Dear Parents of Wheeling High School Seniors

April 7, 2017

Dear Parents of Wheeling High School Seniors:

Enclosed is important information regarding your son/daughter's upcoming graduation from Wheeling High School. Reading all of the enclosed material should answer the most common questions about graduation. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 4 at 12:30 p.m. Guests will be allowed to enter the stadium/gymnasium at 11:45 a.m. The graduation ceremony will be approximately 90 minutes.

We are, as always, hoping for an outdoor commencement ceremony (in the football stadium) for the graduating class of 2017. Because there is always the possibility of rain, an indoor ceremony is also being planned. A final determination as to whether the ceremony will be inside or outside may not be determined until the actual day of graduation. If it rains prior to Sunday and the stadium and field are still wet, the ceremony will be inside. If the ceremony is inside you MUST be in your seats prior to the 12:30 p.m. start; otherwise, you will not be allowed in the gymnasium. Please take careful note of the complications this presents, particularly those regarding seating capacity. See enclosed information regarding seating (differences between indoors and outdoors). A final announcement as to whether the ceremony will be inside or outside will be on the school phone message (718-7000) and the school marquee Sunday morning. One additional arrangement you should make before the ceremony is to determine where you will meet your son/daughter after the ceremony. It will become congested immediately after the program. Please have a pre-arranged location to meet your graduate. Graduation is the most attended event during the school year. So, please try to carpool as there is insufficient parking for every vehicle. Also, if possible, please drop your graduating senior off rather than have him/her park an additional car in the lot.

The commencement ceremony is a formal, dignified event, signifying student achievement. Please refer to the "Instructions for Graduation" handout included with this letter. We would appreciate your assistance in supporting the expectations described in the handout.

Currently, we are transitioning to a new photography company and are making arrangements to have a professional photographer at commencement who will take photos of each graduate. In addition, the entire ceremony will be videotaped. We feel these services will enable parents to obtain a picture and/or DVD of their graduate without disturbing the ceremony with traffic to and from the stage area. Only the professional photographer will be permitted to take pictures in the stage area. Parents are encouraged to relax in their seats and limit their personal picture taking to before and after the presentation of diplomas. We will also have Grad Flowers selling a variety of arrangements and individual roses at the entrance to the ceremony at reasonable prices. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact me at 847-718-7315.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Kinnee

Graduation Coordinator

847-718-7315