Senior Memo

May 6, 2016
Important Dates
Student Awards Ceremony
Performing Arts Center
Business Casual dress.

May 18

Things to know before you go!

7:00
p.m.

iPad Collection & Fees

Seniors return all iPad (fully
MOD 2charged), iPad case, iPad charger
12
and cable. iPads will be collected May 19
in the Rotunda. Students also
& 20
(8:45
need to pay all River Caf fees,
2:10)
Learning Common fees, athletic
and school fees by 3:40 p.m.
Text Books
Seniors should return all school
issued text books to the book
room. Enter between the Dance
Room and the Wrestling Room.

May 23
-26

Graduation Practice
MANDATORYPerforming
Arts Center (PAC). Breakfast
will be served from 8:008:20.

June 3

GRADUATION!!!
Colonial Life Arena
Enter on Gadsden Street.

8:00
a.m.

Arrive
by
June 4
11:00
a.m.

Its time!! Graduation is

upon us! This is a time of
great excitement but also
one that can be filled with
great anxiety. We hope that
by providing you with as
many details as possible,
you will feel as prepared as
possible.
If you havent been able to
pick up or finish paying for
senior supplies, dont
worry! Your supplies are
still available in Mrs.
Cunninghams Office
(across from Main A
Collaborative Commons). If
you owe money, please pay
with cash or a money order.
One thing that I cannot
stress enough is that
seniors need to make sure
all fees have been taken
care of by May 20. If you

owe the school money, you will

not receive your diploma,
transcript or report card until
the fee has been paid. Please
begin checking with the
Learning Commons, River
Caf and Caf 320, athletics
and the finance office to make
sure your balances are paid.
Please make sure you turn in
your iPad, iPad case, iPad
charger and cable. Students
may begin turning in iPads
and accessories May 19-20
MOD 2-12 (8:45-2:10). Make
sure iPads are fully charged.
River Cafe refunds will be
issued on May 20 in the River
Caf between 8:30 a.m.10:15
a.m.
Please feel free to contact me if
you have any questions
concerning graduation.
Avis Cunningham
803.821.0792
acunningham@lexington1.net

Senior Exams
May 23-26
Seniors may exempt exams unless they are failing. A
senior who is not failing a course may take an exam in
an effort to improve his/her grade in a course. For these
students, their final course grade can be raised but not
lowered by the grade they receive on
these exams. Please let your teacher
know if you are planning to take an exam
so they can get the exam ready.

Page 2

Graduation Decorum
Graduation is a very important
ceremony and should be treated
with the utmost respect. Below is a
code of conduct for the graduation
ceremony. If you do not abide by
this code, one or both of the
following will occur.

1. You may be pulled from the

ceremony and not be allowed to
participate.

2. Should the misbehavior occur

during the ceremony you will
not receive your diploma until
you and your parents meet with
Dr. Clamp the week after school
ends.
CODE OF CONDUCT

Students will not write on, nor

attach items to their caps. (i.e.
words, letters, pictures, bows,
pompoms, monograms, etc.)
Students will stand and sit at
all appropriate times and
refrain from talking or being
disruptive during the ceremony.
Students will walk across the
stage in a respectful manner. No
strutting, dancing, gesturing, or
taking selfies will be allowed. If

any of these actions take place

the student will be escorted out
of Colonial Life Arena.
Students will shake the
principals hand upon receiving
his/her diploma cover.
At no time during the ceremony
will students wave, make hand
gestures, point, shout, etc.
Cell phones must be turned off
and put away during all parts of
the ceremony.

questionable or disruptive in any

way during the ceremony, you will
not receive your diploma at this
time. You and your parents should
schedule a time to meet with Dr.
Clamp the week after school ends.
We are expecting a graduation
ceremony that will create positive
memories for you and your family.

Students are reminded that this is a

school event and all district and
school rules will be enforced.
Please understand this code of
conduct is in place to assure the
proper atmosphere for graduation.
Misbehavior by a small minority
ruins the ceremony for everyone.
This is a once in a lifetime ceremony
and should be treated with honor
and respect. Graduation is not an
individual event but rather an event
for the whole class.
As you walk across the stage, you
will be presented with a diploma
cover without your diploma. If the
senior advisor or the administration
feels your behavior has been

What to Wear at Graduation

Females:

Males:

For All:

Wear long black or khaki dress

pants and a blouse, a dress or skirt
and blouse with a neckline that
does not extend above the neckline
of the robe. Dress shoes are required. Graduates will be standing
for a long time, walk up a ramp
and across a stage.

Wear a white or light colored dress

shirt, dark/khaki pressed dress
pants and dark neck tie. (no bowties) Wear dress shoes and socks.

The proper length for a robe is midway between the knee and ankle.
All robes should be wrinkle-free
The RB should be on the front of
your stole. The cap should be approximately one inch above the
eyebrows and sit flat on your head.
Make sure your cap is secured. The
RBHS tassel should be on the right
side.

NO TENNIS SHOES, FLIP

FLOPS, BLUE JEANS, OR
SHORTS.

NO TENNIS SHOES, FLIP

FLOPS, BLUE JEANS, OR
If you are not dressed appropriately,
you will not be allowed to participate
in graduation.

Page 3

Helpful Graduation Tips

Tickets are NOT required for admission into the Colonial Life Arena for each guest.

Doors to the Colonial Life Arena will open thirty minutes (11:30 a.m.) prior to graduation.

Please have all caps, gowns, stoles, and tassels on. Ladies, please do not bring purses or other valuables.
There is no secure place to leave them. Faculty/Staff will not be responsible for any students belongings.

Videos of graduation can be ordered at www.virtualmediasc.com. More information will be sent to you
directly from the company.

Strawbridge will take individual handshake pictures. You will receive a flyer with directions on how to
order these pictures in your Graduation packet. These packets will be distributed at Graduation Practice on
Friday, June 3.

If you are NOT planning to participate in graduation, notify Avis Cunningham as soon as possible.

If you are NOT planning to participate in graduation, pick up your diploma in the Main Office on Monday,
June 6, 2016. Diplomas not picked-up by that afternoon will be mailed to the address listed in PowerSchool
providing all school debts have been paid.

Important News from the Counseling and Advisement Department

Senior Follow-up Forms
All seniors should complete the Senior Follow-up form (yellow form).
You will be given this form in CREW
and need to return it to your CREW
leader by May 13. If you have any
questions visit Counseling and Advisement.
Major Cords & Honor Medallions
Seniors earning a district major will
be given a green and gold cord to
wear at graduation.
Major Completion applications were
due May 1. If you will earn a major
and didnt turned in your application
to your counselor, do so immediately.
Honor graduates are students who
earn a 4.0 or higher GPA for their
final cumulative GPA.
Both cords and medallions will be

given out at graduation practice on

June 3.

request their final transcript

through Naviance. Transcripts must
be requested by June 1 for them to
Diploma plaques, a copy of your
be delivered before the college deadimmunization, and a preliminary
copy of your final transcript will also line at the end of June.
be distributed at practice.
Military
If you have enlisted in any branch of
Scholarships
military service, please submit proof
Any senior who is offered a scholar- of enlistment. We would like to recship, even one you will not be accept- ognize your commitment. Submising, should bring a copy of the schol- sions should be made by May 13th.
arship award letter to Counseling
and Advisement by May 13. This
Naviance Access after Graduainformation will be used for the
tion
graduation program.
Students need to change their email
address to a personal email by June
Final Transcripts
4. Log in to Naviance and go to
Final transcripts will be sent
about me then under official
electronically to colleges and univer- things click on profile and click the
sities as well as technical colleges
edit pencil to change your email
following graduation. Seniors must
from your school to personal one.

A Message from the Colonial Life Arena

The Colonial Life Arena does not allow
balloons, large packages, posters, signs, flags,
noise makers, horns, bells, etc., food/drink or
floral arrangements to be brought in by
patrons.
Be courteous and allow those who have come
early to have their choice of seats. Do not hold
seats for those who have not arrived. Thanks
for your cooperation.
Handicap and wheelchair seating is available.
One family member will be allowed to sit with
the handicap/wheelchair patron. Any questions
may be directed to Oteria Bullock at
803.576.9081 or Duane Scott at 803.576.5527.
Parking For Attendees
Senate St. Garage Entrance is located on the

corner of Senate and Pickens Streets. Shuttle

pickup to the Colonial Life Arena will be at the
1000 block of Pickens Street.
Pendleton St. Garage Entrance is located on the

1000 block of Pickens Street. Parking only in the

metered parking spaces on levels 1A, 1B or 2B.
Vehicles parked in non-metered spaces are
subject to ticket and tow. Shuttle pickup to the
Colonial Life Arena will be on the 1000 block of
Pickens Street.
Park Street Garage (City of Columbia Garage)
Entrance is located on the corner of Lincoln and
Pendleton Streets. This will not be a shuttle
pickup/drop off area. There will be a charge of $5 per
vehicle.

Additionally, there are metered spaces available on

Senate Street, near the Senate Street and Pendleton
Street garages as well as, College Street and Sumter
Street in front of the USC Horseshoe. A USC Shuttle
will pick up at the USC Horseshoe entrance on
Sumter Street to ride to the Colonial Life Arena.
The blocked off streets on the map will be available
for walking patrons only. Students will still be able
to walk to the back of the building down Greene
Street.
Disability Parking
GS4 Parking Lot Disability Parking Located in
front of the Colonial Life Arena, surrounded by Greene,
Gadsden, Devine, and Lincoln Streets Enter on Devine
Street. Parking in this lot will require a handicap
placard or license plate.

Additional ParkingAdditional parking may be

available for a fee at the following locations: Columbia

City Garages on the corner of Lincoln and Pendleton
Streets and at the corner of Washington and Lincoln
Streets (No shuttle available).

Shuttle drop off/pickup for the Colonial Life Arena

will be at the corner of College and Lincoln Streets.

Parking For Graduates

Horizon Garage Located at 519 Main Street. Graduates should

park in this garage and ride the USC Shuttle to the Lincoln Street
side of the Colonial Life Arena. Shuttle pickup to the Colonial Life
Arena will be at the corner of Main and Wheat Streets.

After the Ceremony

After the ceremony, graduates should meet their family on the
Green Street side of the building. Graduates are not permitted to
re-enter the building after exiting.