Graduation Practice

One item you will have to take care of during practice is creating your name card. This card will be used to say your name properly when you receive your diploma.

You will write it as it is spelled and write it out phonetically.

Example:

Ann-juh-luh Fur-duh

Graduation

o Tuesday June 17th 5 pm

§ Location: Memorial Stadium

· 401 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

§ Expect the ceremony to last no longer than 90 minutes

§ Graduates should enter through the lower NE “tunnel” entrance and gather at the West endzone of the stadium.

§ Graduates should be at the West endzone no later than 4:00 pm.

What to wear

§ To participate in the ceremony graduates must be in the National Achiever issued cap & gown unit zipped up.

· You can decorate your cap and gown as you please, but it must be a school appropriate message.

o No curse words, drug or alcohol references, or inappropriate images

o If your cap is not appropriate you will have to buy a new one at the ceremony to participate in graduation.

· Any additional cords, stoles, and medals that were earned through scholarship, clubs, or awards are free to be worn on top of the traditional cap and gown unit

· Students who have been gifted cultural gear such as leis or cultural stoles are welcome to wear those on top of the cap and gown unit

· You will be walking one full loop around the track and the length of the football field before you take your seats. You will also walk from your seats, across the stage, and back to your seats when your name is called. After the ceremony you will be walking the length of the field and up a hill on the NW side of the stadium ending at the central fountains.

o Wear appropriate shoes that you can walk in

§ Tickets for Graduation

· No tickets are needed to attend graduation. This event is open to the families, friends, and communities of the graduates. Seating is on a first come basis.

Parking & entrance locations

§ Parking & entrance locations

· There is paid parking available at the stadium, street parking in the lower Queen Anne district, as well as across the street from the stadium at the Gates Foundation.

· We encourage families to carpool together, drop their graduates at the tunnel entrance, and then go find parking.

· Both the North and South sides of the stadium will be open for families and friends to enter.

· Memorial Stadium is known for its extremely steep stairs so please keep that in mind.

· The district has promised that there will be reserved disability seating that can be accessed from both the North and South entrances.

· Your graduate will know what side of the stadium they are seated on after graduation practice so be sure to connect with them to know what side of the stadium is best for viewing.

• Celebrating your graduate
  • Per district rules, no balloons, glitter, confetti, silly string, fog horns, banners, or loud noisemakers are permitted.
    • Anything that impedes someone else from seeing or hearing their own graduate is not allowed.
  • There will be no on-field celebrations or picture opportunities for graduates and families following the ceremony.
    • Another school is graduating shortly after our ceremony wraps up so we need to leave the space so they can prepare for their ceremony.
  • Families and friends should use the designated exits immediately after the ceremony and plan to reunite with their graduate at the Seattle Center central fountain.
  • A professional photographer will be working the ceremony 2024-25 West Seattle HS Graduation Pictures
    • You are welcome to bring your own cameras to capture your moments, but families must stay in the designated seating while taking photos.

· Diploma Pickup

o Starting Wednesday June 18th graduates will be able to pickup their diploma in the front office.

o The graduate or parent/guardian of the graduate must be their to sign for the diploma.

o If you cannot make it on the 18th, summer hours for the building will be 8-2 pm M-F. Use the callbox at the main entrances for building access.

Class of 2025 Road to Graduation 

Graduation is just around the corner, and we want to ensure every graduate, and their loved ones are informed and prepared as these future celebrations quickly approach. 

• PE Waivers Due 
  • Wednesday May 7 @ Advisory 
• Senior meeting during Advisory in the theater 
• Cap and Gown Distribution – Friday May 9 @ 11:45-12:40 
• National Achiever will be in-person during advisory and lunch to distribute all cap and gown packages that have been paid in full. 
  • We encourage students to have their cap and gown paid in full prior to your arrival on Friday but you can pay your remaining balance using cash or check in-person. 
  • Still haven’t ordered?  Use the link below to get your order in.  This does not guarantee your cap and gown unit will be available for pickup this Friday, but the company promises to see what they can do to accommodate.  You will however get it before graduation. Order your Senior Graduation Gear  
  • If finances are an issue, your graduate should reach out to their counselor immediately to access the programs we have to support. 
• Senior Meeting –Tuesday May 20 @ Advisory Last Senior meeting of the year.  Voting for  Prom court, Graduation speakers and performers 
• Senior awards night honors 
• Prom & Graduation updates 
• Talent Show – Wednesday May 28 @ 6pm
  • Don’t leave WS without showing off your true talents or take in the show with friends from the audience. 
• Senior Awards Night, Thursday May 29 @ 6:00 pm 
  • Join the class of 2025 as we celebrate and honor students with scholarships, department awards, and student nominated awards. This event is open to all graduates and their families. 
• Field Day – Wednesday June 4 @ 1:20-2:20pm 
  • Modified schedule day.  Spend the afternoon with peers enjoying live music, food trucks, and student sponsored activities. 
  • We are looking for parent volunteers for this event.  Please access this sign-up genius for available slots: Sign up to volunteers for this event  
• Book Returns – Friday, June 6
• All WSHS library books, class novels, and textbooks must be returned. If you have any old books from your middle school or elementary school, they can be returned to Ms. Amy in the library on or before June 6th. 
• Prom – Friday June 6 @ 8-11 pm, Location: Ballard Elks Lodge (6411 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle)  Join your peers for the last dance of your High School experience.  We will have a professional DJ, professional photobooth, light food and drinks. 
  • Tickets, End of May 30: $35 w/ Activities sticker, $40 w/ no sticker, June: $40 w/ Activities sticker, $45 w/ no sticker 
  • June 2nd-5th  students who purchased their ticket online MUST pick their physical ticket up and add their names to the list. 
  • All students, regardless of online payment or in-person payment must meet in-person to get their physical ticket and get their names and guest names added to the official guest list. 
  • Each senior is given the opportunity to bring a guest outside of the graduating class as your date.  Guests that are West Seattle underclassmen will not need a guest pass but their name must be included when purchasing a ticket.  Any guest, senior or underclassmen, that doesn’t attend WS will need to complete a guest form PRIOR to purchasing their ticket. 
  • Guest Pass form: TBD
• Senior checkout sheets
  • Released Friday June 9   
  • Due back no later than Friday June 13  
  • All seniors are required to complete a senior checkout form. 
  • The form will include the following items that need to be signed off 
• Librarian signature 
  • All materials must be returned to the library. This includes WSHS library books, laptops, chargers, and textbooks.
• Senior Awards Night – Thursday May 29 @ 6:00 pm.
• Senior Breakfast – June 16 @ 9am
  • Join the class of 2025 for breakfast in the commons at 9am followed by a mandatory graduation practice in the gym.

  

Senior Deadlines: October 2, 2024

Mandatory Graduation Cap + Gown meeting: Wednesday, 10/2/24, during advisory.

Mandatory Graduation Cap + Gown meeting: Wednesday, 10/2/24, during advisory.Senior Quote: No later than November 20th

Submit your senior quote

This step should only be done by a senior using their @seattleschools SPS email to login

No profanity or references to inappropriate topics

Keep in mind that this will be archived in print forever.  Choose your words wisely.

Senior Portrait and Baby Photo: No later than January 10th

Submit photos through our yearbook portal

Submit your photos

The link will go live starting today

Code: west seattle

Complete the boxes with the information that matches your photo

Be sure to click the button that says “click here to upload portrait photos”  before uploading

Upload in portrait not candid section

Once you have uploaded your portrait or baby photo, please fill in students name and grade level (12).

This is the name that will appear under your photo in the book.

If baby photo, please indicate baby, not grade 12.

Photo Requirements

File format should be Jpeg

Images need to be at least 1mb in size

Must follow West Seattle dress code

No watermarks, filters, or masks covering the face

Please note you will not receive a confirmation from the website after you submit but the yearbook staff plans to release a list of photos received closer to the final deadline

Adult Shoutout: No later than January 31st

The WS yearbook staff believes every senior deserves a special shoutout from the adults that have helped them make it this far and that this tradition should be free.

From now until the 31st feel free to leave one message for your senior. 

For sake of space, we ask that the messages stay one per household and are no longer than 2 sentences.

Examples:

(Student name), we are so proud of you!  You are amazing, smart, kind, and bring us so much joy! Love Dad, Mom, & Addy

(Student name), like a force to be reckoned with; a mighty ocean or a gentle kiss.  I will love you with every single thing I have, always. -Mom

(Student name), Take the time to enjoy each moment and be ruthless with how you choose to spend your time, it will fly by.  We are proud of you and will continue to cheer you on whatever path you choose. Love, the fam.

Class of 2025 Adult Shoutout Form