As thousands of high school seniors prepare to participate in the time-honored tradition of graduation ceremonies, school officials offer some tips to make the occasion memorable, and gaffe-free.
A student's high school graduation is a milestone that should be celebrated with dignity and decorum, said Luis Martin, Spanish teacher and senior class coordinator at Florida's West Shore Jr./Sr. High School.
Martin's principal, Rick Fleming, basically summed up graduate guidelines like this: "Do not embarrass yourself or your family."
"It's such a formal and special ceremony," Martin said. "It's nothing that can be taken casually."
To help make the event as perfect as possible, Martin suggests the following dos and don'ts for graduates, families and friends:
For the graduate
- When someone sends a congratulatory card, whether a check is included, be sure to write a thank-you note.
- Dress appropriately. "This is special, so dress nice, no flip-flops," Martin said.
- Decorate your cap to give a personal touch.
- Leave purses and cell phones at home.
- Exhibit appropriate, tasteful behavior. "We're all celebrating such a milestone, you don't want an embarrassing moment," Martin said.
For family and friends
- If your higher sense doesn't keep those obnoxiously loud blow horns at home, at least let the people around you know you're about to split their eardrums. "Maybe the person next to you is not happy about you blowing the horn," Martin said. "It's a disturbing thing. It will take attention away from the main thing, the graduation."
- Know the difference between a graduation announcement and a graduation invitation. An invitation requires a response: Yes, you'll be at the ceremony, or no, you'll have to miss it.
In either case, an announcement or an invitation requires a response from you. "An acknowledgement is very important," Martin said. A congratulations card is appropriate, "whether there's a check or not," Martin said.
- Do not block the view of people behind you. "Be aware of the people around you," Martin said.
- Stop screaming after your graduate's name is called so the audience can hear the name of the next graduate. "Or hold it as much as you possibly can," Martin said. "So everybody participates. You can always scream outside, and (hold up) banners and all that stuff."
- Be respectful during reverent times of the ceremony, such as the National Anthem, appearance of color guard, music, benedictions, valedictorian speeches and moments of silence.