Senior Graduation Packet

Email:

Dr. Denson

Ms. Marshall

Ms. Malloy

Dr. Robinson

April Events/Dates:  

• Cap & Gown Distribution in the Commons during all lunches.
• Parent & Family Letters to Senior Graduates
• Class of 2025 Senior Week
• Senior Breakfast Celebration in the Commons 
• South Gwinnett Prom - Sat., 4/19 at Ventanas from 7 - 11 PM

May Events/Dates:

• Six Flags Grad Night - Fri., 5/2 8 PM - 3 AM
• Awards Night - TBD Church on Main - Students arrive 5:00 PM, Guests arrive 6:00 PM
• Senior Final Exams 
• Senior Class Walk and Yearbook Signing- Senior Students Only.
• Graduation Practice @ South Gwinnett, A-Gym. TBD from 8:30 AM to 1 PM.
• Graduation at Gas South Arena - Sat., 5/24 at 7:30 PM

Due to limited seating, 2025 Graduates receive 10 tickets. Practice is Mandatory for all participating graduates. Specific instructions will be shared at practice. Please note that Graduates MUST arrive 2 hours prior to the event, or they will not be able to walk.

Graduation is a time for reflection and praise for the successful completion of this important phase of life. As we go through this celebratory season, we want all events to be treated with dignity and respect. All Seniors should be afforded the honor and prestige that comes with this distinguished life achievement. We appreciate the cooperation and support from all South Gwinnett stakeholders.

Seniors have access to a wealth of information on the 12th Grade eClass Page. Please encourage your child to visit their eClass to obtain information and answers to questions.

If you have any questions or concerns about cap and gown or any other purchased items, please contact Scholastic directly via Scholastic Images or call 770-614-9353. Any other inquires or concerns, email porsha.denson@gcpsk12.org, jimmesse.marshall@gcpsk12.org, traci.malloy@gcpsk12.org, or lawrence.robinson@gcpsk12.org.

This year, South will continue a tradition for its seniors. We will host a Senior Walk on (DATE TBD) during 8th period. The Senior Walk will be a ceremonial “last” time through the halls for our seniors. They will don their cap and gowns and take a walk around the campus. As they take their ceremonial walk through the halls, our staff and underclassmen will get the opportunity to recognize our successful seniors.

As seniors will be bringing their caps and gowns to school on this day, we ask all to treat these garments with care. The school will not be responsible for lost or damaged items! In order to participate in the senior walk, senior dues will have to be paid by April 20th. No exceptions will be made if this deadline is not met. For security purposes, parents and friends will not be allowed on campus to view this event. However, we will have our photography students take pictures and record portions of this occasion for later viewing. 

Please understand everything is subject to change according to District Mandates.

Q. What IS a Senior Letter?
A. Senior Letters are positive letters written to seniors. This is not a time for seniors to write letters to underclassmen.

Q. When are letters due?
A. April 18th. If after the deadline, please deliver directly to your Senior.

Q. What kinds of things can I write about in a senior letter?
A. There are many acceptable topics for senior letters. These include:
● Congratulating the senior on graduating
● Wishing the senior well in his/her next phase of life (college, military, career)
● Reminiscing on fond memories (childhood, school, social gatherings, etc…)

Q. How do I write a senior letter?
A. Senior letters may be written on notebook paper, colored paper, stationary, cards, etc…
*All cards/letters must be able to fit in a standard 9x12 envelope.

Q. Who can write letters?
A. Parents/Guardians, siblings, grandparents, extended family, friends, coaches, mentors, etc…

Q. Can people send items other than letters?
A. No. If someone wants to send money, gift cards, photobooks/albums, gifts, or other items,
please have them sent directly to your address.

Q. Who reads the senior letters?
A. Senior letters are delivered to students unopened. The only time we open a letter is when the
information on the outside does NOT allow us to determine who should receive the letter.

Q. How to get letters to South?
A. Place in an envelope with the Student’s Legal First & Last Names. ● Nicknames = not being able to identify the intended recipient.  May be dropped off or mailed:
● Dropping off: Turn in to the Front Office
● Mailing: Address the envelope:
Student’s Legal First & Last Names
c/o Olya Keys
2288 East Main Street
Snellville, GA 30078 ❖ Letters may not be emailed.

Q. When will students receive the letters?
A. During Senior Week: Friday, April 25th.

Thank you for your continued support of your senior
and South Gwinnett High School.

Seniors only may exempt final exams in the Spring semester of their graduating year provided the following criteria have been met:

• A student has been named as an honor graduate.
   
• The student must have an average of 90 or above going into the final.
   
• No arbitration board will exist for “special cases.”
   
• Advanced Placement, EOC classes and County District Exam Finals are not automatically exempt from finals due to their AP Exam/EOC and Gwinnett county test requirement.

CAP & GOWN

• The graduation gown should be removed from its individual package as soon as it is received so wrinkles will fall out. Only use a cool iron if necessary.
• The collar, which is provided in the package for ladies, will NOT be worn.
• Flowers and pins are not appropriate to be worn on graduation gowns.
• Caps should be placed on the head so that the mortarboard is level.  The front of the cap is indicated on the inside of the crown.  Caps are never worn on the back of the head.  For graduation, caps should be worn parallel to the ground with the point in the center of the forehead.  Hats should be affixed with bobby pins.  This point applies for both boys and girls.  Tassels should be positioned on the left.  Minimal jewelry should be worn.
• Write your name on the inside of your cap.
• Tops of your cap should not be altered or bedazzled to include names or messages.

 ATTIRE

Ladies:  

• Lightweight dress or skirt & blouse (without a high neckline)
• Dresses/skirts should not hang below the gown
• Appropriate dress shoes. No flip-flops, extremely high heels (more than 3 in) or tennis shoes.
• We strongly recommend comfortable dress shoes as you will be standing in the tunnels of the Arena for over an hour.

Men:

• A white/light-colored dress shirt with a collar and a dark tie.
• Dark dress pants & dark socks.
• Appropriate dark dress shoes. 
• No flip-flops or tennis shoes.
• Blue jeans will not be allowed and, if worn, students will be required to change.

__________________________________________

A check for proper attire will be made prior to marching. If you do not wear acceptable attire, you will be pulled from the line.

Honor Graduates should remember to wear their stoles.

Cords are worn by National Honor Society members, Beta Club members & AP Grads.

Cell phones are NOT ALLOWED for students to bring to the graduation ceremony.  Students should leave their cell phones (along with any other valuables) at home or in their cars. All cell phones will be collected prior to the ceremony, placed in a bag and available for pick up on the MONDAY AFTER the ceremony.

The Alma Mater will be sung during commencement.
Students are asked to know and participate in the singing.

Hail to thee our alma mater                                                               

Ever may she rule.

Reigning high above all others

South Gwinnett our school.

CHORUS:

                Alma mater, alma mater

                Greater grows each day.

                South Gwinnett we love and honor

                Hail the blue and gray.

Sands of time are slowly drifting

Passing from our view.

Be a beacon to our future

South we all love you.

CHORUS:

                Alma mater, alma mater

                Greater grows each day.

                South Gwinnett we love and honor

                Hail the blue and gray.

• Proper behavior is expected of South Gwinnett High School students at all times.  Seniors are reminded that they are subject to the same rules and regulations while participating in any school activity (i.e. graduation at the Arena) as they are when on school property.  We would hate to see seniors place themselves in a position that would bring embarrassment to them and their family and jeopardize their eligibility to participate in senior activities or commencement ceremonies.
   
• Graduation ceremonies are conducted with a formal atmosphere.
   
• ALL seniors are expected to be at graduation practice. The practice will be held on Thurs., May 23rd, from 8:30 AM to 1 PM in the A-Gym.  Tickets will be distributed after practice!  Any senior who does not attend practice will NOT be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.  Students should notify their employer now that they are REQUIRED to attend graduation practice.
   
• STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING CELL PHONES TO THE GRADUATION CEREMONY!  Students should leave their cell phones (along with any other valuables) at home or in their cars.
   
• Classes will be in session during all special senior activities.  Please be respectful of the learning environment and exhibit appropriate behavior.  Appropriate school attire is required any time you are on school property.  Please make sure that you are dressed appropriately for all activities.
   
• Students are expected to meet their responsibilities and obligations. All delinquent obligations (detentions not served, library fines, parking fines, fines owed for lost books, class dues, etc.) must be cleared prior to graduation practice for the student to be allowed to participate in graduation.  It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have the proper number of credits to graduate and that all obligations have been met.
   
• Admission for graduation will be by ticket only.  Tickets will be issued after graduation practice.  If tickets are lost, stolen or damaged, additional tickets will not be issued.
   
• Each student will be issued 10 tickets for graduation.  Graduates do NOT need a ticket for admission.  Anyone three years of age and older must have a ticket for admission. 
   
• The Arena will open its doors for seating one hour prior to the graduation ceremony time.  Directions to the Arena at Gwinnett Center may be found by visiting the Arena Website (Parking).
   
• The Arena will be crowded, so we ask that guests remain at their seats and refrain from taking pictures as the graduates enter.  Photographs will be taken of each graduate as he/she receives his/her diploma.  These will be available to each graduate for purchase.  You will receive a proof and information in the mail about the purchase of these pictures from the photographer following the graduation ceremony.
   
• Graduation is a very important time for all seniors.  They have worked hard to reach this point, and they would like for this to be a very special ceremony with appropriate behavior from all who attend.  One of our primary goals this year is to improve the decorum of the graduation ceremony.  Seating will be by ticket only.  We hope that all spectators will observe proper etiquette for the occasion. 
  
  Thank you for your cooperation.