HIGHLAND HIGH SENIOR SCOOP
2021 GRADUATION EDITION
***COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION***
Highland High School CLASS OF 2021
To help ensure a smooth senior year finish, it is important that seniors do all of the following:
attend all classes and maintain passing grades;
finish online classes and submit transcripts by May 7, 2021;
complete all discipline assignments in a timely manner;
and clear themselves by May 7 through the Bookstore and Library (books & fees), and possibly athletics, and/or music (uniforms/equipment).
BACCALAUREATE
Baccalaureate ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., at Hawk Stadium.
This will be the first time that HHS Baccalaureate has been held outdoors. During this event, the HHS Choir and Orchestra will perform, and HHS Teacher Michael Sassi, who was selected by the senior class as this year’s featured Baccalaureate speaker, will deliver his message to the Class of 2021. The Class of 2021 has also asked Principal Melinda Murphy to say few words.
Due to pandemic-related capacity restrictions, we are planning FOUR (4) in-person tickets per graduate. The event will be livestreamed as well.
--> Link to 2021 HHS BACCALAUREATE Livestream Broadcast
All tickets will be issued to students via their Gilbert Schools EMAIL address and must be presented at the gate (can be digital or hard copy) for admission into the event.
NOTE: Baccalaureate tickets were issue on 5/17/21 through PurplePass Ticketing - Print at Home.
OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:
Students who plan to participate should be dressed in their graduation cap, gown, and tassel and meet in Hawk Hall no later than 6:15 p.m. for the 7:00 p.m. ceremony.
Class of 2021 attendees (seniors) will be seated in the center section of the home (west) bleachers. Parents and guests will be seated on either side of them. Choir and orchestra will be staged on the football field, near the 50-yard line, facing the home side bleachers.
Guests will not be allowed on the football field at the conclusion of the event. After the ceremony, the recessional will exit out to the west, behind the homeside bleachers, and families/guests will reunite with their seniors outside the stadium.
Although guest attendance is limited, we will be live streaming the event so that those family members and friends unable to attend can still watch online from the comfort of their own homes. The link will be shared via email and on social media prior to the event.
In order to optimize network capacity for live streaming, we kindly ask that you switch your phones to “airplane mode” during the ceremony. You are still welcome to capture content; however, we ask that you refrain from posting to social media until after the event has ended.
Limited handicapped seating will be available for ticket holders if necessary. Please call 480-813-0051 x4057 or email tricia.trejo@gilbertschools.net to request/reserve special seating by May 14, 2021, so that we can do our best to make arrangements in order to accommodate your specific needs.
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Graduation REHEARSAL will be on Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 6:45 am, in Hawk stadium.
Rehearsal is MANDATORY; seniors must be in attendance and on time in order to participate in commencement.
The room and seating assignments for Graduation will be posted by May 20th in the Office, Hawk Hall, and the Bookstore.
Seniors, please see Mr. Neal, Assistant Principal, with any questions.
Graduation CEREMONY (Commencement) will be Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Students report to assigned rooms at 6:00 p.m.
Students not in rooms at this time may NOT be allowed to walk.
Keep in mind, graduation night traffic will be heavy, so please give yourself extra time.
NOTE: Due to pandemic-related capacity restrictions, we are planning SIX (6) in-person tickets per graduate. The event will be livestreamed as well.
--> Link to 2021 HHS GRADUATION Livestream Broadcast
All tickets will be issued to students via their Gilbert Schools EMAIL address and must be presented at the gate (can be digital or hard copy) for admission into the event.
NOTE: Graduation tickets will be issued on 5/21/21 through PurplePass Ticketing - Print at Home.
GRADUATION NIGHT Procedures & Expectations
Procedure
Graduates must report to their assigned classrooms by 6:00 p.m. and check in with the line leader.
Graduates will then assemble in Hawk Hall.
The graduation procession will walk south from Hawk Hall, toward the stadium, where they will split into two lines to walk through the “Walk of Honor” from each side of the field while the traditional bagpipe band leads them onto the field.
The ceremony begins with presentations from the Honor Guard, HHS choir, and HHS band.
Diplomas will be distributed as follows:
One full West and East row will stand and move out to line up along the field approaching the appropriate side of the speaker’s platform. At the direction of the line leader and usher, rows will stand and proceed to these lines.
Student Council names will be called and then students seated in the first couple of rows due to specific honors such as Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Top 2%, etc. From there, the Senior names will be called in alphabetical order, alternating with one senior from the West and one senior from the East, until all diplomas have been awarded. ,
When a graduate’s name is called, they will step onto the platform and receive their diploma. Once all graduates have received their diplomas and have returned to their chairs, the Senior Class President will direct graduates to move their tassels from RIGHT to LEFT.
When the ceremony is over, line leaders will distribute diploma inserts. Immunization records will be included with the diploma insert. KEEP this record, DO NOT throw it away.
Attire
All All Graduates will wear black caps and gowns. Graduation caps and gowns must be purchased through Jostens to ensure continuity/uniformity of Graduation attire. Contact Jostens at www.jostens.com or 602-765-7227 or visit the Bookstore if you have not placed your order.
Gown, Hood, Cap, & Tassel–Your tassel should be placed on the RIGHT side of your cap. Caps are not to be altered in any manner. Bring bobby pins to hold your cap in place if necessary.
Gentlemen – Shirt, dress pants, socks, and dress shoes required.
Ladies – Dresses, or blouse and dress pants, with dress shoes required.
No jeans, shorts, or flip-flops are permitted.
Students dressed inappropriately will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony.
Student Behavior
Please conduct yourself in a respectable manner, representing yourself, your family, your school, and your community in a positive way of which we can all be proud.
Students with inappropriate objects (balloons, beach balls, signs, noisemakers, etc…) in their possession will have the object confiscated and/or the student will be removed from the ceremony.
Students seeking to disrupt the ceremony in any way will be removed by Gilbert Police and security.
Students smelling of/or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, etc. may not participate in the ceremony and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with District policy.
Additional Information for Parents/Families:
Professional photographs will be taken by GradImages, the official photographer for our graduation. Each graduate will be photographed as he/she receives his/her diploma cover. Proofs of the pictures will be available for viewing at www.gradimages.com.
Because noisemakers often interfere with being able to hear names of fellow students, the Senior Class has requested that no noisemakers be used at their graduation ceremony. Thank you for supporting their request.
Both sides of the stadium will be open for seating of parents, relatives, and friends.
Although guest attendance is limited, we will be live streaming the event so that those family members and friends unable to attend can still watch online from the comfort of their own homes. The link will be shared via email and on social media prior to the event.
The auditorium will be open and air-conditioned as another seating option (ticket required for admission), where the event will be live streamed for viewing.
In order to optimize network capacity for live streaming, we kindly ask that you switch your phones to “airplane mode” during the ceremony. You are still welcome to capture content; however, we ask that you refrain from posting to social media until after the event has ended.
Limited handicapped seating will be available on the track tor ticket holders if necessary. Please call 480-813-0051 x4057 or email tricia.trejo@gilbertschools.net to request/reserve special seating by May 14, 2021, so that we can do our best to make arrangements in order to accommodate your specific needs.
IMPORTANT DATES
April 9 - Jostens Cap & Gown order distributions - 10:00am-12:30pm - Visit Bookstore if you missed it.
April 14 - Last day to order Senior Yard Signs
April 15 - Final Cap & Gown order deadline for phone/online - Visit Bookstore if you missed it.
May 3-25 - AP Testing - AM & PM sessions as scheduled
May 7 - Deadline for finishing online classes & submitting transcripts
May 8 - Senior Gala (and senior slideshow!) - 7:00 - 9:00 PM - Hawk Stadium
May 13 - Senior Recognition & Scholarship Awards Reception (students only) - Cafeteria for breakfast (virtual presentation sent out and/or available on website)
May 21 - Senior Final Exams - A, 7th hour - Assigned Rooms
May 23 - Baccalaureate (Seniors arrive by 6:15pm – Hawk Hall in cap & gown attire) - 7:00pm - Hawk Stadium
May 24 - Senior Final Exams - A, 4th, 5th, 6th hours - Assigned Rooms
May 25 - Senior Final Exams -1st, 2nd, & 3rd hours (Chromebooks & chargers turned in) - Assigned Rooms
May 26 - No School for Seniors - All day
May 27 - MANDATORY Graduation Rehearsal - 6:45 am - Hawk Stadium
May 27 - GRADUATION CEREMONY - (Seniors arrive by 6:00 pm, in cap & gown attire, report to assigned rm.) - 7:00 pm - Hawk Stadium
If you should have any questions, please call Tricia Trejo, at 480-813-0051, x4057.
Thank you,
Reese Neal
Assistant Principal, Seniors
"What if I still need a cap & gown?"
Jostens is no longer taking orders online or by phone, so if you missed the deadline to order your cap and gown, you must either
- A) pay cash in the HHS Bookstore (while supplies last), or
- B) purchase directly from Jostens at 21023 N. Cave Creek Road, Suite #1, Phoenix, AZ 85024. They are open Monday - Friday / 10:00am - 5:00pm.
Senior Checklist from the Counseling Department
Class of 2021: Senior Exit Survey - IMPORTANT!
In order to make sure we do not miss anything, WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you have not yet done so, we will need you to complete the Senior Exit survey to let us know about your plans after high school, as well as any awards, grants, scholarships, or other significant recognitions or honors you have received. And don't worry--you will be able to go back in and update your entry if anything else newsworthy comes your way in the weeks leading up to graduation.
SENIORS! Join us May 8 for a "Night At the Oscars"!
2021 HHS VALEDICTORIAN & CO-SALUTATORIANS
2021 Spirit of the Hawk Senior Speaker
The title of Spirit of the Hawk Senior Speaker is an honor bestowed by HHS faculty and staff on a senior student who embodies what it means to rise and S.O.A.R. by exhibiting Highland High School’s core beliefs of Service, Opportunity, Accountability, and Respect, both in and out of the classroom. Out of a pool of amazing senior students nominated by HHS faculty and staff for this honor, Tieyah Rosier stood out just above the rest when the final votes were tallied.
Congratulations to Tieyah, our 2021 Spirit of the Hawk Senior Speaker!
And congratulations as well to all other nominees--thank you for demonstrating daily what it means to be a Hawk. We are proud of you!
HONORABLE MENTION:
Hanaan Abdulle
Nicole Biscoe
Cannon Booker
Cooper Brown
Katie Collins
Max Davis
Brenna Faul
Jake Stitcher
Qaisar Sulaiman
Monse Villicana
College National Signing Day - May 1!
Contact Highland's Career Resources
Mrs. Ward
http://sites.google.com/gilbertschools.net/mrs-francia-ward/homeJoin the College & Career Google Classroom - anuoe3q
Did you know that if your unweighted GPA is 3.25 or higher, you qualify for the President's Honors Scholarship at any Maricopa Community College Online Application for Presidents' Honors Scholarship
Apprenticeship Programs in AZ - Earn while you learn
Military Options - Talk with a recruiter MEPS Career Exploration
YEARBOOK
***** Message from the Registrar *****
How To Request Transcripts
The following information is the procedure when requesting transcripts:
If you are a current senior, please fill out the Transcript Release Form and return it to the registrar's office.
If you are a former graduate in need of your official transcript to be sent to a University/College you must provide the following information:
- full name when you attended HHS
- complete date of birth
- year you graduated
- the name and address of the University/College
** Processing time is 48 business hours.
Parchment.com is also available to send transcripts. Simply create an account and you can then make requests through their website.
**Parchment.com charges a small fee of $4.15 per official transcript and can be sent out within 24-48 hours electronically.
Please note per GPS policy: In order for a transcript to be considered official, it must be mailed directly to the college or institution. Also, HHS does not have copies of diplomas and cannot create a duplicate. If you need to prove that you have graduated, you can use your transcript. Your date of graduation is shown on the transcript.
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