Graduation 

Sunday,  June 7, 2009


January 21 & 22 - Cap And Gown Measurement
Measurements for caps and gowns will take place at SHS on Wednesday, January 21 and Thursday, January 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Seniors should report to the upper lobby by Room 2400 in the West Building to be measured and to pay their $24 cap and gown fee. Seniors must be measured to take part in the commencement ceremony; the fee must be paid at the time of measurement.  The fee may be paid in cash or by check to Jostens.  Seniors may keep their cap, gown, and tassel as a memento of the event.  Caps and gowns will be distributed on May 20 (see below for details).


March 13 - 300 Club Applications Due
Seniors with 300 hours of community service will be honored at commencement.  Applications can be found online through the Student Activities Home Page and need to be turned in by Friday, March 13.


March 18 - Senior Class Picture
There will be a special Senior Class meeting on Wednesday, March 18 during Activity Period (9:40-10:25) in the Sports Center.  All Seniors are to report directly to the Sports Center at the beginning of the Activity Period.  Seniors will then have the annual Senior Class picture taken.  Graduation information will also be distributed.  Envelopes for ordering pictures can be picked up in the Student Activities Office.  All Early Grads should attend.


April 7 - Graduation Speech Deadline
Information about the application process is available in the Student Activities Office.  Applications to give the "Scriptor" or "Gubernator" speeches are due on Tuesday, April 7.


May 20 - Cap and Gown Distribution - ONE DAY ONLY
Caps and gowns will be distributed on Wednesday, May 20, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.    ALL Seniors must go to the lower lobby near the College Career Center in the West Building on Wednesday, May 20 to pick up their cap, gown, and tassel.  Please press and hang the gown for a sufficient period of time prior to commencement in order to minimize the number of wrinkles. 



Sunday, June 7
 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Graduation Tickets
Graduating seniors will receive six tickets for family or friends to attend the commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Northwestern University.  Graduating seniors do NOT need a ticket to attend.

Tickets will be distributed to seniors at the rehearsal on June 5, two days before the ceremony. It is the responsibility of the graduate to distribute the tickets to friends and family they wish to attend.  All spectators will be required to present a ticket to enter Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena.  Please be certain to put tickets in a safe location.  Lost tickets will not be replaced.

The Student Activities Office strongly encourages you to start talking now with friends and neighbors who have graduating seniors, to determine if they will be using their full allotment of tickets.  Unfortunately we have no extra tickets to offer families.  Networking with other families is your best option for obtaining more than your allotted six tickets.  Graduation ticket details will be announced in coming issues of The Minuteman.


Friday, June 5 - Commencement Rehearsal
Please note that this year's Commencement Rehearsal will be held at Stevenson High School on Friday, June 5.   Due to the snow day taken in December, Friday, June 5 is a regular school day for all Stevenson students including Seniors.  Consequently, all Seniors must arrive at Stevenson between 7:30-8:30 a.m. and should report to the SHS Fieldhouse.  Graduation Rehearsal is mandatory to participate in the graduation ceremony.   Please contact Ms. Gonzalez at 415-4106 if you cannot attend the commencement rehearsal. Generally, there will be no exceptions to the rule that attendance at rehearsal is necessary in order to participate in the commencement exercises.  


Sunday, June 7 - Commencement
 On Sunday, June 7, 2009, commencement exercises for the Class of 2009 will be held at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The ceremony will be held in the Welsh-Ryan Arena of McGaw Hall, which is located just north of the football stadium. The ceremony will begin promptly at 12:00 noon. Doors will open to the public at 10:30 a.m.  Graduates must report no later than 11:00 a.m.   There is adequate seating available.  No transportation will be provided.  To view the arena's seating plan and parking arrangements, please visit Northwestern University's website. Welsh-Ryan Arena is not air conditioned.  Spectators should dress for extremely warm conditions. For questions please call Northwestern's Office of Special Events at (847) 491-3600.


 Appropriate Dress
Students are expected to dress in a manner appropriate to the occasion.  Boys are to wear dress slacks (not shorts or jeans) and dress shirts.  Girls will not be allowed to bring purses into the arena.  All students are to wear dress shoes.  Tennis shoes and flip flops will not be allowed.


Cap And Gown
Please press and hang the gown for a sufficient period prior to commencement in order to minimize the amount of wrinkles.  Tassels are to be worn on the right side of the cap before diploma is handed out.  The shift to the left occurs after the diploma is received.  Graduates may keep their caps, gowns, and tassels.


Conduct
It is our hope that the commencement ceremony will honor the Class of 2009.  We believe that the ceremony should reflect the high standards which characterize the Class and Stevenson High School.  Accordingly, we expect that all graduates and their guests will conduct themselves in a dignified and solemn matter which reflects the significance of the occasion.


Diplomas
Diplomas can be picked up immediately following the commencement ceremony.  Diplomas not picked on Sunday after the commencement ceremony can be picked up on Tuesday, June 9 in Room 2416.  Any senior who does not wish to participate in the commencement ceremony may pick up his or her diploma in the Registrar's Office (Room 2416) during regular business hours beginning Tuesday, June 9, 2009.


Commencement Photos
Chappell Studio will take pictures of graduating seniors as they receive their diplomas at commencement.  Chappell Studio has agreed to photograph each graduate.  In an effort to be green, an email will be sent to the graduate's school email account within 48 hours after graduation.  If there is no response to the email, then a proof will be mailed to the student's home within four to six days after graduation.  This service will enable all parents to have a picture of their graduate while providing a dignified atmosphere during the ceremony.  Parents are encouraged to relax in their seats and limit their personal picture-taking to before or after the presentation of diplomas.  If you have any additional questions about this service, please call Chappell Studio at 1-800-424-3686.

Handicapped Seating & Parking
People wishing to use handicapped seating should turn left upon entering Welsh-Ryan Arena and use the elevators to the second floor. They will then be directed to the reserved section.  Handicapped parking is located on the West side of the stadium.  From Central Street, turn on Ashland going North, enter the driveway on the right-hand side. (Directions to the arena below)

NOTE: Northwestern University is a smoke-free campus. Smoking is not permitted at any time on university property.




 
DIRECTIONS TO WELSH-RYAN ARENA/MCGAW HALL

From O'Hare Airport -

Take Interstate 294 north; exit at Dempster; go east to Crawford; turn left. Go north on Crawford to Central Street; turn right. Go east on Central to Ashland Avenue. The stadium is at the corner of Central and Ashland.

From Interstate 94 -

Exit at Old Orchard Road; proceed east on Old Orchard Road to Gross Point Road; turn left. Stay in the right lane and turn right at the first signal (Central Street). Proceed east on Central Street approximately four (4) miles to Ashland Avenue.

From Lake Shore Drive -

Exit at Sheridan Road. Stay on Sheridan Road heading north for quite a while (the street turns several times, but it is still Sheridan Road). Follow into Evanston and past the Northwestern University campus. Follow Sheridan straight north. When you pass campus, turn left at Central Street. Proceed west on Central Street, approximately one (1) mile. The stadium will be on your right.


Parking

East Parking Lot
Enter from Central Street on the east side of the football stadium.


North Parking Lot
From Central Street, turn on Ashland going north; after passing the tennis courts, enter the driveway on the right-hand side of the street OR stay on Ashland to Isabella (the first street north of Central Street); turn right and go to the driveway off of Isabella Street. The entrance is just past the baseball field's outfield fence.

West Parking Lot
From Central Street, turn on Ashland going north; enter the driveway on the left-hand side.
** HANDICAPPED PARKING**
Handicapped parking is available on the west side of the football stadium. From Central Street, turn on Ashland going north; enter the driveway on the right-hand side.



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