Graduation Information

Graduation practice is REQUIRED! No excuses, no exceptions. Practice will be on Thursday, May 21st from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Hope Presbyterian Church. If you are late for graduation practice, you may not be able to participate in commencement.

Remember that you must clear all school debts by Tuesday, May 19th in Ms. Lightfoot’s office. Fines for books, uniforms, summer school or any debt to SCS must be cleared in order to participate in graduation.

NO PERSONAL CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Only cash or money orders will be accepted as payments for financial obligations.

Directions to Hope Presbyterian Church at 8500 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN are included in this packet.
Directions from Highway 51 North / Woodstock area and
Directions from the City of Millington area

All students should use entrance #3 to the gym practice area.
Students should be in their graduation seats in the practice hall at 10:00.

See Ms. Werner if there is concern over the pronunciation of your name.

The class president, valedictorian, and salutatorian will practice speeches after the general class practice.

Graduation Day

Commencement is Thursday, May 21st at 7:00 P.M. You should be at the church by 6:00 and report to your homeroom section in the gym practice area. Do not be late!

Wear your caps and gowns to the church. Under the gowns wear the following:

Ladies must wear a dress, which does not show below the gown or dark slacks. Wear shoes, dark in color and secure for safety. You will go up and down several stairs.

Gentlemen must wear dark pants, a light shirt with tie, dark dress shoes, and dark socks.

NO additional shawls, ropes, pins, lei of flowers, etc. may be worn during graduation ceremony. Only the MCHS National Honor Society and National Beta Members will wear honor shawls or special tassels.

You will not be permitted to march should you select inappropriate dress such as sneakers, blue jeans, sandals, etc. Senior sponsors will check for proper attire.

Remember graduation is a school function. The school pays for the ceremony and the school allows you to participate. Proper behavior and proper dress are expected if you desire to participate. Seniors, remind your family and friends that this ceremony is a time of dignity and respect. No balloons, gift boxes, air guns, etc, will be allowed in the church. Regular security check is at the church entrance. Please check to see that your parents have received their “letter to parents” which explains these procedures.

No parent or guest will be allowed on the floor level with the graduates for pictures during the ceremony. The aisles in the upper levels will be kept clear at all times during the ceremony.

Holland Studio will photograph every graduate. These proofs will be available on their web site the following week along with the 2009 class picture. Go to www.hollandstudio.net, click on the link for passwords, and enter your school password mchsgrad09 to order a graduation photo if you so desire.

You will have a note card printed with your name to be called for Commencement.
No nicknames! Students will give this name card to the administrator before the announcer’s podium.

The class valedictorian, salutatorian and president will lead the class into the auditorium and then march to their seats on the stage. Remain standing as the class marches in.

After the valedictory speech, students on the stage will return to the floor and join their class. At this point the class will be asked to stand and will formally be presented to the attending board members.

The front row will be signaled to stand. When the valedictorian, salutatorian, and class officers start to the podium, the first row will follow.
As each row receives diploma, watch for your row’s signal to stand. All other class members will repeat and follow.

Upon receiving your diploma cover, return to your seat and remain standing until everyone in your row is ready to be seated. When the fifth person from the end of the preceding row starts across the stage, the next row will be signaled to stand and move to the steps. Be respectful of fellow classmates do not talk and remain focused on the stage as the ceremony continues.

Students who dance, strut, use inappropriate hand gestures, or do anything to degrade the ceremony will be escorted out of the ceremony and will not receive a diploma.

When all class members have received their “diploma cover,” the closing words will be given.

Within 20 minutes after the close of commencement, (long enough to take pictures) graduates should report to their homeroom teacher in the gym practice area and return their gowns. National Honor Society members must return the borrowed pendants to Mr. Price after the ceremony. IF BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN ACCEPTABLE, you will receive a packet containing your diploma, health records, commencement program, and other school records.

Guests in wheelchairs, or handicapping conditions will be seated on the handicap level with a companion accompanying them. The handicap entrance to the church is from the front entrance.