Reminder: FHS Graduation Rehearsal

Graduation Rehearsal is ONE WEEK away on Tuesday, May 21st at 3:30pm at Ferguson High School. Students, please ask your employer to give you time off work for this meeting - Your attendance is required. You will pick up your cap and gowns at the end of rehearsal.

Please review the information below, and reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. Looking forward to celebrating with you soon!!

Sarah Rosenberry
Secretary

970-613-5301

sarah.rosenberry@tsd.org

In the attachment below is a letter in both English and Spanish from Colorado Department of Education Commissioner, Susana Cordova, and Colorado Higher Department of Education Executive Director, Angie Paccione. Please be sure to open this document and review the options and resources available to you.

Graduates, we will be tunneling you out of Ferguson High School one last time on Friday, May 17th before students are released for lunch. If you are not typically in the building during this time, make plans to come and join us! We will form the tunnel around 11:45am, so please arrive shortly before that.

If you typically have afternoon classes on Fridays, plan to attend those classes according to your school schedule.

GREAT NEWS!! Graduating Seniors now have the opportunity to keep their chromebook as their own personal device after they graduate! Please read the important information below to learn how to participate in this opportunity:

#1: Ensure there are NO fines or fees for your graduating senior. The account must be paid in full prior to your student requesting to keep their chromebook.

#2: Parents/Guardians - Fill out the "Keep Device Request" form in Infinite Campus: Completion of this form is required for the IT department to deactivate the device's management software. Without the completion and processing of this form, the chromebook will be locked and unusable after graduation. Use this link for more information on how to complete the request. Please reach out to Thompson School District's IT department if you are having difficulty accessing this form: 970-613-7777.

#3: Finalize the process: After May 15th AND once your student's "Keep Device Request" form has been processed, you will be able sign into the device with a personal Google account. Please transfer any important files from your school drive to your personal account. Your school account will be deactivated shortly after graduation. For assistance, refer to this guide on transferring your data.

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IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT YOUR CHROMEBOOK:
** ALL graduating seniors need to check-out with our Bookkeeper, Carmen Perez-Gauvin. Carmen needs to inventory the status of ALL graduating senior chromebooks. Carmen will note whether students have successfully completed the steps listed above to keep their chromebook indefinitely OR she will note that the chromebook/charger has been returned to Ferguson High School. These are the only two options available to your student.

** The class of 2024 has been assigned the "HP Chromebook 11 G6 ee" model, indicated by an orange sticker on the bottom of the chromebook. If a different model has been assigned to your student and you plan to keep your chromebook, we will collect your device and provide you with an HP G6 model to keep.

Ferguson High School will celebrate all of its graduates in one large comprehensive Graduation Ceremony at Mountain View High School on Friday, May 24, 2024 at 3:00pm.

The district has required us to limit the number of guests in attendance at our graduation ceremony, given the size of our venue and safety concerns according to building and fire codes. We are asking our families to limit those who attend Ferguson's Graduation Ceremony to 12 guests per graduate.

Please keep in mind that graduation will be live streamed. The Thompson School District IT department will set up a LiveStream link through Thompson School District's YouTube Channel, which will take place a few days before graduation. As soon as we receive this link, we will get it into the hands of our families.

Friday, May 17th: Last day of school for graduating Seniors. If graduates need to complete any classwork the following school week, teachers can make allowances as needed.

Tuesday, May 21st, 3:30pm: Graduation Rehearsal at Ferguson High School. This is REQUIRED. Students, ask your employer to give you time off from work for this meeting. During rehearsal, the assembly area of Ferguson HS will be set-up similarly to the auditorium/stage at Mountain View so that graduates can practice their entrance, exit, being called to the podium, receiving diplomas, stage seating, etc. After rehearsal students will be given their cap, gown, stole, and tassel.

Friday, May 24th, 10am: Graduate Award Ceremony at Ferguson High School. During this ceremony, we will recognize graduating seniors who have earned scholarships, apprenticeships, internships, and those who are planning on enlisting into the military. You will be notified IF your student is expected to be recognized during this ceremony. For questions regarding scholarships, please contact our school Counselor, Laura Anderson.

Friday, May 24th, FHS Graduation Ceremony at Mountain View High School: Graduates are to arrive no later than 2:25pm at Mountain View High School (3500 Mountain Lion Dr, Loveland, CO 80537). Graduation begins promptly at 3pm, regardless of late-comers. Below are some helpful tips in preparing for the ceremony itself:
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* What Clothes to Wear:
- Graduates, you will be sitting on stage for a considerable amount of time during the ceremony. The stage lights coupled with your black polyester gowns means you will get hot, even if it’s cold outside. We suggest wearing cool lightweight clothes underneath your gown. Generally, solid dark colored clothing looks best underneath the gowns as well.

* What Shoes to Wear:
- Dress shoes are best. You are not permitted to walk in slippers, flip-flops or bare feet during this formal ceremony. If you are planning to wear heels, please practice walking in them before Graduation. Keep in mind there is a gradual slope in the auditorium as you walk toward the stage, and there are a few stairs to climb up to the stage itself. Wear shoes you feel confident walking in from your entrance to your exit.

* What to Say:
- Students, after you’ve been called to the podium and a staff person has delivered a speech in your honor, you will have an opportunity to give a short speech as well. Your speech is optional, not required. If you choose to speak, please remember:

• Write it down! It is common to forget what you want to say under the bright lights and in front of an audience. Bring a small notecard with you to the podium and reference it during your speech.
• Foul language is not appropriate during your speech. Keep it clean, please.
• Please keep your comments positive. There will be representatives from other schools attending Ferguson’s graduation. Do not disrespect other schools or teachers during your speech.

* What to do During the Ceremony:
- Graduates will be sitting on stage from the beginning to the end of the ceremony. The ceremony itself will last anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours. Graduates, please sit up and keep your composure throughout the entire length of the ceremony.

- You will be handed an EMPTY diploma cover on stage. Don’t panic. Your personal diploma will be handed to you in the dressing room after the ceremony is over.

* What Guests Need to Know:

- The ceremony will begin promptly at 3pm. If guests arrive as graduates are walking toward the stage, they will be required to wait at the door outside of the auditorium until all graduates are seated. After the ceremony has begun, the seating area of the auditorium will be low lit, making it more difficult to find an empty seat. Guests should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the ceremony begins.

- Just as you are excited to celebrate your student, other families and friends are eager to celebrate theirs. Please enjoy your side conversations outside of the auditorium so that all of our guests are able to hear (and possibly record) this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

- Air horns are prohibited inside the auditorium. They are loud and startling for other guests. Do not bring these to the graduation ceremony.

* What Happens After the Ceremony:
- Graduates, come back to the dressing room to receive your signed diploma and one official transcript, as well as any other personal items you left in this room during the ceremony.

- There are NO copies of your diploma. You will be given the original and only copy. This is not an item kept in your permanent school file. You are welcome to make your own copies of the original diploma at your own discretion.

- You are able to order additional copies of your transcripts through Thompson School District’s Records Department for $3 each.

As seniors prepare to graduate and embark on the next chapters of their lives, TSD would like to extend an invitation for students to walk the halls of their former elementary schools. This procession can be a meaningful experience, not just for the elementary students but also for the graduates to reflect on their school years.

Click the link to see all of the schools participating in the graduation hall walks. As schools are planning their walks, more details and schools will be added to this page: https://www.tsd.org/grad-walks