Forrest Center
Class of 2017
Commencement Packet
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DR. JAMES A. FORREST CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER COMMENCEMENT
DATE:
TIME:
PLACE:
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
10:00 a.m.
Leonardtown High School Gym
23995 Point Lookout Road
Leonardtown, MD 20650
TICKETS
This year, as a result of honoring more participants in the commencement ceremony and having to comply with
the fire code, the JFCTC Commencement Ceremony will be a ticketed event.
 Each student participant will receive three (3) tickets to the commencement ceremony.
o Three (3) tickets will be given to attend the 2017 JFCTC Commencement ceremony in the
Leonardtown High Gym on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. All three tickets will be for general seating
in the bleachers.
 No one will be permitted to attend the ceremony without a ticket.
 PLEASE NOTE: Any person, no matter what age, must have a ticket to gain entrance
into the ceremony, including children who will sit on an adult’s lap and infants. Due to
limited space, strollers are not permitted inside the Gym. This is regulated by the fire
code of the building. We have no control over these regulations but we must comply to
use the space.
o All tickets, the three (3) allotted tickets and any extra tickets, will be distributed to the students
during class on Friday, May 19, 2017.

Extra Tickets
o There will be no extra commencement tickets UNLESS families request less than three of their
allotted tickets. We are asking that all families thoughtfully RSVP with an accurate number of
guests on the Forrest Center 2017 Commencement Contract (page 5 of this packet).
o Once we have an accurate count of who will be using their three tickets and who will not, we
will redistribute the extra tickets one at a time through a random lottery drawing.
o The lottery drawing will take place before tickets are distributed on May 19th.
o To have your families name added to the lottery you will need to indicate how many extra tickets
you would like on the contract form included in this packet. The contract form must be returned
NO LATER than April 27, 2017 and must be completed with all appropriate signatures to be
entered in the lottery for extra ticket requests.

Handicap Guests
o Guests holding commencement tickets who are handicap may be permitted to sit in reserved
floor seating during the commencement ceremony.
o Guest who are handicapped must obtain a special seating pass by filling out the request on the
commencement contract enclosed with this packet.
o Only request forms from this commencement packet will be accepted. Requests made by phone
will NOT be accepted.
o Guests must show the special seating pass along with their commencement admission ticket to
gain access to the special seating area. A state-issued handicap hanger/sticker must be shown to
gain access to the handicap parking area.
 The special seating pass is not a ticket for admission; a commencement admission ticket
must be presented IN ADDITION TO a special seating pass.
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COMMENCEMENT DAY
This is the last time you will be together as a class. It is not an opportunity to express your individuality
or to draw attention to yourself. You are a part of the Class of 2017 and are expected to be a
representative member of the class.
Cell phones are not permitted at the commencement ceremony. Please make arrangements to leave your
cell phone in a safe place until the ceremony is over. Cell phones can be locked up and left in Forrest
Center classrooms, along with any other personal book bags or purses.
COMMENCEMENT DAY SCHEDULE – May 23, 2017
All Forrest Center students need to report to their Forrest Center classrooms by 9:30 AM.
LHS students need to leave their 2nd period classes at 9:20 AM to arrive at the Forrest Center at 9:30 AM.
GMHS and CHS students will need to leave their 2nd period classes at 9:00 AM to depart their schools by bus at
9:10 AM to arrive at the Forrest Center at 9:30 AM.
All students report to their classrooms.
Dress Code for the Commencement Ceremony
Many programs will be wearing their uniforms for the commencement ceremony. Please check with your
teacher for dress requirements. If your program is not wearing uniforms, professional business attire is
expected.
Hats will not be permitted at the ceremony and will have to be left in the classroom.
Cords
In honor of their program completion, the Forrest Center gives students the option to wear a special gold and
black colored cord for the JFCTC Commencement Ceremony. These cords can also be worn at home school
graduation ceremonies. Students who have paid for a cord will receive their cord the morning of
commencement.
Students in the following programs have already paid for their commencement cords.
 Academy of Health Professions
 Diesel Technology
 Hospitality and Tourism
 Automotive Repair & Refinishing
 Dental Assisting
 IT Networking
 Computer Aided Drafting & Design
 Electrical Wiring
 Individualized Products & Services
 Career, Research & Development
 Engineering
 Teacher Academy of Maryland
 Criminal Justice
 HVAC
 TV/Video Production
Students in the remaining programs can purchase their own cord for $5.00. Please fill out the enclosed order
form and return it along with your $5 to Ms. Mayor in the Main Office. All orders and money must be in by
April 27, 2017.
 Automotive Technology
 Culinary Arts
 Production Engineering
 Aviation Technology
 Graphic
 Natural Resources
Communications
 Carpentry
 Welding
Live Streaming
Live streaming of the commencement ceremony will be available on the Forrest Center website. The link to
view the ceremony will go live at 10 AM on Tuesday, May 23rd as the ceremony begins.
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Parking



SMCPS Safety and Security will directing parking on the Leonardtown campus when guests arrive.
Overflow parking will be at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds.
If you have a guest with a disability, you may drop your guest off in front of Leonardtown High
School before being directed to a parking spot.
After Commencement
 Following the ceremony, parents/guests are asked to exit the gym and proceed to the front of the
school where they can meet their students.
 Any students who need to return to their Forrest Center classroom to retrieve personal items may do
so.
 All students may leave with their parent or guardian.
 For any student not leaving with their parent/guardian, buses will be taking students back to their
home schools at the regular time of 12:13 PM.
The Faculty and Staff of the Forrest Center extend their congratulations to all program
completers.
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FORREST CENTER 2017 COMMENCEMENT CONTRACT
Student Name__________________________________________________
Program______________________________________________________
_________For personal reasons, I will not be participating in the JFCTC Commencement Ceremony. I will
pick up my certificate from my program teacher on or after May 24, 2017.
_________I understand and have read the contents of the Commencement Packet. I agree to comply with the
information outlined in the packet and will at all times conduct myself in a dignified and responsible manner
during the commencement ceremony.
Student Signature____________________________________________________
Date______________
Three (3) guest tickets will be provided for each student participating in the ceremony. The only way we can
provide any extra tickets is by getting an accurate number of how many students plan to use all three of their
allotted tickets. We are hoping to be able to accommodate requests for extra tickets by getting an early and
accurate count of each student’s guest ticket needs. Please indicate below how many of the three (3) tickets your
family plans to use.
RSVP - OUR FAMILY IS REQUESTING _________________ of three (3) guest tickets.
Availability of extra tickets will be based off of the RSVPs we receive and cannot be guaranteed. If there are
extra available tickets, please indicate below how many EXTRA tickets your family would like to request.
EXTRA TICKET REQUEST - OUR FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST _____________ additional
tickets, if available. We understand that no extra tickets are guaranteed and if there are extra tickets
available these will be allotted based on a lottery drawing of all families requesting extra tickets.
ALL REQUESTS MUST BE MADE ON THIS FORM,
PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
CONTRACTS TURNED IN AFTER APRIL 27, 2017 WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN
THE LOTTERY.
Tickets (the three (3) allotted tickets and any extra tickets) will be distributed to the students during class on
Friday, May 19, 2017.
Parent/Guardian Signature __________________________________________________ Date______________
RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR TEACHER NO LATER THAN APRIL 27, 2017.
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REQUEST FOR HANDICAP SPECIAL SEATING PASS
JFCTC COMMENCEMENT 2017
Student Name__________________________________________________
Program______________________________________________________
There will be special handicap seating available for our guests that are handicapped
and handicap parking available to those in need.
Upon your request, you will be issued a special seating pass. SMCPS staff members
will be available to escort the guests with the special seating pass to their seats.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SPECIAL SEATING PASS DOES NOT
AUTOMATICALLY ADMIT YOU TO THE COMMENCEMENT
CEREMONY. THEREFORE, IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIAL SEATING
PASS, YOU MUST ALSO HAVE A COMMENCEMENT ADMISSION
TICKET. Handicapped seating passes will be stapled to a Commencement
Admission Ticket, which will be delivered to students in their class on Friday, May
19, 2017. Please keep the passes stapled together as you will need both to gain
admission to the ceremony and be seated in the handicapped floor seats.
SMCPS wheelchairs are for transporting guests to the handicap seating area and not
used for the duration of the ceremony.
Handicap parking will be available for individuals who have a state issued handicap
tag/hanger.
HANDICAPPED SEATING REQUEST – WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST
___________ handicapped seating passes. We understand that these seating passes are
only accessible to individuals who also have a commencement admission ticket.
RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR TEACHER NO LATER THAN APRIL 27, 2017.
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