Seniors: Graduation Information

Good afternoon Class of 2025 Families! 

We are now two weeks away from Graduation!  I wanted to send some brief but focused information around Graduation with additional updates and information as we get closer (please note that much of this information also appears in the Guide to Graduation that was mailed home in February).  Please note that there this email also contains information about appropriate attire, the live stream, video purchases, parking, and traffic flow after the ceremony. 

REHEARSAL AND WALKING IN GRADUATION 
Seniors should plan to arrive at the Activity Center at 8:00 AM on Friday, May 23.  Donuts will be provided by the PTO at this time.  Graduation Rehearsal will be Friday, May 23 from 8:30 AM – approximately 11:30 AM and will begin promptly at 8:30.  Attendance is MANDATORY for all who plan on participating in the Graduation ceremony.  If you do not attend practice, your name will be removed from the script and the seating will be adjusted.  You will be able to pick up your diploma during normal office hours on or after Tuesday, June 3.   

TICKETS 
Doors will open at 6:00 PM. Each graduate will receive seven (7) tickets.  We will distribute graduation tickets at the end of the graduation rehearsal.  If you would like additional tickets, please have your graduate find a classmate who will not need all seven of his/her tickets and get the additional tickets directly from the classmate.  At graduation rehearsal, we will also ask students to return any extra tickets, which we will redistribute on a first-come/first-serve basis; however, we cannot guarantee any availability (the best solution is to find a classmate who will not need all seven of his/her tickets). 

ARRIVAL/ATTIRE 
All graduates should report to the lower level of the Activity Center no later than 6:30 PM.  The Graduation ceremony begins promptly at 7:30 PM.  Please refer to the Parent’s Guide to Graduation for the proper attire to wear under your gown, and please note that students should not decorate their cap.  Additionally, only school-issued cords and stoles may be worn during the ceremony. 

HANDICAPPED SEATING 
We will have handicapped seating available upon request.  Please contact Mrs. Frey at (513) 728-8425 for specific details.  If you have not called yet, please call as soon as possible as the remaining seating is limited. 

LIVESTREAM 
Guests who do not have a ticket are welcome to view the ceremony from the Martin Marietta Performing Arts Theater where a livestream will be projected on the big screen.  Additionally, the livestream will be available to the public on the Harrison High School YouTube channel.  A direct link will be forthcoming.  

GRADUATION CEREMONY AND SENIOR VIDEO 
Preserve your memories of your senior year by purchasing the Class of 2025 Video Package, containing the Senior Video and Graduation ceremony.  It is available as a double-DVD set, or in .MP4 format on a flash drive. 

The Senior Video includes bonus segments not seen at the Senior Banquet, including a section on end-of-the-year activities, as well as a timeline of significant local, national and world events that happened this year. 

Click HERE to place your order online or click HERE to print the order form which you can mail in with payment. 

The deadline to place orders is Friday, June 6. 

NOTE: If you placed an order back in late winter when you submitted your senior/baby pictures, there is no need to re-order. 

CAP & GOWN/YARD SIGNS 
All cap & gown orders should have been received at this time.  If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Frey in the Main Office.  

All seniors will also be able to pick up a free Graduation yard sign courtesy of the Harrison Jr/Sr High PTO!  These are now available for pick up in the Main Office from 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM each day beginning Tuesday, April 29. 

SCHOOL FEES 
All outstanding fees must be paid in full and the student’s laptop must be returned in order to receive a diploma; directions for how to log on and pay student fees can be found HERE.   

PARKING – NEW INFORMATION NOT FOUND IN THE GUIDE TO GRADUATION 
Please click HERE for the campus parking map that helps illustrate the parking arrangements for Graduation.  The west lot of the Activity Center will be strictly handicapped parking – a valid handicapped placard will be required to enter this lot.  We will also run a shuttle bus from the parking lots at Harrison Junior School and Miami Whitewater Elementary.  Please see the attached map for shuttle stops.  The shuttle will run from 5:45 PM – 7:30 PM and then again from 9:00 PM until everyone has returned to their vehicles.  Members of the Harrison Police Department will help direct traffic before and after the ceremony as well to facilitate getting everyone on and off campus safely. 

TRAFFIC FLOW AFTER THE CEREMONY - NEW INFORMATION NOT FOUND IN THE GUIDE TO GRADUATION 
Given the anticipated crowd size, we recommend planning your parking location based on the direction in which you wish to exit.  Following the ceremony, the portion of West Road from Wildcat Way at the Tennis Courts to the Activity Center driveway by the electronic sign will be closed to through traffic to allow pedestrians to cross.    
 

When you exit, if you intend to:  
- Head westbound on West Road toward Carolina Trace: Park in the north High School lots or the Miami Whitewater Elementary lot, exit Wildcat Way by the Tennis Courts, turning right.  

- Head southbound on Dry Fork Road toward I-74:  Park in the east Activity Center lot, turn right onto West Road.  

- Head northbound on Dry Fork Road toward Short Road / Crosby Twp:  Park in the east High School lot or the Junior School lots, exit the east side driveways, turn left onto Dry Fork Road.  

DECA’S OFFICE OUTFITTERS IS COLLECTING GRADUATION CAPS & GOWNS 
Our DECA program has partnered with Be Kind Harrison to launch Office Outfitters, a business clothing closet at Whitewater Valley Elementary.  The mission is to provide Harrison students with clothing to help them “dress their best” for job interviews, presentations and formal occasions like Coronation and Graduation!  They are also collecting caps and gowns to loan to students as needed in the future as well.  If you would be willing to consider donating your student’s cap and gown after Graduation, we can accept it in the main office during normal business hours over the summer. 
 

As always, please reach out with any questions. 

Thank you, 
 
Joe Pollitt 
Principal 
William Henry Harrison High School