Sanderson High School Class of 2022 Graduation Handbook

Friday, June 10, 2022

8:00 p.m.

Raleigh Convention Center

These ceremonies are joyous occasions and we are intent on maintaining the dignity and integrity  associated with honoring our graduates.  Help us in this respect by reviewing our policies in this handbook for etiquette and appropriate dress with your child.

 Congratulations on your child's achievement!  

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Sanderson High School Administration

Information for Families and Graduates

Tickets

Seniors can pick up the tickets at school June 1-3 in the main office before and after school.

(Please note: All candidates for graduation will receive their tickets when ALL FINES AND FEES OWED TO WCPSS AND SHS have been cleared.  Receiving a ticket does not mean you have completed all requirements for graduation. You must still pass required classes and required exams.)

Admission to graduation will be by ticket only. Each graduating student will receive EIGHT (8) tickets for guests.  All guests require a ticket to attend the ceremony, no matter their age. Any WCPSS employee with a graduating senior must also have a ticket. We do not have extra tickets to distribute (extra tickets are not available from the school, WCPSS Central Offices, or at the ticket booth at the Convention Center.)

Seating is first-come, first-served.

Guests not able to attend the ceremony can view it via live streaming on our website at Livestream Link

Parking & Arrival

Raleigh Convention Center - 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Convention Center Parking and Accessibility information - https://www.raleighconvention.com/directions

Convention Center parking is $10.00

Allow plenty of extra time for your arrival as parking is extremely limited. There are other scheduled events at the Convention Center and surrounding venues at the same time as our ceremony which will have a significant impact on parking in the area. Please consider riding together with other family members to limit the number of vehicles. The commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m. Doors will open for ticketed guests 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Ceremony Etiquette

To be sure that we have a beautiful ceremony for your graduate, we ask that you please respect the following guidelines:

• Due to limited seating, please be sure to only bring necessary items.

• Strollers are not permitted in the seating area.  They must be left along the wall.
• Items not permitted into the event:

• Signs
• Balloons
• Noise makers
• Food

• To be sure each family gets to hear their child’s name and see them walk across the stage, we ask that all guests please adhere to the following rules:

• No shouting or cheering when your graduate's name is called. Names are called in quick succession and if shouting or cheering occurs it will inhibit the family of the next graduate from hearing their student’s name being called.
• Pictures must be taken from a seated position. To be sure that you are not inhibiting the family members seated behind you from getting photos of their graduates.

Graduate Photographs

It will not be possible for guests to take close and personal photographs of your child’s processional, receiving the diploma, or recessional. Lifetouch Photographers will take photos of each student as they walk across the stage. You will have the ability to preview and purchase these photographs after the ceremony.  Information on how to do so will be provided on our website.

Post Ceremony

After the ceremony, the graduates recess to the area behind the stage to receive their diplomas.  Please make arrangements with your child beforehand and choose a location to meet after the ceremony.

Information for Graduates

No personal belongings will be allowed. Leave your bags, phones, and cameras with your family or at home.

No cell phones or electronic devices allowed.

Graduation Attire

• All seniors must wear the Sanderson-approved royal blue cap, gown, and tassel from Jostens.  You cannot participate in the graduation ceremony without wearing both a cap and a gown. (Please let Ms. Pendergraft or your counselor know if you need assistance with acquiring your regalia).
• Be sure that your gown is neatly pressed - no wrinkles!  Steam to release wrinkles, do not iron or the gown will melt!!!!
• Caps are worn straight on your head, with the top parallel to the ground.  Tassels are to be worn on the RIGHT side of the cap until instructed to move them at the conclusion of the ceremony. DECORATED CAPS ARE NOT ALLOWED.
• All seniors also wear stoles that indicate differing levels of academic honors.
• Students in approved academic organizations (National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, JROTC Honor Cadets, International Thespian Society, and Academy of Finance) will receive pins that they will pin to their stoles.  These pins will be provided to you by the teacher adviser prior to graduation.
• No cords or collars  are allowed.

Graduates who do not adhere to these rules and do not wear appropriate attire will be removed from the line and not permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony.

*Please let us know if you are unable to purchase or find any of the acceptable attire items. We will do our best to accommodate you.

Graduate Etiquette

We know that you want this ceremony to be memorable for all of the right reasons. Please be respectful of your fellow classmates and your guests by adhering to the the following rules (violations will result in having your diploma withheld to be picked up at a later date):

• All SHS and WCPSS rules apply to graduation activities.
• No shouting, yelling, pranks or anything that distracts from the ceremony.
• No personal belongings will be allowed (including water bottles, flowers, etc). Leave your bags, cell phones, and cameras with your family or at home.
• Seniors will graduate in alphabetical order.  Upon hearing your name called, each senior will walk across the stage and receive the diploma cover from Principal Dula.  A senior’s name is called approximately every 3-4 seconds.  Since this is a fast paced ceremony, seniors and patrons MUST NOT disrupt the pace with verbal disturbances since this impacts the ability of other parents to hear their child’s name.
• Do not throw or toss graduation caps into the air at the conclusion of the ceremony.

• Write your name in your cap.  Graduates will need to show their cap after the ceremony to receive their  diploma.

Arrival

Raleigh Convention Center - 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Convention Center parking is $10.00

PLAN AHEAD TO ARRIVE ON TIME! (You must be in the convention center  by 7:00 p.m.)

Allow plenty of extra time for your arrival, parking is extremely limited. There are other scheduled events at the Convention Center and surrounding venues at the same time as our ceremony which will have a significant impact on parking in the area. Please consider carpooling with other SHS graduates. Graduates are expected to be in the convention center 1 hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

The commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.

Line up

Go directly to the back stage assembly area. All seniors are to remain in the assigned areas, preparing for the processional. No roaming!  The processional will begin at 8:00 pm sharp - no exceptions!! Late students (arriving after 7:00 pm will not be allowed to join the processional or participate in the ceremony.

Processional & Ceremony Directions

Seniors will graduate in alphabetical order.  A Junior Marshal will lead your row to the podium.  Upon hearing your name called, walk across the stage and receive a diploma cover from Dr. Dula. You will receive your diploma cover by the left hand. Then turn, face the photographer, and move across the stage. Quietly continue down the backstage steps following the line and return to your seat.  Remain standing in your row until your entire section has received diploma covers and the last person has returned.  Watch the Junior Marshal who will signal your row to sit. When graduates exit the ceremony floor, they will recess back to the staging area to pick up their official diplomas in the lobby (remember - you must show your cap with your name inside!)

Prior to Ceremony

Graduation Requirements

All seniors’ final grades will be calculated by June 9th.  School personnel will contact families of those students who did not accomplish the needed credits to receive a diploma.  Receiving your tickets does NOT mean you have completed all requirements for graduation. You must still pass required classes and required exams.

Latin Honors

All high schools determine senior honors using this system based on the GPA at the end of the 1st Semester of the graduating year for students graduating at the end of eight semesters.

• Cum Laude: 3.75 - 3.99 weighted grade point average
• Magna Cum Laude: 4.0 - 4.249 weighted grade point average
• Summa Cum Laude: 4.25 or higher weighted grade point average

Fines and Fees

All seniors are assessed a $35 fee to cover the cost of stoles, diploma covers, and other expenses surrounding graduation. Seniors should check PowerSchool to view any other fines. All financial obligations must be paid in order for you to receive your diploma. All fines and fees are paid online using Online School Payment (https://osp.osmsinc.com/WakeNC/).

Please be sure to check that you have done all of the following:

• Paid senior fee & any other financial obligations
• Returned WCPSS Chromebooks and hotspots (no fines associated with tech items)
• Returned all library books, classroom textbooks, athletic equipment, uniforms, etc.

Final Transcripts

To request your final transcript, either  to be sent to a North Carolina college or university, or to an out of state school, you must make your request using https://wcpss.scriborder.com/.  Graduates will receive an unofficial transcript with their diploma.

Questions?

Upcoming Dates