Chopticon Graduation 2026

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 8:00 am - Senior Meeting in Auditorium

Thursday, April 30, 2026: Class of 2026 Events/Graduation Information Due

Thursday, April 30, 2026 11:20 am - 1:06 pm: Cap & Gown Distribution in Auditorium Lobby

Friday, May 8, 2026: Senior Survey Due

Friday, May 15, 2026: Last day for Seniors who have met all graduation requirements.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Required Graduation Practice #1

Friday, May 22, 2026 at 9:00 am: Senior Awards

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Required Graduation Practice #2 and Panoramic Picture

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Required Graduation Practice #3

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 12:00 - 2:00 pm: Senior Picnic and Barn Painting

Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 7:15 pm: Senior Sunset

Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 9:00 pm thru Friday, May 29, 2026 at 4:00 am: Project Graduation

12th Grade Assistant Principal: Ms. Denise Coyne - dmcoyne@smcps.org - ext. 38116

Counselors:

• A to D - Ms. Julie Correll - jacorrell@smcps.org - ext. 38124

• E to Ke - Ms. Cara Grysko - clgrysko@smcps.org - ext. 38122

• Kh to Q - Ms. Amanda Hogan, ajhogan@smcps.org - ext. 38121
• R to Z - Ms. Meg Walewski, mmwalewski@smcps.org - ext. 38123

Class of 2026 Class Sponsors: Jacob Fusco - jkfusco@smcps.org and Madison Webb - mewebb@smcps.org

Yearbook Advisor: Kara Duriez - kbduriez@smcps.org

College and Career Center: Elizabeth Dornisch (eadornisch@smcps.org) and Amberly Kelley (akelley@smcps.org)

Dr. Smith has asked that students and parents complete the survey link below to share a little bit about the last four years at CHS. Thanks.

Parent Survey

Student Survey

Our Senior Sunset is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 (graduation day!) at 7:15 p.m. on the field hockey/lacrosse practice fields next to the bus loop at Chopticon. Bring a blanket (you can put it back in your car before you leave for Project Grad) to sit and enjoy your last time on school grounds. If you are attending Project Graduation that evening, you will be directed to the Project Graduation check-in tables so you can depart and head to the base. Bring your senior friends and enjoy one last sunset as a Brave! We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for joining us for our Senior meeting this morning. Below is the information reviewed with students.

Please complete the following form as accurately as possible. The information gathered will be used for the graduation program. *Every senior must complete this form by May 8, 2026. If you need more room on this form, please submit another form. Only fill out your first name, last name, and ID number, and any additional information you need to add.

Let us know your plans for after graduation by completing this Class of 2026 Post-Graduation Plans Form, and we will hang a pennant on the Career Center window for all to see! Are you attending a 4-year college, a 2-year college, a union apprenticeship, or joining the military? Do you already have a job lined up? Let us know!

Greetings, Seniors and Families!

The school year is moving quickly, and before we know it, graduation will be upon us! As such, we wanted to share some basic information about this year’s graduation ceremony so that students and families can plan accordingly. More detailed information will be shared at our senior meeting in the spring.

The 2026 SMCPS Commencement Ceremony schedule is as follows:

• May 27 -- Great Mills High School

• May 28 -- Chopticon High School

• May 29 -- Leonardtown High School

The CHS graduation ceremony will be held at 10:00 AM at Chopticon High School. The ceremony will be held on our stadium field. In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremony will be held in the CHS gymnasium at 10:00 AM.

• Each student will receive 4 graduation tickets.

• Students must clear all debts & fines (i.e., cafeteria charges, lost laptops/chargers, missing athletic uniforms and equipment, parking tickets, etc.) before receiving graduation tickets.

• If the ceremony is held indoors due to inclement weather, students will receive only 2 gymnasium tickets to watch it in person.

• We will provide families with 2 additional tickets to view the ceremony on campus via live stream (in the auditorium and/or other designated spaces).

• We will livestream* the graduation ceremony so that it can be viewed from home.

Please remember there will no longer be a designated Valedictorian or Salutatorian. Instead, the class president will deliver a speech at graduation. The class vice president and the two highest-ranking Student Government Association (SGA) officers will join us on stage to serve as masters of ceremonies. If any student in these positions is unable or prefers not to participate in this way, the principal will appoint another senior to fill the role.

We will honor academic excellence by awarding stoles to graduates who achieve the following distinctions. During the ceremony, we will recognize these honors by asking each honor group to stand together as a whole for applause.

• Summa Cum Laude (GPA ≥ 4.25)

• Magna Cum Laude (GPA between 4.00-4.24)

• Cum Laude (GPA between 3.75-3.99)

Seniors, we know that this is an exciting time for all of you. Please be sure to keep up with your studies so you meet all your graduation requirements and graduate on time with your classmates!

We look forward to celebrating your achievements!