GRADUATING CLASS OF 2022
END OF YEAR INFORMATION
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Graduates, Parents, and/or Guardians,
On behalf of the faculty and staff of Victor J. Andrew High School, I congratulate you on your upcoming graduation. This newsletter is designed as a reference for students who will be graduating in May. Enclosed is important information regarding the senior checkout assembly, locker clean-out days, and cap and gown pickup. Also included is information
regarding the graduation rehearsal and ceremony.
The end of the school year is a busy and exciting time, and I wish you the best of luck as you prepare to graduate from Andrew High School.
We look forward to sharing this very momentous occasion with you and your family. If you have questions, please contact our Graduation Coordinator, Mrs. Rachel Grames, by email at rgrames@d230.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. Abir Othman
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS AT-A-GLANCE
April 18: Pre-Prom Assembly during 2nd period / T-Bolt Time
April 29: Prom
May 9: Senior Checkout Meeting
May 9: Decision and Signing Week
May 11: Senior Scholarship Night
May 11 - 12: Andrew Fest during lunch periods.
May 13: Andrew Fest Assembly
May 14: 2022 Senior Event - Class of 2022 Great America Trip
May 20: Seniors last day
Graduation Rehearsal (South Gym) and Senior Assembly (PAC).
Senior Check-Out
Cap, gown, Honor Cords (if applicable), tickets, and parking pass will be given at the check-out.
May 21: Graduation Ceremony
4:00 p.m. Graduates report to South Gym for line up.
4:50 p.m. Graduates march to the field.
5:00 p.m. Graduation Ceremony begins promptly.
Graduates will receive their diploma at the conclusion of the event.
SENIOR CHECK-OUT
Attendance at Senior Check-Out is MANDATORY for any graduate wishing to participate in the graduation ceremony. Students who do not attend Senior Check-Out may not participate in the graduation ceremony (except in the case of an excused absence). Early Graduates and Outside Placement students are exempt, but must make other arrangements for picking up their cap & gown.
Seniors will participate in Graduation Rehearsal and Senior Assembly on Friday, May 20. They will also complete their school clearance process, senior check-out, cap and gown pick-up, and receive their graduation tickets on this day.
- School clearance includes the return of all textbooks and/or equipment (if not already collected) and the payment of any outstanding fees (including course fees, debit cards, and media center fines). All fees and/or fines must be paid by May 1st in order for students to participate in the commencement ceremony and receive his/her diploma. Any senior who has outstanding fees/fines at Senior Check-Out will not be able to complete the required process unless all monies due are paid. No personal checks will be accepted after May 1st.
- Lockers must be emptied by the end of the day on Thursday, May 19th.
- Caps and gowns, and graduation tickets, will be issued only to those students whose school clearance has been completed.
FINAL GRADES
Failing grades will be submitted to the administration. Should any such grade cause a student to be ineligible to graduate, the student and the parent will be notified immediately.
SERVICE LEARNING HOURS
Service Learning hours is a District 230 graduation requirement. Failure to complete the 25 hour requirement will result in a student not graduating. Students in jeopardy of not graduating because of not fulfilling this requirement have been notified several times. Questions? Contact the Service Learning Office immediately (708-342-5872). To be considered for the 100 hours cord, you must have all hours completed and recorded by April 1.
GRADUATION REHEARSAL
Rehearsal will be on Friday, May 20, in the South Gym. All students participating in the Graduation Ceremony are required to attend this rehearsal at Victor J. Andrew High School. Cap and Gown, Tassel, Cords (if recipient), Graduation tickets, and parking pass will be distributed to participating graduates at the end of the day on Friday. Graduates MUST PRESENT THEIR ID to receive their graduation gown, cords, parking pass, and tickets.
2022 SENIOR EVENT
We are finalizing the plans for the Senior overnight trip to Great America. This year the trip will take place on May 14th. We will leave Andrew at 8:30 p.m. and return around 5:00 a.m. We will be in the park from around 10:00 p.m. to around 4:00 a.m.
The cost will be $45, which includes the transportation from Andrew to Great America, a ticket into the event, and an included dinner.
Here is a flyer about the event: link
All school rules will be in place along with the rules from Great America. Here are the rules from Great America: link
We need to give Great America a ticket count pretty early so we will only sell tickets through March 25th. All tickets will be sold online through the Andrew website.
You can buy your tickets by clicking here.
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
5:00 p.m.
Victor J. Andrew High School
Rain Date: Sunday, May 22, 2022. Time on the 22nd has not yet been determined. Parents and graduates will receive an all call with time and location (in-doors or in the stadium).
ARRIVAL
Graduates are to arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. Graduates may enter through the Main South Lobby; they will then be directed to the appropriate staging area for line-up and processional march.
PARKING
Families are strongly encouraged to car-pool. Each graduate will receive one parking pass. Only cars with a parking pass will be allowed to park on campus beginning at 4:00 p.m. Off-campus parking will be available at Prairie View Junior High School (8500 West 175th Street, Tinley Park) and Moraine Valley Community College - South West Education Center (17900 S. 94th Ave., Tinley Park). Shuttle buses will make continuous runs from both of these off-campus parking sites from 4:00 p.m. until 5:15 p.m., and will return passengers to the sites beginning immediately after the ceremony until 7:15 p.m. Shuttle buses will drop off passengers at the South Gate of the stadium and pick passengers up from the same location.
HANDICAPPED PARKING
Handicapped parking is available for those with a current handicapped parking placard issued by the State of Illinois. The car must also have a graduation parking pass. All of these conditions must be met in order for a car to be given access to handicapped parking on campus. Individuals with a handicap needing assistance to the outdoor seating area may request transportation via golf cart from the parking lot. There will be chair seating available on the outside track for handicapped individuals with a graduation ticket. Seating will also be available on the outside track for one adult (with a graduation ticket) that accompanies each handicapped person.
TICKETS
Graduating students will receive three (3) gold tickets and three (3) tickets of an alternate color at the end of their attended rehearsal on May 20, 2022. Either color ticket will gain admission to the outside ceremony. Only ticketed guests may enter through either the North or South Gates into the stadium. Gates open for seating at 4:00 p.m. There are around 500 graduates, so please plan accordingly for traffic. Seating is based on a first-come/first-served basis. No one will be admitted without a ticket. Please note: NO EXTRA TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE! If additional tickets are needed, seniors must check with other members of the senior class who may not be using all of their tickets.
If we experience inclement weather, our ceremony date will be Sunday, May 22. If we experience inclement weather on May 22, our ceremony will be moved indoors and the ceremony will be held in the Main Gym. If the ceremony is moved to either Sunday or indoors, parents and graduates will be notified via "all-call" the day of graduation. The website will contain important messages about the status of the ceremony given any challenging or pending weather conditions. The first two rows of the bleachers on the south side of the Main Gym will be reserved for handicapped seating on a first-come/first-served basis in the case of an indoor ceremony. Three (3) gold ticketed guests will be permitted to the Main Gym; the other three (3) alternate color ticketed guests will be seated in either the South Gym or the Performing Arts Center, where a live feed from the Main Gym will be shown. All guests should be seated by 4:50 p.m. Ushers will only admit guests with a ticket. Babies, baby carriers, and young children will not be admitted without a ticket, nor are they allowed to sit on a parent’s lap. Due to space limitations, strollers are not allowed. The entire ticket must be presented at the door in order to access the gym. If you would like a ticket for memorabilia, you may ask for one as you exit the gym after the ceremony. Partial tickets will not be accepted for access.
DRESS CODE
The cap and gown is a uniform, and to break its uniformity is to destroy its significance. Gowns are delivered in a package. They should be neatly steamed prior to wearing them in the ceremony. The cap should be worn level on the head. The appearance of the cap is not to be altered by embellishments of any kind. If a student arrives with embellishments on their cap, the cap will be taken away and a replacement cap will be given. Tassels should be worn over the right front quarter of the cap. The cap should be worn throughout the ceremony. Flowers or corsages are not permitted on the academic gown; nor are any stoles (outside of NHS) or flags to be worn.
Only school issued graduation cords may be worn at graduation. These include: Top 10%, Perfect Attendance, 100+ Service Hours, Mu Alpha Theta, German Honors, and Spanish Honors. National Honor Society distributes NHS collars to their graduates.
This is a formal event; students are asked to dress in formal or business casual attire. Due to field surface, high heels are NOT recommended. Any graduate who is dressed inappropriately, as determined by the supervising faculty, will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony. Graduates should NOT bring cameras, purses, etc. with them.
BEHAVIOR
In order to maintain decorum and respect for all graduates and their families, balloons, noisemakers, air horns, etc. are NOT permitted and will be confiscated. Furthermore, no one is allowed in the aisles or on stage during the ceremony except the participants. Parents who wish to present flowers to honored graduates should do so following the ceremony. As in all District 230 school functions, use of tobacco or e-cigarettes is prohibited anywhere on school property.
DIPLOMAS
Diplomas will be distributed to students after the ceremony. No diploma will be distributed to anyone other than to the actual graduate.
PROGRAMS
In a continuous effort to “Go Green”, Victor J. Andrew High School will provide each graduating senior with one copy of the commencement program in the envelope with their diploma. This not only guarantees that all graduates receive a program, but also reduces the waste we regularly experience at this event. There will be a limited supply of programs available at the entrances of the ceremony.
PHOTOS
Grad Images will be the official photographer for the ceremony. They will be situated in a position to take three excellent shots of each graduate as they approach the stage and receive their diploma. Graduates, and their families, will receive their proof both by email and USPS following the ceremony. Because this service is provided, no one will be allowed near the stage for picture taking. Personal photos may be taken in the stadium of our school after the ceremony. Contact Grad Images at www.gradimages.com or call them at 800-261-2576 for additional information.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING AVAILABLE
The graduation ceremony will be available live for viewing on the Internet. Log on to the Andrew website, andrew.d230.org, and select the link.
AMENITIES
Coolers or other containers will not be allowed in the stadium or in the school. Also, we are unable to provide wheelchairs. If you, or someone in your party will need a wheelchair, please make your own arrangements.
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO THE CLASS OF 2022!
The memories made by our VJA community have a special place with everyone involved in planning and participating in this year’s graduation ceremony. This Commencement Ceremony is the culminating event that celebrates those memories. We ask those in attendance to enjoy the event and honor the gravity that the event has for the entire VJA school community.
Victor J. Andrew High School
Email: webmaster@d230.org
Website: d230.org/Andrew
Location: 9001 West 171st Street, Tinley Park, IL, USA
Phone: (708)342-5800