstrate in your
adult life as well as that which is required by the district’s standard.
If parents or students have any questions after reading the enclosed material, please feel free to
contact your class advisors Justin Taylor, Lori Brunskole, your counselor, or me. It is our goal to make
the transition to adulthood as smooth as possible.
I sincerely hope that you reflect positively upon your experience at Grand Blanc High School.
Best wishes in all your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hammond, Ph.D.
Principal
This letter is also available on the high school’s website (http://grandblanc.high.schoolfusion.us/)
Important Information for Graduating Seniors and Parent/Guardians
Final Transcripts: Seniors must request final transcripts through Docufide/Parchment for the college
they will be attending in the fall before the school year ends, if the college requires one. Colleges
applied for using the Common Application all require final transcripts. Sheets will be posted on the
Counseling Office front windows the beginning of May for students to write their final college choice.
Senior Prom: Friday, May 1st from 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. at the San Marino Club in Troy. Students must
check in at the East High School athletic entrance at 4:30 p.m. Charter buses will leave promptly at
5:00 p.m. Students must ride the provided transportation or they will be denied entry into the prom.
Students will receive a wristband once they are on the bus. No wristband = no entrance to the San
Marino Club. Professional photographers will be available for pictures throughout the evening and you
will have the opportunity to take photos in the photo booth. The coat room will be open if the weather
warrants (ie. if the weather requires coats or umbrellas). You will not be able to check shoes or purses.
The high school’s Dance Regulations & Dress Code will be enforced. If you have any questions
regarding the dress code, please see Dr. Hammond.
Boys Dress Code: Attire is described as a dress suit or tuxedo, a shirt with a collar, a tie or
bow tie, or a turtleneck. Shirts as described are to be worn at all times. It is considered
unacceptable for boys to remove their shirts at any time during the dance. Pants need to be
secured above the waist as to not show undergarments. Students violating these guidelines
prior to the dance will not be admitted.
Girls Dress Code: Traditionally dresses or gowns may be strapless or may feature straps.
Bare or open-backed garments are acceptable; however, bra-tops or garments that are more
than 5 inches below the collarbone, and/or skirts that are more than 7 inches above the knee
are not permitted. Undergarments may not be exposed. See-through apparel and gowns or
dresses with slits or leg-exposing cutouts that are above 7 inches are not permitted. Students
violating these guidelines prior to the dance will not be admitted.
Financial Obligations and Fees: Students must clear up all financial obligations (book fines, media
fines, etc.) Cash, money orders and Payschools will be accepted, no checks. Any student who owes a
financial obligation to the school will not receive their cap & gown until the obligation is met. Fine
notices will be mailed to students on May 21st. This will give seniors a week before the cap and gown
distribution meeting on May 27th to resolve financial obligations. If you have questions about fines,
please contact Mrs. Kehn at (810) 591-6635.
Senior Honor Awards: Thursday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Tartoni Athletic Center.
Students will be honored with local scholarships, awards, NHS stoles, and honor cords. Participation is
by invitation and is based on 7th semester cumulative grades. Students should arrive at 6:30 p.m. Boys
should wear a shirt with tie and girls should wear a school appropriate dress/skirt (no jeans or shorts).
Boys and girls should wear dress shoes (no tennis shoes, flip flops.) Students must be in attendance to
receive their honor cords, unless they have a prearranged absence.
Honor Cords and Sashes: Honor cords are distributed based on 7th semester cumulative GPAs.
Seniors with a GPA of 3.5-4.0+ are eligible for GOLD cords and seniors with a GPA between 3.0-3.49
are eligible for SILVER cords. Members of the National Honor Society who have completed the
necessary volunteer hours may purchase a NHS sash. All of these items will be distributed at the
Senior Honor Awards on May 14th.
Skill Center: Skill Center students who do not earn credit by May 15th, 2015 will need to make up
those credits in summer school.
Credit Recovery: Credit Recovery students must complete all Credit Recovery courses by May 15th,
2015 or will need to make up those credits in summer school.
Senior Finals: May 18th and 19th (Monday and Tuesday). All students are expected to follow the
school’s published schedule. Students must leave the building when their exams are finished. The
schedule is as follows:
MONDAY, MAY 18
4th Hour
10:38 – 12:08
th
5 Hour
12:14 – 1:12
th
6 Hour
1:18 – 2:16
TUESDAY, MAY 19
1st Hour
7:20 – 8:19
nd
2 Hour
8:25 – 9:23
rd
3 Hour
9:29 – 10:32
Extra Graduation Tickets: There are a limited number of extra graduation tickets. They will be
available on Thursday, May 21st at 8:00 a.m. inside the front door of the East High School. Student ID
cards are required to receive extra tickets. Tickets will be distributed on a first come first serve basis
until the tickets are gone. 2 tickets per family.
Mandatory Commencement Activities:
There are two mandatory activities to prepare for commencement:
1. Wednesday, May 27th (8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) in the East High School gym.
This meeting is a “drop-in” format and seniors may leave when they are finished with the
following:
 Fines & Fees: Any senior who still owes a fine or fee must clear up all financial
obligations before receiving their cap & gown.
 Cap & Gown Distribution: For seniors who ordered a cap & gown in advance. Seniors
who still need to order a cap & gown should contact Jostens at (810) 658-1700.
 Ticket Distribution: Each senior will receive 6 tickets for graduation.
 Post-Grad T-Shirt Distribution: For seniors who purchased a Post-Grad ticket.
2. Thursday, May 28th (9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.) at Perani Arena.
This is a mandatory graduation rehearsal on the morning of commencement.
ALL students planning to participate in commencement must attend BOTH of these activities unless
prior approval by the building principal.
Graduation Ceremony Marching Order: Seniors will be given an index card at the April senior
meeting and can request to sit together at graduation with a maximum of 4 students. All seating
requests are due by Wednesday, May 13th in the main office. If students don’t have a preference, a
card does not need to be turned in and students will be seated randomly. Students with a GPA of 4.0
and higher will be seated in the first two rows at commencement, unless they see Mrs. Wray by
Wednesday, May 13th and ask for other seating arrangements.
Discipline/Requirements: Any student on active suspension will not be allowed to participate in
commencement. Any student with less than 23 credits will not be allowed to participate in any
graduation activity. Those students with 23 or 23.5 credits must register and pay for summer school by
noon on Tuesday, May 26th to participate in the graduation ceremony and post grad.
Commencement: Thursday, May 28th, will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. and lasts approximately 2
hours. Students are expected to report to the Perani Arena no later than 5:45 p.m. Please consider
carpooling to the Arena as the parking lot gets quite congested. In addition, it costs $5.00 to park per
car.
Students will be limited to 6 tickets for friends and family to attend commencement, due to seating
capacity and a large graduating class. Reminder – This is a formal event. It is suggested to not bring
children younger than 5 as they can be distracting during the ceremony. Please do not bring horns or
other noise makers.
Student Dress for Commencement: Boys should wear a shirt with tie and girls should wear a
dress/skirt (no jeans or shorts). Boys and girls should wear dress shoes (no tennis shoes, flip flops.)
There should be nothing on the gown or cap (i.e. pins, signs, tape, flowers, etc.) and no sunglasses.
Post Grad Celebration: This has been a tradition in the Grand Blanc community for 32 years. The
celebration will begin at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28th and will conclude at 3:00 a.m. Students must
be in the building by 10:30 p.m. for admittance.
Ticket prices are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets for the post-grad celebration will be on
sale:
 April 22, & 24 during all lunches at East Campus (free t-shirt included)
 After school on May 4th in hallway outside the Guidance Office (last day for free t-shirt)
 During the mandatory senior checkout on May 27th (t-shirt not included with ticket)
 During graduation practice at Perani Arena from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (t-shirt not included with
ticket)
 At entrance to the Post Grad party from 9:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. (Tickets are $30 at the door and tshirt not included with ticket)
To pay by credit card visit the PaySchools tab on the Grand Blanc Schools website
(www.grandblancschools.org) on or before May 4th. Tickets may be purchased by check or cash
anytime in the main office at East Campus or at any of the above sale dates.
Seniors must purchase their Post-Grad ticket by May 4th to receive a free t-shirt.
All students attending are eligible for door prizes but must be present to win. Only students participating
in commencement will be allowed to attend the post grad celebration.
The post grad committee has been planning this party since October. Parents are needed and invited
to join in working the celebration. Please contact Tammy Kenebrew at tsk.7374@gmail.com or 810874-2819 or Tracy Harris at tracy.harris12@yahoo.com or 810-938-0108 to volunteer. The celebration
needs all the support you can help provide.
Diplomas: Diplomas will be mailed home after graduation. If you have moved in the last year, please
be sure we have your current address on file. Keep in mind, all fines must be paid in order to receive
your diploma.
Class of 2015 DVD Order Form
The Class of 2015 DVD is available for purchase for $20. It contains the Senior Honors Night and
Graduation. The DVD will be mailed to the student’s home in July. Please return this slip to the main
office with cash or a check made out to Grand Blanc High School. To pay by credit card, the DVD may
be ordered on line through Pay Schools. Go to the high school web page and click on Pay Schools.
Student Name
__________________________________ID # __________________
Home Address ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________