Senior Newsletter, Class of 2026

Seniors,

Before you know it, you will be walking across the stage at graduation in June. This is such an exciting time for you and your families!

I’ve been meeting with many of you about your attendance. Please know that the #1 correlation to graduation is school attendance. You are leaders in our school as the Class of 2026 and it is really important that you show up, engage in your classes, and participate.

Let me know what you may need for the remainder of the semester as you work towards graduation. You can always come to the Main Office to meet with me in person and you often can see me in the hallways.

Excited to celebrate with you! Let’s have a great rest of the year together Class of 2026!!

Ayesha Coning, Principal and Grade 12 Administrator

OVERDUE - Personal Learning Requirements to Graduate
TONIGHT! - Basketball Double-Header; final home games

March 2 - DEADLINE OSAC Scholarship Application and IBWHS Scholarships OPEN
March 13 - DEADLINE to Sign-up to audition to be a graduation speaker.

March 14- DEADLINE Senior Parent Congratulatory Ads for Yearbook

March 23-27 Spring Break
March 30 - 60 Day Rule Begins
April 1 - (RESCHEDULED DATE) Mandatory Senior Class Meeting during Flex in the Auditorium
April 11 - DEADLINE Graduation Speaker Auditions Uploaded Online
April 16 - Mandatory Senior Class Meeting - Jostens here for Cap and Gown Handout
May 1 - Celebrate College Decision Day
May 2 - Prom
May 5-16 AP Testing
May 13 - College Signing Day - Athletics

May 17 - DEADLINE to purchase Grad Night Ticket; NO refunds after this date
May 26 - Senior Finals (Periods 1-4), Mandatory Check Out

May 27 - Senior Finals (Periods 5-8), Mandatory Check Out

May 27 - Ida B. Chella
May 28 - Last Day of School for Senior - Senior BBQ, Senior Meeting and Senior Awards Assembly
May 29 - Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal at PSU, 3:00-4:30PM

June 1 - DEADLINE to apply for Oregon Promise

June 3 - Graduation at 7:30pm at Portland State University
June 3-4 - Grad Night Party

Hey Seniors!

Congratulations on completing semester one! This milestone reflects months of hard work, growth, and unforgettable memories. You’ve balanced classes, commitments, college and post-graduation plans, and everything in between with determination and resilience.

As we head into the final stretch of our high school experience, I’m so excited to celebrate your big wins and the new chapters ahead. At the same time, remember to soak up every moment with your hometown friends. We only have 96 days until our last day of school!

Stay tuned for exciting upcoming events like Prom, Ida B. Chella, Senior Sunset, and many more celebrations. Let’s make these last months the best ones yet!

Ainsley Porter

ASB President

The Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday June 3rd 2026 at 7:30pm at Portland State University, Viking Pavilion. We are excited to celebrate this special occasion in the indoor Viking Pavilion at PSU. This is our second year hosting graduation in the Viking Pavilion, and we have found it to be a warm, intimate and focused setting that allows us to fully honor each member of the Class of 2026.

On Wednesday, February 18th, emails were sent to both senior's PPS email and parent emails regarding Graduation Tickets and how many each family will receive based on the Graduation Ticket Survey that was sent out. Watch for future editions of the Senior Newsletter that will include much more detailed information about Graduation - i.e. when to arrive, where to park, etc.!

Haven't placed your order yet? You can still order but do so quickly! Need a packet? They are available in the Counseling Office or Room 139.

● There are lots of great packages available online at Jostens. If you are just looking for a Cap, Gown and Basic Tassel, use this link cap and gown unit (it includes a basic tassel). When ordering a cap and gown unit, you are not required to select a keepsake tassel for the additional price. Select the last option on the right (it says no tassel but means no keepsake tassel) and you will just receive the basic tassel with your cap and gown.

● Want more than the Cap and Gown unit? You can order additional items online at Jostens.

● While we want all of our seniors to wear a cap and gown, we do not want financial concerns to impact your participation in this year’s graduation ceremony, so please reach out to Sharon Dailey (sdailey@pps.net) in the Counseling Office if this is an issue and we will make sure you can borrow a cap and gown.

● Know someone with an Ida B. Wells green cap/gown? You are welcome to borrow one from a friend, neighbor, family member as long as it is in our school colors/style.

Hello Seniors!

Graduation is coming up fast and we are looking for one or two seniors to speak at the graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 at Portland State University, Viking Pavilion at 7:30p.

If you are interested in sharing a short speech reflecting on your time as an IBW Guardian we would love to hear from you! This is your time to share some of your experiences, celebrate your classmates, and leave a mark on your classmates and faculty as you move into your next chapter. You do not need to be a professional speaker! Auditions will be short and low-pressure.

If you are interested in audition:

1. Use the Graduation Audition link to sign up by March 13th.
   
   

2. Prepare a 2-3 minute video on an appropriate graduation topic to upload to a google drive by Thursday, April 9th. You will also upload your audition speech to the same google drive. Please reach out to Ms. Britney Small (bsmall@pps.net) or Abby Menashe (amenashe@pps.net) with any questions!
   
   

3. You will be presenting to a panel of 5-7 staff members.
   
   

4. The selected seniors will be given guidance from a staff mentor to make any edits needed. A final copy of the speech will be due by Thursday, May 14th.

We look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Seniors: Your Personalized Learning Requirements (PLRs) for Graduation are Overdue!

PLRs = 2 Career Related Learning Experiences (CRLEs) + Resume + My Plan Project

If you are missing one or more of your PLRs in order to

graduate, please take IMMEDIATE action.

To complete your My Plan project, please submit it to your Senior English teacher. If you do not have a Senior English teacher, please share it via email to Ms. Wade, jwade1@pps.net.

To complete your resume use this template resume,(will prompt you to make a copy) and please submit it using this form.

To submit a CRLE reflection for a career related learning experience (Remember: You need 2), please complete the google form at tinyurl.com/IBWCRLE.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact HS Career Coordinator Jessica Wade, jwade1@pps.net, or stop by the College & Career Center in RM 149.

Please be aware that the 60 day rule will begin on March 30th.

The rule states that:
“Seniors shall be disqualified from participation in commencement exercises and related activities if within 60 consecutive calendar days of the last senior school day they are found to be in violation of District Alcohol or Drug policy or any violation resulting in a three or more days of suspension or more serious disciplinary action.” (Reference 4.30.020-AD)

APPLY to IBW Scholarship Application: We have over $18,000 in Scholarships funds available to apply for!

Scholarship Landing Page(This is where all scholarship applications can be found)

FAFSA Use this link to find out more FAFSA IS OPEN NOW

• Don’t forget to file your FAFSA for the 2026-27 school year to receive financial aid.

• It should be filed ASAP to get financial aid offers from your colleges AND is required to apply for some scholarships (the IBW scholarships, OR Promise, OSAC etc.)

• Come to the college center if you need help!
  
  

Take a look at these two documents with next steps to help guide you through comparing financial aid offers and making your final decisions.
You have applied to college, NOW WHAT?
Scholarships 101

March 2 - Deadline for OR Student Access Commission (OSAC) www.OregonStudentAid.gov

Update your admissions results in Maia Learning:

• Go to your Maia Learning
• Click on Universities Tab and Decisions Tab
• Click on Three dots and enter your admissions results

If you want to guarantee that you have a copy of your senior yearbook, you need to pre-order it on SchoolPay. The item can be found on the multi-item page in SchoolPay titled Back to School Costs and Contributions 2025-26. On this page, you’ll find all the programs we are collecting for, along with donation items. The 2025-26 yearbook is listed at the very bottom of the page.

What: Grad Night is an overnight celebratory event with entertainment and food at a surprise location. A quiet space will be available if students need to take a break. Ticketholders will get more details the night of graduation.

When: The night of the June 3rd graduation ceremony, students will load up on buses about 10 p.m. from IBW high school and head to surprise location.

Tickets: $150. On sale through Sunday, May 17th. No refunds after this date.

Where to buy: Buy tickets here

Scholarships: Families interested in full or partial Grad Night scholarships should contact school counselors by Friday, May 10th, to ensure the Grad Night Committee has the information before ticket sales end. Find your counselor here

Volunteers: Grad Night needs adult chaperones (!), including a medical professional to act as onsite medic. Ideally, chaperones will have a current PPS background check. Sign up to chaperone here

Have gently loved or designer purses that deserve a new home? Or a great bottle of wine ($20+) you’d like to share? Donate to our upcoming Wine & Purse Sale and help us raise funds for the Class of 2026 Grad Night Party!

When: Friday, April 3rd

Where: ComeUnity PDX - 3536 SW Troy St B, Portland, OR 97219

Time: 5:00pm – 9:00pm

To donate, please contact: alisondg@gmail.com or molly.fauske@gmail.com

Send a Flock! Hire a cheerful flock of flamingos to visit your friend’s yard for an entire week!

$50 for a 1-week yard visit (parent cost)

$35 for a 1-week yard visit (student cost)

Want to Avoid being Flocked?

A $25 “No Flocking” donation to keep the flamingos away and adds you to the “No Flocking List.”

Where to buy: Flamingo Flocking

Questions? Email: guardiansflock@gmail.com

Support Grad Night and host a fun night with your friends! We’re looking for families willing to open their homes for casual, yet fun, get togethers that help fund our seniors’ Grad Night celebration. No pressure, no fuss, just good company for a great cause!

If you can’t think of what to host, here are some fun ideas:

BBQ or Mexican Night, Come as You Are, Cocktail Chemistry Contest, Murder Mystery, Iron Chef, Moms Night Out (or In), Lip Sync Battle, Casino Night, Dad Jokes Comedy, Chopped, Decades Party, Prom Rewind, Paint and Sip, Backyard Movie Night, Cornhole Social/Contest, Driveway Happy Hour, Neighborhood Porch Crawl, Pizza & Pajamas or Host Senior Car Wash.

If one of these sounds like something you’d enjoy hosting, we’d love to chat!

Contact: ibsgradnight@gmail.com

The Grad Night Committee is putting together two slideshows and ask that you please submit photos as soon as possible. Submissions will be accepted through until May 15th.

1. Candid slideshow: Send candid photos of our seniors through the years with the first and last name of each person shown (please list preferred name left to right). NOTE: avoid sending photos with people who are not in the Class of '26.

2. Graduation slideshow: Send your senior's photo (can be different from yearbook photo), baby photo and plan for after graduation. Please include your student's preferred first name and full last name.

Send all slideshow submissions to: ibwslideshow@gmail.com

Celebrate your IBW graduate with a yard sign to proudly place in your yard or window!

Yard Signs: $25 while supplies last.

Purchase Yard Signs Here

Parents of 2026 seniors, celebrate your senior’s accomplishments with a senior ad in the yearbook. Ads can be designed and purchased using this link: https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=62107. Ads are $210 for a full page, $110 for a half page, and $60 for a quarter page. Ads need to be purchased AND completed by March 14th. There will be no deadline extensions, so act now! If you have any questions or need any help, email the yearbook business department at ibwybk@gmail.com.

The Instagram account @ibwhs2026decisions is posting senior decisions.

Seniors who want to participate should message the account with their name, photo, senior decision (what they plan to do after graduation) and favorite high school memory.

Congratulations to all our Winter Season Senior Student-Athletes! Your time and commitment to your sport is appreciated!

Seniors, TONIGHT is your final time to come together in the gym and cheer together as the Class of 2026! Come out and support for these big games!!

Friday, February 27 - Basketball Double Header vs. Grant
Men 5:45pm
Alumni invited to come down to the floor between the games
Women 7:15pm Senior Night just prior to the game

There are many ways to keep up with what is happening this year for the Senior Class:

Be sure and follow our class instagram for other updates and news! @ibwclassof2026

Continue to watch for upcoming editions of the Senior Newsletter which will come out monthly beginning in the Spring. Updates will be posted in-between in the Guardian Gazette. And you can always find the calendar, newsletter and other information on our website at https://ibw.pps.net/counseling/senior-news-class-of-2026