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STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY JUNE 1, 2024
BUTLER FIELD HOUSE
13755 SOUTH MAIN HOUSTON, TX 77037
10:00 AM

If you do not plan on attending the graduation ceremony, please email Ms. Nordt at dnordt@staffordmsd.org. Diplomas will be available for pick-up in the SHS front office on June 11, 2023.

GRADUATION PRACTICE: Thursday, May 30^th and Friday, May 31^st in the Competition Gym – 9:00am

In-person attendance at both graduation practices is MANDATORY to attend the graduation event.  Students with conflicts should address these issues with their Assistant Principals as soon as possible.

STUDENT ARRIVAL: Saturday, June 1^st in the Competition Gym – 8:00 AM

All graduates must take the bus from Stafford High School to Butler Field House. Graduates may begin arriving at the SHS Competition Gym at 8:00am and arrive no later than 8:30am. Graduates should not be wearing their cap and gown when they arrive. They will put on their cap and gown once inside the SHS Competition Gym after they check in. Please leave all personal items, including backpacks and purses, at home or in your vehicle.

Gentlemen should wear slacks, a collared shirt, and a tie. Ladies may wear a dress, skirt and blouse, or slacks and a collared shirt. Shoes should be of a dark color.  Students should not wear spiked heels. Only flats or wedges will be allowed. Graduation caps and gowns will be available in the gym for purchase at a cost of $80. Caps and gowns may not be altered in any way and students may only wear school-approved cords, stoles, and/or medals.

During the ceremony, please follow the directions of staff members seated at the end of each row to know when it is time to stand and sit. When it is time for your row to walk across the stage, you will stand and turn to your right. You will follow your row leader to the stage. When your name is called you will be handed your diploma cover and will pause at center stage to have your picture taken with the superintendent. After the picture, continue across the stage, down the ramp, and stop to take your picture. You will then walk back to your row and your seat and continue standing until all students who are seated in your row have returned. When all students in your row have returned, please sit when directed to do so by the staff member row leaders.

At the end of the school song, please follow your staff member row leaders back off the floor and exit the arena. If thrown, students should not chase their caps. Caps will be collected and can be picked up when they pick up their diploma. You should join your family in the parking lot at your vehicle and leave the premises.  Graduation tickets will designate whether your family should be seated on the Home side of the arena or the Visitor side of the arena. Due to safety concerns, graduates and guests will not be allowed to loiter outside of the stadium or in parking lots after the ceremony.

GUEST ARRIVAL: 9:00 AM

Each graduate will receive seven (7) tickets at graduation practice on Friday, May 31^st. Guests of all ages will have to show a campus graduation ticket before entering the stadium. Guests without a ticket will not be admitted under any circumstances.

Graduation tickets will designate the side of the stadium on which you should sit.

No programs will be distributed at the gates. Four hard copies of the program will be distributed at graduation practice and an electronic version will be available via scanned QR codes at the venue.

Per HISD policy all guests will be subject to a security screening and bag check upon arrival and out of courtesy to other guests, large signs, balloon arrangements, artificial noisemakers, including air horns, flowers, and confetti are prohibited in the arena.

LIVE-STREAMING INFORMATION:

The event will be live streamed from the SMSD website. You can find the link at:
https://highschool.staffordmsd.org/families/graduation
Additionally, if families miss the live stream, the video will be posted on the SMSD YouTube channel soon after the event.

CEREMONY: 10:00 AM

Audio of Pomp and Circumstance will be played. Students will enter the stadium from the West side of the arena. Everyone should stand during the playing of Pomp and Circumstance.

Following the playing of the alma mater at the end of the ceremony, as students are exiting the floor, guests should begin exiting the arena. Graduates will be reunited with their families on both the North and South sides of the arena. No loitering will be permitted outside of the stadium or in parking lots.

Graduates needing to ride the bus back to SHS must inform Mr. Garcia at graduation practice and should meet behind the arena on the West side following the ceremony.