Graduation

BOARD PROCEDURE                                                       Descriptive Code: JN

 

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:                                   Date:   May 10, 2021

 

The following list represents the approved academic regalia that may be worn with graduation attire if the associated criteria are met:

 

• Valedictory and Salutatory Medals (worn around the neck)

 

• Honor Graduate Cords

      EHS – Black and Gold

      GBHS – Green and Gold

      GTHS – Silver and Blue

      HHS – Red and Black

      LHS – Silver and Burgundy

 

• AP Capstone Diploma- Blue and Black Cord
• French Honor Society (Société Honoraire de Français) - Red/White/Blue Cord
• German National Honor Society-Delta Epsilon Phi (Deutsche Ehrenverbindung) - Red/Black/Yellow Cord
• Governor’s Honors Program - Silver/Blue/Black Cord
• International Baccalaureate- Royal Blue Cord
• International Thespian Society (theatre) - Blue/Gold Cord
• Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics) - Light Blue/Yellow Cord
• National Art Honor Society (visual arts) - Multi-Colored Cord
• National Beta Club – Gold Cord
• National English Honor Society (English language) - Navy/Gold Cord
• National Honor Society - White Stole/Light Blue Crest
• National Social Studies Honor Society (RHO KAPPA) - Royal Blue/White Cord
• National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society (National Forensic League) - Red/Gray Cord
• National Technical Honor Society (CTAE) - Silver/Purple Cord
• REACH Scholar- Royal Blue/Green/Gold
• Science National Honor Society - Green/Gold/Purple Cord
• Spanish National Honor Society (Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica) - Red/Gold Cord
• Tri-M Music Honor Society - Pink Cord

 

Graduation Program

Only the following designations will be noted with a corresponding symbol by the student name:

• Valedictorian
• Salutatorian
• STAR Student
• Honor Graduate
• Advanced Placement Capstone Candidate

 

• International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate
• Associate Degree
• In Memoriam
• Perfect Attendance

 

Presentation of Diplomas

School district certified staff members may present diplomas to their own children. Certified staff serving in locations other than their child’s high school must wear faculty gowns and academic regalia relevant to their degree(s) and be seated on stage, rather than processing in with the faculty. 

 

 

ADOPTED:  7/10/19

REVISED:     4/19/21, 5/10/21         

 

 

Columbia County Board of Education

 

Graduation Commencement Ceremony Decorum and Courtesy

 

The faculty and staff of the Columbia County School District’s five high schools congratulate the candidates for graduation on their academic achievements and wish to ensure the commencement ceremony will be a fitting conclusion to this phase of their education.

 

Commencement is a special, significant, and festive occasion. Many family members and friends will come from long distances to witness the memorable ceremony. The faculty, staff, and administrators have planned the program and arrangements with every consideration to make this an impressive and enjoyable event for all candidates and spectators. It is our wish to provide a setting that celebrates this accomplishment with warmth, joy, and satisfaction.

 

Each ceremony is also marked by dignity and seriousness where the actual conferring of diplomas* signifies the long, hard work on the part of everyone involved: students, parents, faculty, and administrators. As a consequence of the serious nature of the ceremony, students and guests are expected to uphold traditions and maintain a measure of decorum consistent with the occasion.

 

DOs

 

•        Give everyone the opportunity to hear each graduate’s name announced.

 

•        Silence all pagers, cellular telephones, and electronic devices during the entire ceremony.

 

DON'Ts

 

•        Fireworks, beach balls (and the like), cans, confetti, drugs, alcohol are prohibited.

 

•        Noisemakers, e.g., cow bells, air horns, trumpets, etc., are prohibited.

 

•        Behaviors that disrupt the ceremony are prohibited e.g. gestures, dances, flips, and yelling.

 

 

EXPECTATIONS

 

•      STUDENTS

 

•       Students are expected to wear with dignity their graduation regalia as traditionally intended. Mortarboards are to be free of adornment; Pins, medals, crests, etc.… are not be affixed to the gown or mortarboard; Only approved Valedictory and Salutatory medals and Honor Graduate academic cords and stoles distributed by the high school may be worn around the neck. (See list approved honor cords and stoles. Post-secondary cords, crests, medals, pins, sashes, or scarves may not be worn.)

 

•        Students are expected to wear appropriate clothing beneath their graduation gown. ​We SUGGEST that candidates wear professional attire consisting of dark flat shoes, dark pants, or dark dresses/skirts. ​Casual wear (shorts, flip-flops, hats, visors, sunglasses) is inappropriate.

 

•       Students and guests are expected to refrain from disruptive behavior.

 

•       Students are expected to return to their seats after receiving their diplomas. They should remain seated for the duration of the ceremony until directed otherwise.

 

•       GUESTS

 

•        Family members and/or guests are not permitted on the arena floor.

 

•       The Columbia County School District maintains the proud and historic tradition of permitting each diploma candidate to shake hands with the Superintendent, Board Members, and Administrators as his/her name is spoken. The last diploma candidate is as important as the first. As a result, applause and other recognitions of the conferring of diplomas are expected to be limited to a joint effort at the announcement of each graduate, but with respect for the next candidate so that his/her name can be heard.

 

* The Columbia County School District permits its CCSD certified staff members to present diplomas to their respective children. Participants must wear faculty gowns and academic regalia relevant to their degree(s). If the participant does not work at the student’s high school, he/she must report to and be seated on the stage as directed, rather than process in with the faculty. When the student approaches the podium to receive his/her diploma, the parent will step forward (principal will step back) and present the diploma. The change should be seamless so there is no impact on the timing of the process.

• Will be recognized at the end of the ceremony using a pre-recorded video.  
• Their names will be called in alphabetical order and pictures will be placed on the screen.  
• Students should be notified that if they are not participating in graduation and they do not submit their name to the school prior to the deadline, they will not be recognized at the end of graduation.

A message via our social media outlets will go out if a delay or postponement is needed.