Graduation Information
Highland High School - Class of 2024
Baccalaureate: A Moment Worth Experiencing
Baccalaureate is a tradition that stems from England in the mid-1400s, where graduates from the prestigious Oxford University gathered to reflect upon their educational journey. While it was originally a religious ceremony, in the United States it has evolved into a non-denominational service where graduates are able to reflect upon their thirteen-year journey in one of their last moments together as a class.
Graduation day itself is a very full day, full of emotions and events, and attended by thousands of family and friends. Because graduation is often a whirlwind which is over before we even realize it has begun, baccalaureate becomes a time where students can more solemnly experience what it means to be a graduate in an uplifting and personalized ceremony. It is truly a moment in their lives that cannot be recreated, and all graduates and their families are encouraged to attend. During this event, the HHS Choir and Orchestra will perform.
Please join us for Baccalaureate on Sunday, May 19th, at 1:00 p.m., or 3:00 p.m., in the HHS Auditorium. Tickets are required. Please have your student check their email for details.
Students who plan to participate should be in Hawk Hall by 12:30 p.m. (for 1:00 p.m. session), or 2:30 p.m. (for 3:00 p.m. session), wearing their gown, hood, cap & tassel.
Graduation Rehearsal
Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 6:50 a.m. in Hawk Stadium. Only students are required to attend.
NOTE: If you are not at rehearsal and on time, you may NOT participate in the ceremony. Please allow yourself plenty of time and arrive on time. The parking lot will be very busy this morning!
Graduation Ceremony
Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in Hawk Stadium. Tickets are not required. Graduates will report to their assigned classrooms no later than 6:00 p.m. Your room assignments will be posted in Hawk Hall starting on Monday, May 20, 2024.
The gates to Hawk Stadium will open at 5:00 p.m. for guests to enter. Guests may not reserve seats.
Appropriate Attire for Graduation
● Gown, Hood, Cap & Tassel (Required) – The Bookstore has some extras for sale.
● Caps may not be altered in any manner. Bring bobby pins for your cap if necessary.
● Gentlemen – Shirt, slacks, socks and dress shoes required. No jeans or shorts are permitted.
● Ladies – Dress or blouse and slacks, and dress shoes required. No jeans or shorts are permitted.
● Students dressed inappropriately will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony.
Additional Information
● Seniors, it is important for you to: Keep your grades up, attend classes, clear yourself through the Bookstore, Library, Athletics and Music (uniforms), complete all discipline assignments and online classes, and participate in the mandatory graduation rehearsal at 6:50 a.m. on May 23, 2024.
● Your immunization record will be in the envelope with your diploma. KEEP this record, don’t throw it away.
● Graduates need to be in their assigned rooms no later than 6:00 p.m.
● Graduation starts at 7:00 p.m. sharp.
● Professional photographs will be taken as you receive your diploma cover, courtesy of GradImages.com.
● We are requesting guests to put their phones in airplane mode during the ceremony to preserve bandwidth capacity for the livestream broadcast. You are welcome to take photos/video, but we ask you to refrain from posting to social media, etc. until after the ceremony.
● Both sides of the stadium will be open for seating for parents, relatives and friends. Tickets are not required. Limited handicapped seating will also be available on the track. Email Heather.Blundy@gilbertschools.net to request special seating.
● The auditorium will be open and air-conditioned for our heat-sensitive guests, who will be able to watch the graduation ceremony via live stream. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m.
● Guests will be allowed on the football field at the conclusion of graduation. There is no formal recessional.