Class of 2023
Year End "To Dos," Awards Day & Graduation
It's Almost May!
This newsletter has important information and things for you to do as you finish your senior year of high school. Awards Day, semester exams and Graduation are approaching quickly! Keep working hard Class of 2023...you're almost to the finish line!
Academics and Semester Exams
If you have 3 or fewer absences in a class and are passing the class, you are exempt from the final exam. If you are required to take semester exams, they are worth 15% of your grade. Do not skip taking them or you might end up failing a class. The schedule is as follows:
May 15 - 4th, 6th, 8th periods
May 16 - 2nd, 5th, 7th periods
May 17 - 1st period
May 18 - Make up day for semester exams and missing work
If you are completely finished with everything, you do not have to come to school May 18th. I encourage you to NOT procrastinate as it will get difficult to stay focused the closer we get to the end of the year. Attend school and get your work turned in so you can graduate on May 19th!
Request Refund for Unused Cafeteria Funds (or Donate them)
If you have unused cafeteria funds, contact Central Office at 423-775-7814 (Debbie or Melanie) and request a refund. If a senior is over 18, they or their parent/guardian are able to request the refund. If the senior is under 18, only the parent/guardian can request the refund. Central office will issue the refund request and Finance will mail the student or parent/guardian a check.
If you prefer to donate the unused funds to a sibling, family member, and or friend, that can be done at https://family.titank12.com/ or you can call Central Office and they can help you with that.
If a refund is not requested by May 10, 2023, all monies left in the account will be turned over to https://treasury.tn.gov/Unclaimed-Property/Claim-Unclaimed-Property/Find-Your-Missing-Money.
Senior Tribute and Casual Photos
If you or your parents submitted physical photos to the yearbook for senior tributes and/or casuals, see Mr. Marsh ASAP to retrieve what belongs to you. We want you to have these photos!
Chromebooks and Yearbooks
Chromebooks and chargers for seniors will be collected on Wednesday, May 10th. Be prepared to cover the cost for damaged or lost Chromebooks. If you have lost the charger, you will have to pay $25 to cover the replacement cost. A hold will be placed on your diploma if either of these items are not turned in or paid for.
Also on May 10th, Yearbooks will be distributed starting with Seniors.
TN Promise Community Service
If you are using TN Promise, submit your community service hours by July 1, 2023 here:
https://tnachieves.org/community-service/submit-cs-hours/
More information about TN Promise requirements can be found here:
College Choice
Make sure you have the correct institution listed in your TSAC Portal and FAFSA.
- TSAC Portal - TSAC will look at the college in your TSAC student portal to determine where to apply your state and/or federal funding so it is VERY important to have the correct college listed. Go to https://clipslink.tsac.tn.gov/studentsignon/ to login. You have a username and password you created to complete the TN Promise application. If you do not remember your login information, contact TSAC at 1-800-342-1663.
- FAFSA - You need to have your college choice listed (preferably in the first position) in your FAFSA. Go to studentaid.gov and login with your FSA ID and password. You can view or make corrections to your 2023-2024 FAFSA to make sure your college choice is listed in the first position.
HOPE Scholarship and GAMS
There is no application for HOPE or GAMS. You just have to complete a FAFSA.
- Eligibility for HOPE Scholarship is 21 ACT OR 3.0 Final GPA (unweighted)
- Eligibility for GAMS is 29 ACT AND 3.75 Final GPA (unweighted)
If you have the 21 ACT, HOPE Scholarship should already be listed on your financial aid award letter. If you are waiting on your final GPA for eligibility, HOPE will not show up until the summer, after I have submitted final GPAs to the state of Tennessee. If you have the 29 ACT, GAMS also will not show up until after I submit final GPAs. I will submit final GPAs a week after graduation.
Senior Fees
Caps & Gowns
When you get your cap and gown, take it out of the packaging, make sure it is the correct size and hang it up. You want to get the wrinkles out so it looks nice for graduation. You can take an iron to it, but be careful (use a low setting and put a pillowcase between the iron and the gown) as the material is very thin and you don't want to burn through it. You can also put it in the dryer with a damp towel and tumble dry it for 10 minutes or so. We do not use the white collar piece that comes with the gown.
Many students decorate the tops of their caps. This is fine as long as you only decorate the top flat mortar board part of the graduation cap. Nothing can be hanging down below the mortar board. Designs must be school appropriate.
Tassels and Cords
If you have earned any tassels or cords (i.e. RCAC, Industry Certification, Honors, Distinction), you will pick these up after the Awards Day Program. There will be a table set up in the Commons or outside the main entrance to the high school. We will hand you an envelope with your name on it that has what you earned inside. If you earned a tassel, you will wear that one instead of the RCHS green and gold tassel that came with your cap and gown. Cords are worn over your graduation gown.
Awards Day - May 12, 2023 at 9:00am
College Signing Day - May 12, 2023
Graduation Practice - May 19, 2023 at 8:00am
We will begin graduation practice at 8:00am (don't be late) on May 19th. Be at school at that time with your cap and gown (wrinkle free). A class picture will be taken at the football stadium and then the graduation committee will walk you through graduation so you can practice it from start to finish.
We recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes to graduation practice. Keep in mind the ground may be wet from dew, so pick shoes accordingly. Bring water and wear sunscreen or a hat in case it is sunny so you don't get sunburnt. If all goes well, we should be finished with graduation practice by 11:30am. You must attend graduation practice in order to walk at graduation that evening.
Graduation Walk - May 19, 2023 at 1:00pm
Graduation - May 19, 2023 at 7:00pm
The Class of 2023 Commencement Program will be held at 7:00pm on May 19, 2023 at Eagle Stadium on Bill Horton Field. There is not a limit on how many guests can attend. The stadium gates will open to all guests at 6:00pm. Each senior will be given 4 tickets to give to 4 guests who will be allowed to enter the stadium early at 5:00pm.
Seniors who want individual graduation pictures taken by Lifetouch need to arrive at the high school at 5:30pm. Otherwise, seniors need to report to the high school at 6:00pm with your Cap and Gown (wrinkle free). Seniors will line up in the gymnasium and roll call will be taken at 6:30pm. The ceremony begins at 7:00pm.
Dress nicely for graduation. For guys, dress shirts with a tie look best under the gown with dress pants. Girls look best in a dress or dress pants. Wear comfortable shoes so you do not trip. Heels may sink into the ground on the football field and you will have a lot of walking to do.
Graduation Envelope - Diploma and Final Transcript
You will receive a graduation envelope after you walk across the stage. Inside you will find your diploma, unofficial final transcript, final grade card and other items. You will have one week to review your transcript and let us know if you have any questions. After that, transcripts are finalized, signed and scanned as an official final transcript. If you have any holds (i.e. unpaid senior fees, Chromebook or charger, library books due, band fees owed, etc.), your diploma will not be in your envelope. Make sure to take care of all these things so you can receive your diploma at graduation.
There will be a bright pink "How to Request Your Final Transcript" paper inside your graduation envelope. These are instructions for ScribOrder, the online transcript request at https://rheatn.scriborder.com/. DO NOT REQUEST A FINAL TRANSCRIPT UNTIL AFTER GRADUATION. You are still a current student until September 1, 2023 and can click the backpack icon until that date so you do not have to pay for this service. Submit your transcript request within a week or two of graduation or there might be a delay in getting it processed. Our registrar works limited hours over the summer. You want to request your transcript to be sent right away as colleges need your final transcript to allow you to sign up for classes.