SJHS Graduation 2026

We are in the second half of the final quarter of the school year, which means we are preparing for all of the end-of-year activities, especially graduation. This newsletter is to share with you the important dates, times, & information related to these senior activities, as well as inform you of the school policies and expectations for seniors as they prepare to participate.

• Cap, gown, and tassel orders have been delivered to the high school office. If you paid for one already, please stop by and pick your items up!

• If you have not ordered a cap, gown, and/or tassel, the office is accepting CASH payments only.
• $15 - Cap, $37 - Gown, $18 - Tassel

• These items are ready to be handed out upon payment (CASH ONLY).
• For information about decorating or how to properly wear caps, gowns, and tassels, see the "Graduation Attire" section.

Each graduate will receive 15 free reserved-seat tickets for family and friends. Two of these tickets will be an aisle seat or near an aisle seat for parents or guardians who wish to take photos. Tickets will be distributed to seniors at the first graduation rehearsal.

Seniors will be given a form in the middle of April to list the names of the individuals who will receive the reserved-seat tickets. This online form must be completed and returned to the main office by Tuesday, May 5, 2026. https://forms.gle/kVQqqLdfd37R2uqd9

If 15 tickets are not enough for your family, general admission seating will be available. However, guests in general admission will likely not be seated near those with reserved tickets. If one of your guests requires accommodations, such as wheelchair access, please write that on the form.

Entry Times for Graduation:

• Reserved ticket doors open: 6:30 PM

• Reserved guests must be seated by: 6:45 PM (unused seats will then open to general admission)

• General admission doors open: 6:45 PM (first come, first served)

Seniors who have qualified for senior trip (they have been notified) will receive institutionally excused absences to attend (the same as when they are participating in an athletic event or on a field trip).

Seniors who are not going on the trip will be expected to attend school as usual.

Senior Trip Itinerary:

• Day 1: Monday, May 11
• Leave SJ early Monday morning, drive to California, visit the beach/pier, check into Knott's Berry Farm hotel
• Day 2: Tuesday, May 12
• Visit Knott's Berry Farm
• Day 3: Wednesday, May 13
• Visit Universal Studios Hollywood, then leave for home in the evening
• Day 4: Thursday, May 14
• Arrive home around 8:00 AM

Seniors going on the trip will be encouraged to attend classes on Thursday, May 14 and on Friday, May 15 to complete any assignments missed during their trip and to prepare for final exams.

Seniors are required to attend school the following week (FINALS WEEK) and will participate in school check out on Thursday with the rest of the student body.

This non-denominational ceremony is a graduation tradition at SJHS. This activity is sponsored by representatives from various local area churches and the Senior Class Officers. While this is not a required event, it is highly encouraged for all seniors and their families to attend.

Seniors and their families should arrive by 6:45 PM, so seniors can have time to be seated on the stage. The program will begin promptly at 7:00 PM.

Seniors are expected to dress professionally and within school dress code guidelines (e.g., button-up shirts, ties, dress slacks, and dress shoes or boots for young men; dresses, skirts/blouses, or dress pants, and dress shoes for young ladies). NOTE: Shorts, jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, flip-flops, hats, and other casual attire are not appropriate for this occasion.

Seniors will officially checkout on Thursday, May 21 from 8:00 - 9:00am. Seniors will need to turn in textbooks, calculators, electronic devices borrowed from the district, sports uniforms, sports bags, etc. Failure to do so will result in your diploma being held until all SJUSD or SJHS items are returned to the office.

• Failure to attend these rehearsals, unless excused in advance by the administration, will result in the senior not participating in the graduation ceremony.

The dress rehearsal will be at 10:00 AM on Thursday, May 21, and the final rehearsal will be at 9:00 AM on Friday, May 22.

• Students should come to the dress rehearsal Thursday, May 21 wearing the outfit/attire they plan to wear on graduation night so it can be checked for adherence to the school and graduation dress code (see Graduation Attire for more information). Girls wearing high heels are encouraged to wear those to practice marching.

• Seniors are expected to dress professionally and within school dress code guidelines (e.g., button-up shirts, ties, dress slacks, and dress shoes or boots for the young men; dresses, skirts/blouses, or dress pants, and dress shoes for the young ladies). NOTE: Shorts, jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, flip-flops, hats, and other casual attire are not appropriate for this occasion.
• Graduation gown and cap, with the tassel hanging on the right side must be worn for the ceremony.
• If there are any questions related to the dress requirements, please contact the Senior Class Sponsor, Mrs. Wood, or Principal Mouritsen, prior to graduation.
• Students are allowed to decorate the top of the graduation cap with Senior Class Sponsor approval of the design (prior to decorating the cap) by Friday, May 15. Any decorations must be school appropriate, applied only within the perimeter of the cap top, and cannot hang down nor stick out above or outside the cap. The decorations should not be distracting and should maintain proper graduation decorum. Decorating of gowns is not permitted.
• No carrying or wearing of flowers, leis, or corsages is allowed DURING the ceremony, unless it is approved by administration prior to graduation (e.g. tribal regalia). These decorations are welcome to be worn AFTER the ceremony has ended.
• For more information about wearing tribal regalia, review the Arizona Department of Education Office of Indian Education's Tribal Regalia Graduation Toolkit for Students and Families
• No graduate will be permitted to carry or walk with a child during the ceremony.

Graduating seniors must be properly dressed in their graduation gown and cap (see Graduation Attire), with the tassel hanging on the right side, and waiting in the SJHS Band room by 6:00 PM.

During that time, we will provide the seniors with final instructions, ensure all graduates are appropriately dressed, and allow them to take photographs with their teachers and senior classmates.

The senior graduation marching order will be arranged at random, with the Valedictorian and Salutatorian leading the procession.

SJHS Administration is working with Legacy Teen Productions and The LOFT to live stream our graduation ceremony. Click the link to watch our graduation ceremony. https://www.youtube.com/@legacyteenproductions

We appreciate your help in making these culminating celebrations special for all the seniors who have worked so hard these past 13 years.

If you have any questions, please contact the high school office at hsoffice@staff.sjusd.net.