Senior Timeline and Upcoming Dates
We have several important announcements for our senior class! Please review the information below carefully as we have important updates to report!
March 24th: Deadline to apply to be a graduation speaker (email Mrs. Mancina if you are interested in this opportunity)
April 18th: Mandatory Senior Class Meeting during ELO
April 26th @ 1:30 p.m.: Mandatory Senior Class Graduation Meeting
April 28th: Senior Breakfast/Rose Orders and Money Due
May 8th: Last day to get credit recovery coursework completed for graduation
May 8th: Senior grades due by 5:00 p.m.
May 9th: Last Day for Seniors - Senior checkout/receive cap and gown
May 10th
8:30 a.m. - Senior Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - Final School Walkthrough (ES, MS, and HS)
1:50 p.m. - Convocation Ceremony
3:15 p.m. - Graduation Rehearsal
May 11th @ 7:00 p.m. - Windsor Charter Academy Graduation
May 12th @ 5:00 p.m. - Aims Graduation
SENIOR BREAKFAST
The day before graduation we have a special Senior Breakfast for all seniors and some of their family members. This year we have to limit the number of guests to three to accommodate all of our seniors. Breakfast typically costs $5-10 per person. On April 18th, during the Senior Class Meeting, we will announce the final cost of the breakfast. Seniors should bring their graduation cap and gowns to the Senior Breakfast. They will receive their stoles, honor cords, and other regalia at this breakfast. At the end of the breakfast, seniors change into their cap and gowns and do a final walkthrough of the middle school and high school. Then, we will meet at the elementary school around 10:15 a.m. for a final send-off with some of our youngest Firebirds! Parents are welcome to join us outside of the elementary school for this event.
ROSE ORDERS
During the WCA graduation ceremony, seniors will have an opportunity to go into the crowd and give roses to those who have helped them on their journey to graduation. This may be family members, staff members, or friends. Most students typically order 10 roses, but it varies on each student. Students do not need to bring the roses to the ceremony. More information on ordering roses will be sent out in the coming weeks.
CONVOCATION
This is an all-school assembly held on Wednesday, May 10th at 1:50 p.m. Parents are invited to attend but not all seniors will receive an award. Parents will receive an email if their student will receive an award.
GRADUATION
Graduation will be held on Thursday, May 11th at 7:00 p.m. in the MS/HS Gymnasium. Seniors are asked to arrive by 5:30 p.m. for pictures before the ceremony, and doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for guests. Each senior can bring eight guests to the ceremony. We will soon communicate the process for graduation tickets, but we are asking that the eight guests arrive together to be ushered to seats together.
AIMS COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADUATION
Students who are also graduating from Aims Community College were provided graduation information via their aims.edu email. This information has been copied below.
Ceremony Times/Divisions/Registration:
As a candidate for graduation from Aims Community College this Spring and/or Summer, students are invited to participate in the 2023 Commencement Ceremonies held on Friday, May 12 at 5:00 p.m. in the Welcome Center Auditorium. They are invited to attend the specific ceremony offered for the Academic Division of their degree or certificate program.
There are no exceptions that will be made for Fall 2022 graduates to participate in the May ceremony. Fall graduates will always be invited to attend their Fall ceremony only.
*Registration has not opened for the May 2023 ceremony yet. Once students are able to register, an email will be sent to their aims.edu email account.
Cap & Gown Orders:
In order to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, students must order a cap and gown. Students who are eligible for Spring or Summer graduation have been sent a link to order their free cap and gown and should refer to their aims.edu email account for additional information.
Cap & Gown Distribution:
Aims Bookstore, Greeley Campus: Beginning May 4th - May 12th – based on Bookstore hours
Names/Programs for Commencement Program:
The Commencement Program and all printed Diplomas and/or Certificates are printed as follows: preferred first name, legal middle name (if listed in student record), legal last name. Students were emailed this term and given another chance to change their preferred name at the graduation fair. If any name changes are made now, it will not be reflected in the commencement program, but can be reflected on their printed documents when programs are awarded.
Students had until February 22nd to apply for graduation to have their name and program(s) included in the commencement program. Students can continue to submit graduation applications and participate in the ceremony – however, their information will not be included in the program.
Graduation vs Ceremony:
Commencement is the ceremony celebrating students who are scheduled to complete their degrees and/or certificates in a given term.
Graduation is the process of conferring the official degree and/or certificate. This happens after the Graduation team reviews all applications to ensure all graduation requirements have been met.
It is possible for students to attend the ceremony and not be awarded their program(s) if all graduation requirements are not fulfilled.
Students do not receive their diplomas at the ceremony, as Spring grades are not due until the following week and reviews of graduation applications have not taken place. Students should always review the Graduation page for all graduation deadlines and release dates of documents.