Class of 2011
Senior Dates to Remember
September 2010 Students will complete index cards with his/her name as it is to appear on graduation diploma.
November 2010 Jostens on campus to accept orders for gowns, invitations, thank you cards, etc.
January 1, 2011 Deadline for ordering graduation products without penalty.
February 2011 Letter to parents regarding graduation festivities.
March 25, 2011 Requirement of 100 service hours should be completed by end of third quarter.
April 2011 Jostens orders will be delivered. Gowns will be distributed in May
Envelopes available for ordering graduation picture of student as they receive diploma.
April 8, 2011 Deadline for turning in scholarship information to Mrs. Stewart (College Counselor).
April/May 2011 Letter to students regarding graduation festivities.
May 2011 Gowns distributed
May 2-6, 2011 AP Exams
May 23, 2011 6:30 p.m. Senior Awards Night in the gym
May 24, 2011 10:30 a.m. Senior Bar-B-Que
May 25-26, 2011 Senior Final Exams
May 26-27, 2010 Senior Trip to Disneyland's GradNite 2011
May 27, 2011 Deadline for ordering senior graduation picture
June 2, 2011 6:30 p.m. Baccalaureate Mass at Shrine of the Holy Redeemer
June 5, 2011 12:00 noon Graduation at Orleans
History of Graduation
The Ceremony
The graduation ceremony dates back to the 12th century. Some feel it began with scholastic monks with their ceremonies in robes. A graduation ceremony is a cultural tradition termed as a rite of passage. The ceremony marks one stage of a person’s life to another. All passage rituals fulfill certain universal functions:
1. Dramatize facing new responsibilities, opportunities and dangers.
2. Readjust the participant (and all in their social circle) to these changes.
3. Establish solidarity and sacredness of common values.
The Baccalaureate
The American Heritage dictionary defines this as the farewell address delivered in the form of a sermon to the graduating class”. Legend states the Baccalaureate ceremony originated back to a statute dated 1432 at Oxford University that required each bachelor to deliver a sermon in Latin as part of his academic exercise.
Hoods
The origin of the hood is said to go back to the Celts and their Druids (Priests). Within the Celtic groups, only the Druid priests wore capes with hoods to symbolize their superior knowledge. The velvet on the outer edge of the hood denotes the graduate’s degree. The hood’s lining tells which college or university the degree was given.
Valedictorian
This is the person with the highest scholastic standing. The Valedictorian delivers a speech known as the “valediction” to his/her fellow classmates on behalf of them. It usually is a speech that expresses the ups and downs they’ve all gone through, and provides a youthful insight of a hopeful future.
The Ring
The first class ring was developed in 1835 for West Point Academy. In the early 1900’s class rings came into fashion. The first class rings were crude and were only a shank with a symbol attached to the bezel of the ring. They quickly became popular and soon stones were added. The basis of the class ring goes back to the Egyptians, who felt their scarab rings promised them eternal life. Roman soldiers felt their rings would bring them victory. Today, class rings remain a popular tradition for high schools and colleges. Class rings are seen as a combination of showing school pride while being an outward symbol of the diploma. Although tradition holds that a class ring be worn on the right hand on the third finger, a class ring can be worn on any finger and sometimes on a chain around the neck.
The Diploma
Original diplomas were made of paper-thin sheepskin, hand-written, rolled and tied with a ribbon until 100 years ago. A lot of documents were done on animal skins because paper-making was difficult. They changed to parchment, which was more practical, when the paper making techniques improved. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that diplomas stopped being rolled up and instead, presented in leather binders.
The Music
“Pomp and Circumstance” was composed by Sir Edward Elgar (June 2, 1857 – February 23, 1934) and first performed on October 19, 1901 in Liverpool, England. Elgar is the first major composer to record his works systematically for the phonograph.
The Cap and Gown
Academic dress started in the 12th and 13th centuries when universities first began forming. Most medieval scholars had made certain vows, and had at least taken minor orders with the church so clerical robes were their main form of dress. For over 40 years the graduation gown color was gray. In the 1950’s students began to wear gowns that were their school’s colors.
The style of graduation hat has varied throughout the centuries. But, the one we are most familiar with today is the square, stiff hat that is believed to have been developed around the 16th century. There remains debate, however, why the graduation hat is square. Many say that it is square because it represents the mortar board (hat) of a master workman. Others feel the meaning is obvious – it simply represents the shape of a book. And still others feel that it represents the shape of the Oxford campus.
How are the tassels worn?
For high school graduation, the tassels are first worn on the right, then flipped to the left upon receiving the diploma. When do you flip? Normally there is someone to signal you. Some schools prefer to have the student flip right after the handshake. Others want them to flip their tassels just before walking off stage.
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