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High School Happenings
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METHACTON HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER: May 6, 2024
Attention Seniors:
Please check your Google Classroom for Important Information!
The senior breakfast is May 22
The senior sunset on June 7.
Please provide your home email address so you are included in all Alumni information. This is on Google Classroom as well.
CHECK OUT THE SENIOR FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE BELOW AS IT HAS BEEN UPDATED SLIGHTLY!
SENIOR FAMILIES: IMPORTANT GRADUATION INFORMATION!
Class of 2024
The following graduation information is of extreme importance. Please be sure to read through it and follow all the directions. Your cooperation will ensure a successful and positive Commencement.
For your convenience, the following Table of Contents has been included to allow you to reference items of particular interest to you as the date approaches.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you for this culminating Methacton tradition!
Graduation
Graduation will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 4:00 p.m. at Methacton High School Stadium.
· The stadium seating area (bleachers and grass areas on the hill) will be open at 3:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. No early reservation of stadium seats will be permitted. Guests are permitted and encouraged to sit on the grass hill, providing their own seat/blanket, as bleacher seats are limited.
· The ceremony will also be streamed live online. The link will be posted on Methacton’s website the day of graduation.
Weather
Every attempt will be made to hold the event outdoors, including adjusting the start time if needed.
· In the event of inclement weather, the decision to hold the ceremony indoors will be made
by the Administration by 10:00 a.m. on June 11.
· The Methacton School District website will carry the announcement as soon as it is made
and will include additional details as needed.
Tickets
Each family will get a total of six (6) wristlets (tickets) for Commencement that will be required for entry: Two (2) gold wristlets that work for inside (if applicable) and/or outside, along with (4) orange wristlets for outside only.
Due to spacing restrictions, IF the ceremony is moved indoors – only two (2) guests are permitted inside (using the gold wristlets noted above) and all other guests are asked to watch the streaming of the event from home or at a local establishment. We do not have the capacity to honor more than two guests per graduating senior inside. (Your senior does NOT need a ticket as they are included in the procession. Tickets are only for guests.)
· Wristlets (tickets) will be distributed during the rehearsal on Friday, June 7, 2024 at graduation practice. They will be in a white envelope with the students name on it.
· ONE car pass will be provided to each senior/family for parking on the High School grounds (regardless of whether the ceremony is indoors or outside).
· Requests for additional tickets cannot be honored due to limited space. Students should
ask classmates if they have extras.
Handicapped Seating and/or Handicapped Parking:
Requests for family members in need of handicapped seating and/or handicapped parking must email the Principal’s Office by Monday, May 13, 2024 at graduation@methacton.org so we have the ability to reserve the space. The email should indicate the graduate’s name, a contact telephone number, and if the request is for seating arrangements, parking or both. Any requests after May 13, 2024 will not be honored.
· For handicapped seating, the student will be given a handicapped ticket indicating the guest and one additional person who will sit in the handicapped seating section. Please note: the handicapped section is only for the handicapped person and a guest; this is not for the entire family.
· Handicapped seating will be located on the track and in the last row of the stadium bleachers. Due to the limited seating on the track, additional seats in this area for other family members is not available.
· Handicapped parking passes may be issued allowing one car to park in the parking lot closest to the stadium. (*Please note: the handicapped parking space is in lieu of the general onsite parking.)
· If the event is moved indoors, if the person in need of handicapped seating is one of the two guests in the gym, we cannot guarantee a companion is able to sit with him/her as space is extremely limited in the gym.
· Please keep in mind, the weather can be quite hot in June. Guests who are sensitive to
the heat may wish to view the ceremony at home (if within the district) on local cable
station or via the internet from any location through online streaming. The link will be
posted on the Methacton’s website the day of graduation.
Parking
Parents and Family:
· Each senior will receive one parking pass to be used by the family to park on school
property.
· Additional cars should park at Fairview Village Church, 3044 W. Germantown Pike and
use the shuttles to the school. Please use the main driveway, not the driveway by the
barn. The shuttles will be available every 15 minutes to transport you to the High School
beginning at 2:45 for our families and guests.
· These buses will be available to you after the ceremony to return you to your car.
· Please report to the offsite lot before 2:45 p.m. to insure that you do not miss the shuttle bus to the cafeteria.
· If you are being dropped off at the high school, the drop-off location is the east wing and
you must be in the cafeteria by 3:15 p.m..
· All seniors must be lined up by 3:45 p.m.
· The procession begins at 3:50 p.m. SHARP.
· Following the ceremony, shuttle buses will be available to return you to your car
Mandatory Rehearsals
Reminders for the rehearsals:
· Please do not schedule any conflicting appointments for medical, dental, or other services
during the mandatory Commencement rehearsals on June 7 (11:40 am), June 10 (9:30 am) and June 11 (8 am).
· Students are not excused from ANY rehearsals. Students who do not attend all rehearsals
may not participate in graduation. Please note that failure to satisfy all obligations by the
deadline may result in missed rehearsal. This is not excused.
· All seniors will report to school as per their individual final exam schedule on June 6 & 7. In the event a senior does not have a final exam, they may arrive late to school and report directly to practice. Students will be asked to sit in the study hall until we dismiss to grad practice.
· Seniors will be dismissed home after graduation practice with their own transportation.
· A Senior must have successfully completed all requirements for graduation (including a
minimum of 23.5 credits in the prescribed courses and demonstration of
proficiency/progress toward State Standards). If not, they will not be permitted to participate in the Commencement exercises. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Obligations
- Students must return their books, calculators, or other similarly assigned materials on June 7, the final “regular” day of school. Chromebooks and chargers may be returned to the library as early as Monday, June 3 if they are not needed for exams. Students will also be able to return their Chromebook and power adapter during 1st or 2nd exam sessions/ before practice, on June 7. If they do not have the item, a check can be written to Methacton School District to satisfy the obligation ($150 Chromebook; $23 power cord). We encourage all students to be responsible and on time with these obligations.
- Seniors must satisfy all obligations, INCLUDING FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS (Food Service POS debt, fees for unreturned books, equipment, uniforms, parking fines, restitution, and/or other items owed) and outstanding detentions to participate in graduation. Students with any outstanding obligations will not be able to participate and final transcripts may not be sent to colleges until the obligations have been satisfied.
Attire
All graduates will wear a Methacton Green cap and gown.
Attire options:
- Dress pants, dress shirt or blouse; tie for those wearing a collared shirt (no string ties please); dark socks; dress; skirt with dress shirt.
- No jeans.
- Dress shoes are to be worn. No slippers, slides, etc., please.
- No (spike) high heels as it will damage the field. (Lower wedges can work.)
- No excessive jewelry, flowers, or corsages for the ceremony.
Failure to follow these guidelines will keep you from walking with your class.
Before the Ceremony
- Pin the tassel to the cap and wear the tassel on the RIGHT side, in the center of the straight edge of your cap. (Hats are marked inside so you know the front and the back). During the graduation ceremony, tassels will be moved from the RIGHT side of the cap to the LEFT side of the cap at a pre-determined time. This will be practiced at rehearsal.
During the Ceremony
- Photographers are NOT permitted to leave the stands to take pictures. Lifetouch photographers will be on hand to capture the moment each student receives his or her diploma. Photos will be online at events.lifetouch.com ten days after the ceremony. Visit events.lifetouch.com to receive notification when your proofs are online and ready to order.
- Please refrain from prolonged applause, cheering, whistling, air horns, and other such behavior while graduates are presented. Such behavior detracts from everyone’s name being heard. This is a formal and special event to mark the culmination and success of every graduate. In this way, everyone has the opportunity to relish this very special occasion.
- Students who engage in disrespectful, distracting, or inappropriate behavior during the ceremony may be removed from the ceremony by the administration and the diploma and student records withheld until appropriate disciplinary consequences are completed. Adequate time and opportunity will be afforded during the ceremony for the class to celebrate this serious and important formal ceremony. Disrespect and disorderly conduct will not be tolerated. We appreciate your support of this important culminating event.
- Students, no chewing of gum during the ceremony, please.
Diploma & Cumulative Records Distribution - After the Ceremony
During the ceremony, your senior’s name will be called, he/she/they will individually process across the stage, our photographer takes their pictures, and seniors receive an empty diploma cover at that time. The distribution of diplomas along with health records, and other academic records occurs in the cafeteria, immediately following the ceremony. This area will close one hour after the end of the graduation ceremony. Diplomas that are not picked up will be available in the Counseling office during regular business hours.
Please Note: These are the ONLY copies of these records so please keep them in a safe place as
replacements cannot be made available because copies do not exist
Students who are NOT participating
If you have decided NOT to participate in our graduation ceremony, please email: graduation@methacton.org by May 13, 2024, so that we can pull your diploma for you and arrange a pickup time and location. **We will be creating the lineup for students and appreciate you letting us know if you will not be participating so that we are able to accurately assign seats.
Graduation Parade
We will continue with our tradition of the graduation parade through our elementary schools on Monday, June 10 after graduation practice. Participation in the graduation parade is voluntary. For any senior wanting to participate in the graduation parade, you need to sign up and pick up a permission slip from the East office by June 7. The signed permission slip will be your ticket onto the bus. On June 10 we will leave MHS at the conclusion of graduation practice (approximately 1:00pm). There will be a bus for each elementary school. Seniors will parade through the elementary school, and then will take the bus back to the high school. Bus transportation is the ONLY OPTION for participation. Home and School will have a snacks prepared for seniors before they leave for the parade. Seniors who participated in the parade will then be dismissed home with their own transportation once they return to campus. (*Students who do not want to participate in the parade are dismissed home at the conclusion of graduation practice.*)
Special Request:
We respectfully request the help of parents and families to help our graduating seniors exercise good judgment and self-respect in their appearance and behavior during Graduation. Like you, our school community looks forward to celebrating the successful completion of many years of hard work by your sons and daughters as well as you, their support system. There will be time after the official ceremony is over for the celebration to take place. We are asking for your help to insure that we can conduct a formal ceremony of which we can all be proud. Therefore, we are requesting your cooperation and help with your graduate. If any member of the class fails to abide by the standards set for these ceremonies, he/she will not be permitted to participate, and that is not a decision administration wants to make.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance.
We look forward to enjoying a memorable event!
GRADUATION FLOWERS
Thanks to Penny's by Plaza Flowers, the Foundation is thrilled to offer Graduation Flower Pre-Orders.
Order flowers for your Methacton Grad today and pick them up at the high school on Graduation day!
A portion of every purchase goes to support innovation in Methacton through the Methacton Education Foundation.
Click Here to learn more and order.
Order bouquets for your favorite graduate and pickup at the Methacton High School Graduation - very convenient!
"SELECT PICKUP STORE" and select the "Pickup at MHS Graduation" under IN-STORE PICKUP, and we'll have them there waiting for you.
Special Education Alliance (SEA) Presents:
SEA Newsletter:
Attention Class of 2025!
Our new photography company has an amazing opportunity just for juniors!
MHS Future Seniors! Special Opportunity for Pictures Explained in Parent Letter
Keystones for Algebra 1, Biology, and English Literature are coming!
Attention Grade 9 and 10 Parents:
KEYSTONE EXAMS:
The Methacton School District will be administering the 2024 Keystone Assessments to all students enrolled in Keystone courses this spring. Again this year, the majority of our students will be completing the assessments online. Students will need to bring their fully charged, district-issued Chromebook and charger to school each day of testing. The testing schedule is outlined below.
KEYSTONE TESTING SCHEDULE AT MHS:
Literature: May 13 and 14
Biology: May 20 and 21*
Algebra 1: May 20 and 21*
For Arcola Students Taking Algebra 1: May 15 and 16
*if a student at MHS is scheduled for Algebra 1 and Biology assessments, the Algebra 1 assessment will be given on May 15 and 16.
The Keystone exams are end-of-course assessments designed to evaluate proficiency in academic content. Beginning with the class of 2023, students must demonstrate proficiency on the Algebra 1, Literature and Biology Keystones to graduate or fulfill one of the other pathways. Students are offered multiple opportunities to take the Keystone assessment throughout their high school career. It takes a collaborative effort of school personnel, parents and guardians, and most importantly, our students, to achieve success.
The results of the Keystones do not impact your student’s grades or placement. They do assist the district in determining needs related to programs, supports and resources. Additionally, they reflect for the public the work we do here in our Methacton schools.
Parents can assist our efforts and reaffirm the importance of the assessment at home by ensuring their child gets plenty of rest prior to each testing session, is provided a healthy breakfast every morning, and arrives to school on time. Please avoid the scheduling of doctor’s appointments and vacations during this time frame; students are required by the PDE to make-up any missed portion of the test within a specific window of time.
THREE HOUR DELAY ON KEYSONE DAYS!
Keystones and AP Exams are Scheduled for May 13, 14, 20 and 21. Students Not Taking These Exams Will Have a Three Hour Delay!
Important Information About Final Exams!
From the SEA:
GET YOUR FIGHTIN' PHILS TICKETS TODAY!
High School Grades:
REMINDER:
Reminder: All report card grades for MP 2 and moving forward will be noted as the earned grade on the report card; for grades earned under a 50%, they will NOT rounded up to a 50%! Teachers will be reviewing this with students to remind them of this procedure. Any questions about this- please ask your student and/or their teacher.
SCHEDULING TIMELINE UPDATES:
April 26th: Acceleration forms due
June 21: Waivers due
Course Selection for NEXT school year
Scheduling for NEXT year
Scheduling will be here before we know it!
Some important dates to notes:
PARENT DUE DATES:
June 21 - Due date for waivers.
End of MP 3 & 4 - Teachers confirm recommendation eligibility
- April 28 - Due date for waivers.
- End of MP 3 & 4 - Teachers confirm recommendation eligibility.
Scholarship Applications -
Deadlines are Approaching!
Have you checked out our Virtual Bulletin Board? It contains all of important information for students, including our scholarship opportunities. Many of the deadlines are approaching at the end of the month.
Spirit Wear:
Graduation 2024
Graduation Reminder- School Obligations Up Until Graduation Day!
As a reminder, our graduation date is set for Tuesday, June 11 at 4pm. Full details will be released closer to the date. Until then, please note that students have mandatory graduation practices at school leading up to graduation, including Friday June 7, Monday, June 10, and Tuesday, June 11. The graduation parade is also scheduled for Monday, June 10. Please do not make any plans or book any trips that overlap these days as practice is mandatory on all three days for students participating in the graduation ceremony. Thank you!