Information for Seniors

Senior Dues: $180

• Includes the cost of:
  • graduation ceremony venue 
  • cap, gown & tassel 
  • graduation program 
  • diploma and cover 
  • senior short-sleeved shirt if paid by January 31st, 2025
  • All other senior activities
• In order to participate in graduation activities, this must be paid
• After February 1st there is a $20 late fee & delivery of cap & gown may be delayed
• Pay at scholasticimages.com

Yard Sign: $25

Purchase a yard sign announcing your senior’s graduation on MyPaymentsPlus today! The final day to purchase is April 4, 2025. Yard Signs will be sent home at the end of April.

Senior Portraits

*Senior Portraits are complete for the Class of 2025

Please let Ms. O'Connor know if you have questions or concerns - Lauren.OConnor@gcpsk12.org

Senior Tributes

*Senior Tribute orders are complete for the Class of 2025

Please let Ms. O'Connor know if you have questions or concerns - Lauren.OConnor@gcpsk12.org

Yearbook

• Purchase in MyPaymentsPlus
  • $70 until 12/31/24
  • $75 if copies are still available until 3/31
• We do not order extra copies-- buy yours today on MyPaymentsPlus!
• Contact: Mrs. O'Connor for more information. Lauren.OConnor@gcpsk12.org

MANDATORY! 

• Missed practice = not walking in the ceremony
• Do not bring your cap & gown.

When? 

• Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 7:00 a.m.  

Where? 

• Paul Duke STEM High School Gym

Number of tickets for each graduate: 8

• Gas South’s policy is “children under 24 months do not require a ticket to enter. However, in order for a child to have his/her own seat, a ticket is required.”  This policy also applies to infant carriers.

• Tickets will be distributed at the end of graduation practice.
  • Must meet requirements (see below).
  • Lost, damaged, and/or stolen tickets will not be replaced.
  • No extra tickets will be available.
  • Paul Duke STEM will not facilitate ticket exchanges or “sales”

Requirements:

1. Must have paid Senior Dues.
2. Must attend graduation practice Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 7am
3. Graduation tickets will be withheld from seniors who have outstanding books, fees, fines, and/or items.
   • Most outstanding items/fees are listed in StudentVue (you may need to click fees).

When?  

• Thursday, May 22nd at 10am
  • Seniors will arrive at 8:30am and no later than 9am
  • Doors for family, friends, and guests open 1 hour prior at 9am.

Where?

• Gas South Exhibit Halls C/D

Seniors:

• Before you leave for the arena checklist:
  • Cap, Gown, Stole, Tassel
    • All other non-Paul Duke STEM issued stoles / cords / sashes / tassels will be confiscated.
  • Be mindful of traffic and the time it will take for you to park and get seated.
• Arrive by 8:30am and enter through the first doors as you come down the escalators.
• Do not have your gown zipped, you will be checked for cell phones.
• Do not bring in cell phones.  They will be confiscated and can be picked up at the end of the ceremony.
• Do not decorate your caps/gowns.  All caps and gowns must be plain.

Parents / Guardians / Guests:

• Doors open at 9am and enter the arena through the second set of doors with your tickets in hand.
• After the ceremony, meet graduates outside in the terrace area.

Gas South Arena's CLEAR BAG POLICY for all attendees.

• Dress Appropriately:
  • Males:  
    • Any color dress pants or khakis (no holes/fraying)
      1. no joggers nor pants with elastic at the bottom
    • Collared shirt (plain or with subtle print or stripes)
      1. no t-shirts
    • Any color dress shoes; Leather Sperry or Sperry-like shoes are allowed
      1. no canvas shoes
    • NO jeans, tennis shoes, or flip flops
    • Minimal/simple jewelry (necklaces and bracelets may not show outside the gown)
  • Females:  
    • A dress OR blouse and full-length dress slacks (no capris/crop length).  
    • Flats or low heels.  Heels must have a strap around the back of the foot or around the ankle. 
      1. Be sure to break-in shoes.  There will be lots of walking. Consider wearing the shoes to last day of finals or graduation practice.
    • NO dresses with collars
    • NO jeans, tennis shoes, or flip flops
    • Minimal/simple jewelry (necklaces and bracelets may not show outside the gown)

• High school graduating seniors (Honor Grads) who have an overall “A” cumulative average, 90.0 (not rounded) or greater and have not accumulated 5 or more absences for the semester, will be exempt from taking 2nd semester local final examinations for the second semester except when an EOC Assessment is required. EXCEPTION: If the student is FAILING a specific course they must take the final exam in that course. 
• High school graduating seniors who have an “A” average, 90.0 (not rounded) or greater and have not accumulated 5 or more absences for the semester, in a specific course, may be exempt from taking a local second semester final examination on a course by course basis.
  Please know that students cannot have more than 5 absences and exempt exams. The 5 absences is the total of excused and unexcused absences in a given class.

What is an absence?

• 10 minutes tardy = Absent or AWOL
• Field trips do not count-- you are technically present
• An absence is an absence (excused OR unexcused).