Let's Get Graduation Ready!

The Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2024 is just about one week away. Please join us Saturday, June 8 at 6 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium as we celebrate the journey ahead for our senior class. Here's the low-down on what W.F. West Seniors and their families need to know for senior week, graduation and beyond.

Sunday, June 2

• 3 p.m Senior Cruise Sponsored by the Class of 2024 Parent Group - seniors can begin lining up at 2:15 p.m. at W.F. West High School. Cruise will travel along 18th Street to Snively, then Snively to 20th, then past Chehalis Middle School, and Orin Smith & James Lintott Elementary, then Bishop to Maurin to Rush Road to Kirkland and ends at Bethel Church. Spectators can gather on both sides of the street near the middle and elementary schools or on Rush Road between Maurin and Bishop
• 4 p.m. Baccalaureate Sponsored by the Class of 2024 Parent Group at Bethel Church. Please wear appropriate clothes, no caps & gowns. Dessert reception to follow in the lobby

Monday, June 3

• Regular school day for all W.F. West students, including seniors
• 7 p.m. Spring Class Comps at Bearcat Stadium - freshmen wear orange, sophomores wear blue, juniors wear green and seniors wear pink. Take part in: tug of war; water balloon dodge ball; slip-n-slide; chalk art; and many more fun activities.

Tuesday, June, 4

• Regular school day for all W.F. West students, including seniors
• 7 p.m. Final Orchestra concert of the year in W.F. West commons, featuring a full orchestra with guest senior performers

Wednesday, June 5

• 11:20 a.m. Senior Awards Assembly, parents invited
• 12:50 p.m. dismissal for all W.F. West students for final PAWS Day of 2023-2024

Thursday, June 6

• 8 a.m. MANDATORY commencement practice at Bearcat Stadium, bring cap & gown
• Following Practice - Senior Walk
• Following Senior Walk - Group Photo
• 11a.m. to 1 p.m. - Senior Celebration at Insert Coin, bring money for lunch and games
• 6:30 p.m. - Senior Scholarship and Awards Evening in the gym. Attendance by invitation only. CLICK HERE for live stream link.

Friday, June 7

• 7:40 a.m. - Senior Breakfast in Commons
• 8-10 a.m. - MANDATORY commencement practice at Bearcat Stadium

Saturday, June 8

• 4 p.m. - W.F. West Gym open for seniors to arrive for graduation. Katia Hudson will be offering individual Cap & Gown photos, please sign up for a time slot in the main office
• 5 p.m. - Deadline for ALL seniors to arrive for graduation
• 6 p.m. - Commencement. CLICK HERE for live stream link.
• 10 p.m. June 8 - 3 a.m. June 9 - After Graduation Safe & Sober Night at the PAC, Sponsored by the Parents of the Class of 2024

Monday, June 10- Friday, June 14

• 9th, 10th and 11th graders at W.F. West are still in class on regular schedule. Graduates, please do not return to campus during this time. If you have business to conduct at the school, you need to check in at the office when you arrive

Tuesday, June 25 & Wednesday, June 26

• 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - W.F. West Counseling Office open for seniors to pick up diplomas (seniors who need to arrange a different time should contact Mrs. Stiltner at 360-807-7350 or kstiltner@chehalisschools.org)

Do I need a ticket to attend graduation?

No, there is no limit on the number of people graduates can invite and attendance is free, however, seats are on a first-come, first-served basis. We ask you to be in your seats by at least 5:55 p.m. The ceremony begins at 6 p.m. and no one will be allowed entrance to the stadium during the procession of the seniors to their seats. A limited number of seats will be available for relatives of graduates who have accessibility needs. Please call ahead to arrange this seating.

What if I can't Attend Graduation?

If for any reason you are unable to attend the W.F. West Commencement Ceremony in person, you may view it via live stream. Scholarship night, which takes place 6:30 p.m. June 6, will also be live streamed. Links to the live streams can be found on the Chehalis School District or W.F. West High School main pages.

What if it rains?

In the event of any kind of extreme weather conditions, graduation could be moved into the W.F. West Gym. In this case, the W.F. West commons will be available for overflow seating with viewing of the ceremony via live stream.

What can I bring?

We want you to remember that graduation is a celebration for all of our families and we ask that your celebration not take away from the enjoyment of others. Some rules for the ceremony include:

• No noise making instruments such as air horns allowed
• No balloons allowed as they can block the views of others
• Seniors cannot wear or carry flowers and it may be difficult to retrieve them from the dressing area after the ceremony, so please give them to your graduate after the ceremony
• All other posted rules for Bearcat Stadium (no bicycles or scooters, no dogs, no alcohol) apply during this event

What should my Senior wear to graduation?

• All seniors should wear caps and gowns that are crimson, only. If you plan to borrow a gown, it should be from the last 3 years so that the color will match.
• We ask that seniors dress nicely under their caps & gowns. No shorts.
• Only stoles, medals and honor cords issued by W.F. West High School may be worn during the ceremony. The only exceptions are Tribal regalia of any kind or stoles approved by the update to Board Policy 3442 at the May 21 Board Meeting.
• Seniors may not decorate their caps for the graduation ceremony. Tribal regalia worn on the head is the exception.

Our Bearcat graduates' journeys with us don't end when they walk across the stage at graduation. In Chehalis, our student achievement goals mean we have structures in place to help our recent graduates navigate their next steps.

Once you graduate, Student Achievement Specialist Becky Moon will be your point of contact for all of your support needs including: college questions; help with financial aid; navigating your first quarter/semester on campus; enrolling in a trade school; re-engaging after taking a gap year; feeling nervous about starting a new program; or needing any kind of support or guidance.

Please make sure that Ms. Moon has your personal contact information prior to graduation, she will be reaching out to you over the span of six years following graduation. Please text her your name and number so that you are easy to locate next fall.

Ms. Moon's contact information is... Cell (360) 269-0188 (text or voice call)

Email - bmoon@chehalisschools.org

WFW office - (360) 807-7235 ext. 5510

Another way to stay connected is to sign up for our alumni webpage to stay connected to your bearcat family, you can use the site to reconnect with friends, find mentorship programs, and job opportunities in the community. You will also be able to access information about events that will be taking place throughout the year, plus so much more. You can use to QR code here or go to bearcatconnect.com to sign up.

For those of you heading to Centralia College, there will be several summer events, including their annual Summer Sizzle BBQ (dates TBD). Please watch for emails and text messages about these events.

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