Attention 2023 SHS Seniors!

Dear Class of 2023 Students and Families,

What an exciting and busy time of year this is for those who are nearing the end of their high school journey!  We're excited for you as you navigate these final weeks.  This message should provide you with information about the upcoming school events for seniors.  If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Requesting Your Final Transcript
To request your final transcript, you need to:

  1. Log in to Naviance Student.
  2. Click on Colleges Tab at the top and drop down to “Colleges I’m Applying To.”
  3. For your final college choice, check the box beside the college you are attending.  
  4. Then click on the aqua blue plus sign (+) that says REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS.
  5. Choose the box beside the “Final” transcript option and then click on the “Request and Finish” button at the bottom of that page to save.

If you have any problems, please see your counselor or Mrs. Chitwood.

 

Spartan Graduate Survey
Help us properly recognize you in the graduation program, keep our records up-to-date, and recognize you at the Senior Awards Assembly:

  • Visit the SHS webpage and click on the “Spartan Graduate Survey” link. Here is the link: https://forms.gle/Ru9SENrorbyhiVFM8
  • The survey must be completed by Friday, May 12 in order for the scholarship information you report to be used in the graduation program or included in the Senior Awards Assembly.

 

Career Signing Day, May 26, 2023

Signing Day Event - 2:00 pm - SHS Auditorium

  • Seniors may participate in this event if they already have jobs lined up for after high school or if they have enlisted in the military.  
  • In order to participate students must have filled out the Career Signing Day Survey found on the SHS website by Friday, May 19.  The link is https://forms.gle/m4UyucVa4vQDiEdM8

 

Senior Day, June 2, 2023

Senior Breakfast - 8:45 am - SHS Cafeteria

  • Seniors who have a first period class will report to first period and then be released to the cafeteria for the Senior Breakfast.  Parents may join seniors for breakfast.

Senior Awards Assembly - 9:30 am - SHS Auditorium

  • The entire senior class will attend this annual event. 
  • Many, but not all, seniors will be recognized at this event through the awarding of certain scholarships as well as awards from within the school.
  • Please complete the Spartan Graduate Survey (see above) with any outside scholarships or awards you have received so we can properly recognize you at this event.  Do not assume we already know about these scholarships and awards.
  • Parents of seniors receiving awards will be notified by the School Counseling Office at least 1 week prior to the event, and parents and family members are invited to attend.
  • Dress for this assembly is casual.
  • Students wearing Twister costumes (see below) will have time to change into costumes after the assembly.  Students should not wear Twister costumes to the assembly.

Senior Twister (and other games) - 11:30 am - SHS Gymnasium

  • Only students who have already signed up will participate in this part of Senior Day
  • Students will have the opportunity to compete in Twister (teams of 4) & other games.  
  • Students competing in Twister are invited to compete in a costume contest with their team of 4. Dress up in an appropriate theme to be eligible for prizes! 
  • Seniors wishing to participate in the Twister competition or to attend as a spectator and play other games must sign up at lunches between May 22-26.  Signing up in advance is required in order to attend this portion of Senior Day.

Senior Lunch - 12:30 - SHS Gymnasium

  • After the Twister competition there will be a Senior Lunch provided for all who have signed up to participate.

Early Dismissal for Seniors - after Twister/Games

  • When the Senior Twister Game and related activities are finished, all seniors will be released early from school.  This will probably be around 1:00 pm. 

 

Community Scholarship Celebration, June 6, 2023

Community Scholarship Celebration - 6:00 (doors open at 5:15 pm) - SHS Cafeteria/Auditorium 

  • Students receiving scholarships from the Salem Educational Foundation, the Salem Sports Foundation, and the Chance Crawford Committee, will be recognized and will receive those scholarships.
  • Students who will be attending this event will be notified.
  • If you have been invited, please complete the 2023 Community Scholarship Night RSVP  by Wednesday, May 24.
  • If you have been invited to this event, your attendance is expected and essential. 
  • Parents and family members are also invited to attend this event.
  • Graduates will wear their caps and gowns to this event.
  • Hors d'oeuvres prepared by SHS Culinary Arts students will be served in the cafeteria at 5:15 pm.
  • The ceremony begins promptly at 6:00 pm in the auditorium. Graduates will sit together on the right-hand side of the auditorium in seats that have been labeled with their names.
  • Dessert and an opportunity for pictures taken by a photographer follow the ceremony.

 

Turning in Chromebooks and Chargers

Chromebooks Must Be Turned In Prior to Graduation

  • Chromebook collection will take place all day in the IT Office, Room 2004, located in the Library from Tuesday, May 30 through Thursday, June 8.
  • As soon as you no longer need the Chromebook for school purposes, take both the Chromebook AND AC adapter to the IT Office.
  • Fees:
  • Fees for Chromebooks AND/OR AC Adapters that are lost must be paid to the bookkeeper prior to graduation day.
    • Fee for lost Chromebooks is $185.00. 
    • Fee for lost AC Adapter is $25.00.
    • Students who do not turn in or pay replacement fee for lost Chromebooks and / or AC Adapters prior to graduation will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

 

Graduation Day, Friday, June 9, 2023

Graduation Practice - 9:00 am - Salem Civic Center

  • This is a mandatory event for all students participating in our commencement exercises.  Only members of the graduating class may attend graduation practice.
  • Graduates who normally drive to school will drive directly to the Civic Center instead of coming to SHS that morning.  Do not be late to graduation practice - we will start at 9:00 so get there early.
  • If you need bus transportation to and from the Graduation Practice, you must fill out this transportation form by Friday, June 2. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP-29lr9q_NJfBCkaHZmp3ppRsXlng3uild62r7jU9rH2kaw/viewform)
  • When you arrive at the Civic Center for practice, please enter through the front doors.
  • Dress for graduation practice is casual.  You do not need your cap and gown.
  • At graduation practice we will run through the entire graduation ceremony.
  • We will hand out gold honors tassels and any other senior awards at graduation practice.
  • We want to make sure your name is pronounced properly at graduation.  One reason we practice graduation is to practice reading out all names.  If you think there is any chance your name might be pronounced incorrectly during the ceremony, please see Dr. Epperly.  She will be the one calling out names, and she appreciates your assistance.  If you are unable to see her in person, please record your name being pronounced correctly and email that to her at sepperly@salem.k12.va.us.
  • After graduation practice, graduates who have driven themselves will be free to drive themselves home. Buses will take home those needing transportation.

Commencement Exercises - June 9 - 2:00 pm - Salem Civic Center

  • If you do not intend to participate in this year's commencement exercises, please inform Mrs. Chitwood in our Counseling Office immediately.

Attire

  • Graduates who are participating will be required to wear caps and gowns. Gowns should be zipped up.
  • Seniors may tastefully and appropriately decorate their caps.
  • The graduation cap should be parallel to the floor. 
  • Tassels should be to the right until you are declared a graduate.
  • Graduates must wear either dress pants/dress shirt/tie or a dress that does not hang below the gown.
  • If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Quesinberry (squesinberry@salem.k12.va.us) or Mrs. Dyer (adyer@salem.k12.va.us). 

The Ceremony

  • Preceding the graduation ceremony, students will be lining up in the Civic Center Annex.  
  • Parents can drop students off on either side of the Civic Center no later than 1:30 pm, and students can enter directly into the Annex.  The Annex is located behind the main Civic Center floor, closer to the Red Sox Stadium.
  • Tickets or reservations are not necessary for graduation.  We do not limit the number of guests.
  • The graduation ceremony will be livestreamed on our SHS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2vWClhrunzbfSHdCEpfmmQ
  • As your name is called at graduation, your picture will be projected on a large screen behind the stage.  Along with the picture, we include up to 3 items about you.  We want those items to be the things you would like to have shared.  We need your information for your graduation slide as soon as possible.
    • Please do not include what you plan to major in or hope to study, future (post college) graduate schools you hope to attend, future occupations you hope to have, quotes/shout outs, or silly things 
    • PLEASE DO include, where you are going to school or where you will be employed next year, clubs/organizations/sports teams/community activities you participated in, awards/accolades/scholarships received
    • Share your information by completing the Graduation Slide Survey found at this link: https://tinyurl.com/4nuz4rvj
    • You will need to do this from an SHS Chromebook logged in as an SHS student.  Parents - this will not work from your personal Google login.
  • Because “celebratory messes” from items like silly string create an incredible amount of work for our Civic Center staff to clean up, SHS graduates have not made such messes for many years.  Showing love to our Civic Center staff in this manner is something we will continue this year.

Caps and Gowns