Dear Senior Parents:
The upcoming year is bound to be full of excitement, sadness and maybe a little confusion. As your student prepares to graduate, many things will need to be accomplished along the way. It is our hope that this letter will help outline events and provide information to guide you through the year. We will be sending home additional information when necessary. Please read the entire letter as this information is very important. Please keep this letter so you can refer to it when necessary.
For transcript requests, college enrollment questions, and similar concerns, please contact the Counseling Department. Our counselors, Mr. Schreiner and Ms. Vallillee, encourage parents to meet with them regarding college planning. They are available from 8:00 – 3:00. Please call if you wish to make an appointment.
College Applications and Entrance Exams
Students who plan on applying to a college or other post-secondary institution should do so as soon as possible this fall. Seniors should have taken the ACT (college entrance exam) in the spring of their junior year, but if they missed it, they may take it their senior year. Students who have already received test scores may repeat the exam in the fall to achieve a higher score.
Leslie High School will host a senior parent night on Tuesday, October 23, at 7:00 P.M. in the high school board room. Topics will include graduation requirements, honors, important dates and deadlines, college applications, financial aid/scholarships and deadlines, college entrance exams (ACT), MEAP testing, and the Michigan Merit Award. A question-and-answer session will also be included.
Financial Aid Workshop
Leslie High School will host a financial aid workshop on Tuesday, November 27, at 7:00 pm in the high school auditorium. All students planning on attending a post-secondary institution should have someone in attendance. Financial aid experts will be present to cover completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and filing deadlines. In addition they will discuss grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study information. The FAFSA form is required for all students applying for financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. Financial aid forms will be available, and a question-and-answer segment will follow the presentation.
College Representative Visitations
We schedule several college representatives to visit. A list of colleges and dates the representatives will be at Leslie High School are available in the main office. Students may sign up to attend any of the college visits, which are held during school hours.
College Campus Visitations
Students who wish to visit a college campus need to complete a pre-arranged absence form prior to the visitation and have it approved by each of their teachers and Mr. Schreiner. Students are excused for three campus visitations throughout their senior year.
Scholarships
Each year Leslie Public Schools, local organizations, and individuals give scholarships to graduating seniors. The criteria and deadlines for each of these scholarships are presented to the seniors at a class meeting in mid-March. The seniors are responsible for picking up the scholarship applications and qualifying information, both of which are available following the March meeting.
Each year Leslie High School, together with Prestige Portraits of Okemos, photographs the seniors for the class composite, which is displayed outside the high school gymnasium. Prestige Portraits comes to the school and photographs each senior for the expressed purpose of the composite. The picture will be a head and shoulder shot only. This is mandatory for all seniors. There is no charge to the student for this picture. The photograph is not for individual sale; it is only for the class composite.
The picture date for this year’s senior class composite will be Wednesday, November 7, from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. Appropriate dress is mandatory. Young men must wear a shirt and tie. If they do not own an appropriate shirt and tie, one or both will be provided. Young ladies must wear an appropriate “solid color” blouse or sweater (no stripes, patterns, etc.). Ladies who have an inappropriate top will be provided a sweater. (Both morning and afternoon career center students will be able to have their pictures taken.) If your child is planning on walking in the graduation ceremonies, they must have their picture taken for the class composite.
CALL Photography Panoramic Picture
CALL Photography will be at the high school on Wednesday, December 5, at 2:30 to take a panoramic group photo. No special dress is required for this photo. The senior class will sit on the bleachers in the gym and CALL will take a serious group photo and a “fun” group photo. You are under no obligation to purchase these; however, a flyer will be sent home with your student if you wish to purchase either photo. This time allows for both AM and PM career center student to be in the picture.
Senior pictures for the yearbook are due by December 1. Pictures must be a head and shoulder shot only. The picture must contain no hands, have a plain background, and be a wallet-sized, color photo.
Commencement Pictures
Each year CALL Photography takes one picture of all graduates as they are getting their diplomas and one as they step off the podium holding the diploma in front of them. These pictures are nicely done and come with a holder indicating the graduation year. Following graduation, CALL Photography mails a small proof with an order form to purchase pictures if you would like. You are under no obligation to order these.
Graduation Announcements and Cap and Gown
Jostens provides a catalog for ordering graduation announcements and memorabilia though you are under no obligation to order these items from them. Our Jostens representative will hold a senior class meeting on Tuesday, November 13. He will distribute packets of information at that time.
A cap and gown set is required for graduation. The cost is around $50, and seniors keep the set; they are not rentals. A cap and gown set is the one item you are required to purchase from Jostens if your senior plans to participate in graduation activities. Students can submit their announcement and cap and gown orders at the school (during lunches) on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. Orders after that date need to be mailed directly to:
Mark Hergenreder
P.O. Box 200
Chelsea, MI 48118
Phone: 734-475-9721
For those who will have a balance due, Jostens will send your balance and a remittance envelope in March. Payment must then be mailed directly to the company. Announcements are typically distributed shortly after spring break, and caps and gowns are distributed approximately three weeks before graduation.
Class Motto, Colors and Flower
Colors: Orange and Silver
Flower: Tea Rose
Motto: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Graduation Week
The week of graduation is a busy time for seniors even though they are finished attending classes. Listed below are important dates, times, and other information.
*Wednesday, (May 28, 2008): Senior Breakfast and Honors Convocation Rehearsal. Seniors will report to the high school band room at 8:05 for a senior breakfast, at no cost to students. Immediately after the breakfast, a group picture of the seniors in their caps and gowns will be taken. The seniors need to bring their caps and gowns to the breakfast with them. After the group picture, the senior video will be shown in the auditorium, followed by Honors Convocation rehearsal. All students who plan to attend Honors Convocation must attend rehearsal. The morning’s events are usually completed by 10:30.
*Friday, (May 30, 2008): Commencement Rehearsal. Seniors who are planning on walking at commencement must attend graduation rehearsal. Rehearsal starts at 9:00 A.M. and runs until approximately noon.
*Friday, (May 30, 2008) – Commencement. Commencement is held in the gymnasium at 7:00 P.M. Doors open at 6:00 P.M. All seating is open. There is no reserved seating. The bottom row of bleachers has a few areas available for wheelchair access.
***Students who have met the graduation requirements for Leslie High School will receive a diploma. However, walking in the commencement ceremonies is a privilege. The following requirements must be met in order for your son or daughter to participate in Leslie High School graduation ceremonies:
Seniors must have their picture taken for the class composite.
Seniors who have any outstanding debts, books, materials, etc. will not be allowed to walk at graduation.
Seniors must have at least 90% attendance for the last nine-weeks of the semester in order to walk at graduation. This includes illnesses and any appointments.
All seniors must have taken the MEAP prior to graduation.
Seniors’ Last Day
The seniors are typically done with school one-week prior to graduation. This date may vary depending on snow days or other non-planned school closings.
If you have any questions regarding the above information, please contact Cindy Farley at the high school.
Sincerely,
Jeff Manthei Thomas Ball Patricia Ainslie
Principal Senior Class Advisor Senior Class Advisor