Senior Daze
Information Packet
Prom Information
Important Graduation Information
Extra Ticket Request Form
DVD (Video) Request Form
For:
Senior Parents and
Class of 2016
Senior Daze
Please note the following dates on your calendar
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Sept 4 – Senior t- shirt orders due
Sept 10 – Back to School Night
Sept 26th – Homecoming Football Game and Dance
Oct 1 – Senior Parent Meeting at 7pm (Wheaton Auditorium)
March 25-April 3 – Spring Break
April 4-8 – HSAs (Senior Finals)
April 7 - Senior Parent Meeting at 7:00 pm (Wheaton Auditorium)
(To review this packet & answer questions)
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April 25-April 29 – Prom Tickets on Sale (TBA)
April 29 – DEADLINE for accepting checks for class dues or financial obligations
May 2-13 – AP Exams
May 6 –Deadline for requesting extra graduation tickets (see form in packet)
May 20 – Senior Locker Clean out
May 20– Senior Exam Review Day
May 20 – Senior Prom Martins Crosswinds in Greenbelt (dinner & dance)
May 21 – After Prom Party (12am-4am)
May 26 – Awards Ceremony 6pm Wheaton High School Auditorium
May 23-27th Senior Exams:
Friday, May 27
Last Days for Seniors
June 1 – Graduation Rehearsal 8 am – 1pm (Wheaton Cafeteria). Attendance is mandatory.
You must attend or you will not be permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Distribution of cap & gown / graduation tickets will be at the END of rehearsal.
 June 2 – GRADUATION!! 7:00PM DAR CONSTITUTION HALL
(WASHINGTON, DC) Graduates must arrive no later than 6:00opm.
All students MUST comply with all school regulations and policies at school sponsored
events in order to participate in the graduation activities (this includes PROM).
PARENT CHECKLIST
A GUIDE TO DETERMINE IF YOUR SON / DAUGHTER IS ON TARGET
____ Class Dues paid ($60)
____ Clear obligations with financial assistant (Ms. Gutierrez, Main Office)
____ SSL Hours (75 total)
____ Clear Media Center Obligations (Ms. Ahn, Media Center)
____ Transcript Fees (Ms. Laureano, Guidance Office)
____ HSA exam requirements fulfilled
____ Credit declaration page reviews (with counselor)
____ SAT/ ACT taken (take as often as you would like)
____FAFSA Forms completed
____ College applications submitted
____ Career opportunities researched
____ Cap and gown ordered (completed during October senior picture)
____ Invitations ordered (Jostens.com)
____ Exam Schedule reviewed
____ Mandatory graduation rehearsal
If you could check all of these, you are ready for the big day, June 2, 2016.
Questions or concerns:
Ashley Schreckengost [email protected]
301-929-2069 room 217 (Graduation
Coordinator)
Stephanie Valentine [email protected]
administrator)
301-929-2050 Main Office (Senior class
Prom/After Prom Information
Prom Location: Martins Crosswinds
7400 Greenway Center Dr, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Date and Time: Friday, May 20th, 2016 7:30pm-11:30pm
Cost: TBA (students will not be able to purchase prom tickets unless all financial, media center,
transcript fees and seniors fee obligations have been cleared.) Tickets will be sold April 25April 29th at lunch in the Math Office, room 217.
After Prom Location and Time: TBA
Reminder to Students:
 All school rules are in effect for Prom and After Prom. Please refer to the Student
Agenda Book for a listing of school rules. If you are in violation of any of these rules, you
may not be admitted to Prom or After Prom. You will also be subject to school
consequences, which may include not participating in the graduation ceremony. You
will not be refunded for the prom ticket.
 Bags may be checked by school staff before entering Prom. If you are found to have on
your person (or appear to have ingested) drugs or alcohol, a suspension from school
may result as well as possible criminal charges depending on the infraction.
Any questions regarding Prom, please contact Ashley Schreckengost
[email protected] (Senior Class Sponsor)
Any questions regarding After Prom, please contact the Wheaton High School PTSA
Graduation Rehearsal
Rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 promptly at 8:00AM in Wheaton High
School cafeteria and auditorium. ALL students must attend graduation rehearsal. Students
who do not attend graduation rehearsal WILL NOT be permitted to participate in the
graduation ceremony.
 Seniors will get their caps and gowns at the end of rehearsal if all obligations are cleared
through the school Financial Assistance Office (Main Office).
 Seniors will receive 8 tickets each. Each graduate may request up to 6 additional tickets.
Please see the ticket request form at the end of this packet. Students will receive the
tickets at the end of rehearsal with their caps and gowns. Extra ticket requests will be
filled on a first come, first serve basis.
Graduation Details
1. Time and Place – Graduation will be held at DAR Constitution Hall, 18th & D Streets,
N.W., Washington, DC. Doors close at 6:45pm
2. Graduates Time of Arrival – Graduates must arrive no later than 6:00pm. Seniors do
not need a ticket. They are admitted by their cap and gown. Seniors must be in the
processional line in order to participate in the ceremony. No purses or any type of
handbag will be carried during the processional, please leave these items with a family
member.
3. Parents/Guests Time of Arrival – Doors will open at 6:00pm. Only those individuals with
a ticket will be permitted. This includes all children.
4. Transportation a. Metro – www.metroopensdoors.com
b. Busses – tickets can be purchased from the Main Office for $15 per ticket.
Everyone on the bus needs to purchase a ticket, including the graduate. Busses
are first come, first serve until they are filled.
5. Parking – Daytime parking on the street during the week is difficult. Parking is metered.
Arrangements have been made with George Washington University to permit us to use
their parking facilities on a space available basis. The two visitor locations are Marvin
Center Garage on H St. NW, between 21st and 22nd Streets, and the University Parking
Garage, entrance on I Street between 22nd and 23rd streets (PARKING IS NOT FREE)
6. Facility
a. Graduates: Boys will wear red gowns and girls will wear yellow gowns. Graduates
will be divided in alphabetically order; therefore, some graduates will proceed
from the parking facility to the C street entrance and some graduates will proceed
from the D street entrance. Students who are on stage and the seniors in the
chorus and band will also proceed from the D street entrance. Parents will not be
permitted in these locations prior to the ceremony. Graduates may not join their
families again until diplomas have been distributed following graduation.
Therefore graduates, please set a meeting place for your family/guests following
the ceremonies. You will exit the building from the same side that you enter (tell
your family to meet you on the appropriate side). The exact point where the class
is split will be determined at rehearsal.
b. Parents/Guests: Doors open at 6:00pm and close at 6:45pm. Doors will reopen
after the processional. Everyone entering graduation must have a ticket. Entrance
is at the 18th Street Entrance only, unless handicapped access required (D Street
entrance, no special ticket needed).
c. Handicapped Information: Indiviuals who need sign language interpretation or
any other special assistance to participate in graduation exercises should contact
the Office of Interpreter Requesting Services at 301-517-5539. During all events a
doorman/ticket taker and security officer will be stationed at the D Street
entrance for the convenience of all patrons with disabilities who arrive by vehicle
or use the drive to avoid front steps.
Students requiring handicapped seating for parents/guests should contact
Ashley Schreckengost, Graduation Coordinator by May 15th in order to
guarantee seating in the served area for that person + 1 guest. A list will
be provided to DAR security. No wheelchairs are permitted in the aisles.
Seeing Eye dogs are permitted to accompany the owner and will be
permitted under the seat at the owner’s feet. Send any email to
[email protected].
d. Interpretation Services: The Language Assistance Service Unit (LASU) is providing
language interpretation headsets for use during the ceremony free of charge.
You MUST bring ID in order to receive/use a headset at DAR. Interpretation will
be offered in Spanish and headsets will be given out on a first come, first serve
basis.
7. Videotaping/Photography: Parents may take pictures at home before the ceremony or
after the ceremony. To accommodate parents/friends who desire to film that the
graduation, seats have been removed from some of the boxes. No tripods will be
allowed. No filming will be permitted in the aisles, in front of the stage or on the stage.
Lifetouch studios will take a picture of each graduate shaking hands with the principal.
The photographer will contact you directly by mail after graduation. Cost of these
pictures depends on the package you choose. For those wishing a graduation video,
please see the order form at the end of this packet.
8. General Information: Doors to the public close by 6:45pm and the lobby cleared to
permit graduates to move into the entry way for the processional. Parents and guests
must be out of the lobby and seated at this time or they will miss the processional. The
ceremony should be no later than 9:00pm. We will need to vacate the premises at
accommodate another graduation. DO NOT congregate immediately outside the exit
doors as everyone (3000 people) will need to vacate the building. Designate a meeting
place for your graduate and family. Graduates will exit from the same side they
entered.
9. Building Restrictions:
a. Smoking is not permitted
b. NO book bags or back packs will be allowed in the building.
c. All bag/purses will be subject to search
d. Security personnel may use a wasnd to screen visitors
e. Everyone is subject to being stopped by uniform officers. Bring some form of ID.
f. All restrictions in the area are subject to change at any time
g. Every person entering must have a ticket (including infants and small children).
DAR security have the authority to remove individuals who are not in compliance with
established ceremonial guidelines. Remember this is an orderly and solemn occasion. All
individuals should conduct themselves with dignity and decorum
Attire for graduates
Boys:
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A wrinkle free red academic robe
Mortarboard (use bobby pins for secure attachment) with tassel on the left.
Long dress pants
Dress shoes with socks
Dress shirt with collar and a tie
Jewelry should not be worn on the outside of academic robe.
No flip flops or sandals permitted.
Girls
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A wrinkle free yellow academic robe
Mortarboard (use bobby pins for secure attachment) with tassel on the left.
Dress, skirt and blouse or dress pants and dress shirt
Dress shoes and hose
Clothing, jewelry and accessories should not be visible outside of robes
Avoid large earring
Avoid high heels (you will have to ascend and descend stairs on the stage without a
railing to hold on to)
 No purses, cosmetics, hairbrushes, etc. can be taken into the graduation ceremony.
 No flip flops or sandals permitted.
Boys and Girls
 Try on your gown as soon as you get home. Contact Mrs. Schreckengost immediately if
you experience any problems.
 All gowns need to be lighted pressed or hung in the bathroom while you take a shower
to remove the wrinkles.
 Honor Societies members have received their honor stoles from their appropriate
sponsors. Please see them if you have questions.
 Academy students will receive their stoles from Ms. Hildago. See her if you have any
questions.
 The mortarboard (cap) show be worn so that it is parallel to the floor, flat on your head.
During the processional and throughout the awarding of the diplomas, the tassel is worn
on the left side. On signal from the stage after all graduates have been award diplomas,
tassels will be shifted to the right side.
 Chewing gum, sunglasses, decorations, beach balls, etc. are not permitted.