Evans High School Graduation Ceremony Contract


On May 21, 2021 Evans High School will hold its Commencement Ceremony at the Lady Antebellum Amphitheater beginning at 7:30 PM. Because of Covid 19, changes have been made in order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and guests.

This event will be one of the most formal ceremonies that our students will ever attend. We will have over 400 Evans graduates dressed in our black caps and gowns as well as faculty members who also will be dressed in black collegiate gowns. The senior class will be led by our Valedictorian and Salutatorian as well as members of the senior Student Council.  Seated on stage will be faculty members, the Superintendent of Columbia County Schools, and all five School Board members. There will be several thousand people sitting in the audience waiting to see and hear their respective graduate receive his/her diploma.  Once several brief speeches are made by students and staff, the awarding of diplomas will begin. As each graduate crosses the stage, they will only receive a diploma cover during the ceremony-not the actual diploma. Diplomas will be distributed immediately following ceremony by their homeroom teachers. This will take place directly behind the Amphitheater Stage. The entire ceremony will take about two hours.

Because of CDC regulations, all students will be required to wear a mask when walking to and from their seats. EHS will provide a face mask to students or they are welcome to bring their own to wear. Faculty members will be on hand to monitor and assist students with safe social distancing throughout the ceremony.

Because of the obvious importance of this once-in-a-lifetime event, we expect our seniors to behave in a mature and dignified manner.  Any of the following actions will be considered inappropriate:
• Wearing improper graduation attire (dress code on the back of this contract)
• Making rude or unacceptable comments or noises during the ceremony
• Participating in rude behavior such as passing around or hitting inflatable beach balls, etc.  
• Doing anything unusual while on stage receiving diploma cover (skipping, dancing, etc.)

Any student who participates in one of these inappropriate actions will not receive his/her diploma that afternoon. Instead, a staff member will pull the offending student’s diploma. In order for the student to receive his/her actual diploma, he/she will have to do all of the following the week after graduation.
1. Write a letter of apology to the Superintendent of Schools and School Board members.
2. Write another letter of apology to the faculty and administration of Evans High School.
3. Complete fifteen hours of volunteer service at Evans during post-planning.

Once all of these stipulations have been met, the student may receive his/her diploma.

Evans has established and maintained a reputation of academic excellence that is well known throughout Georgia.  We expect our students/graduates to behave accordingly as they are honored in a manner that they so richly deserve. By signing below, each student is acknowledging his/her responsibility of behaving appropriately during this graduation ceremony and also understands the consequences that will result from violating this contract.


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Print Student Name     Signature of Student

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Signature of Parent/Guardian


 
Graduation Dress Code

Participation in the graduation ceremony is not mandatory; however, if you choose to participate, you are expected to dress and act accordingly.  Specific dress expectations are as follows:
 
Ladies:
• Should wear dresses that do not extend below the graduation gown or dark dress pants.
• Should wear dark dress shoes (preferably black) without extreme heel height.
• Should wear her cap flat on top of the head-not tilted on the back of the head.
• Should not bring a purse into graduation.  We are not held responsible for items left at Lady A. Either let a family member hold it for you or lock it in your car trunk before entering the amphitheater.
 
Gentlemen:
• Should wear white dress shirts with a dark necktie, dark dress pants, and dark dress shoes (preferably black).
• Khaki pants are not acceptable.
• Ties/Bowties are mandatory.
• Should wear his cap flat on top of the head-not tilted on the back of the head.
 
For both groups, unacceptable attire includes jeans of any color, tennis shoes, hunting boots, flip flops, bowling shoes, cowboy boots, hiking boots, etc.  Students may not alter the graduation cap or gown (no embellishing).
Graduates are not allowed to carry cell phones.  We will not store them for you, so leave them in your car or with a family member.
*If you have a need (ex. Financial concerns regarding dress code for graduation) please let your Counselor know so that we can assist you.*

By signing below, each student is acknowledging his/her responsibility of behaving appropriately during this graduation ceremony and also understands the consequences that will result from violating this contract.


____________________________    ______________________________
Print Student Name     Signature of Student

____________________________
Signature of Parent/Guardian