Friday, May 16

• Campus Crusade – Report to 1^st period by 8:00 a.m. for attendance, then to gym. Senior participation for Campus Crusade will be organized by the Student Council.
• 11:15-11:45 – Computer Turn-in and Locker Cleanout. Seniors must clean out their assigned hallway locker as well as turn in their school-owned computer, computer bag, power cord and other technology accessories to the technology office in the lower level of the school. If an item is not returned or is not in proper working condition, the expense of it may be added to the student’s tuition account.
• 11:45 – 1:45 p.m. Senior Luncheon – Seniors are invited to a complimentary luncheon to celebrate their last day of school.

Wednesday, May 21 -Senior Awards Day

• The Class of 2025 will receive recognition for a variety of accomplishments. Students should wear their gowns (no caps) and stoles, if they have been previously approved, with the dress code listed below.
• Seniors should arrive at Scecina no later than 12:30 p.m. and report to the cafeteria. A senior class picture will be taken on the front steps of the school at 12:40 p.m. After the picture, a Walk of Fame through the halls of the school will be held before the Awards Ceremony.

**Please note that this event is a mandatory event for seniors and a dress-up event. All seniors should wear dress shoes, if possible. Boys are to be clean shaven and dressed in a collared shirt (with a tie if one chooses) and school uniform or dress pants.  Girls are to be dressed in a blouse and school uniform or dress pants or dress-code approved length skirt or dress.  The Awards Ceremony begins at 1:15 and will last until approximately 2:30. All senior parents and guardians are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Thursday, May 22 – Baccalaureate Mass and Rehearsal

• Both the rehearsal and the Baccalaureate Mass will be held at Little Flower Catholic Church (4720 E 13th St, Indianapolis, IN 46201).
• Baccalaureate rehearsal is a mandatory event for seniors. Seniors should arrive by 8:45 a.m. and park in the school parking lot. Dress is casual (though appropriate for being in a church) and rehearsal should be completed by 10:00 a.m. Seniors are to arrange their own transportation to and from Little Flower.  If self-transportation is a challenge, please notify us well in advance and we will make arrangements with you.
• Baccalaureate Mass is a required dress-up event with gowns (no caps). Students should arrive at Little Flower by 6:00 p.m. Mass begins at 7:00 p.m. Family members and friends are invited to attend.

**At the Baccalaureate Mass, we recognize Scecina alumni who are parents and grandparents to the Class of 2025.  So that we may recognize you properly, please complete the form before May 2 if you haven’t already.  The website address for the form is:  https://forms.office.com/r/abvRzvVGf1.

Please complete this important information so that we have a full and accurate list of parents and grandparent alumni to recognize.  The recognition of alumni parents and grandparents will be based on the information that we received from you on the form in the link immediately above.

Friday, May 23 – Commencement and Commencement Rehearsal

• Rehearsal is mandatory in order to participate in Commencement. We will cover many details to ensure an appropriate ceremony for the seniors, families, school staff, and community.  If a senior arrives late or does not attend the rehearsal, he or she may be ineligible to participate in Commencement.
• Seniors are welcome to arrive at the Scecina gymnasium beginning at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Commencement rehearsal will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and should end no later than 10:30 a.m.
• Commencement will start at 7:00 p.m. with Door #5 (north gym lobby) open for family members and guests at 6:00 p.m. Seniors will meet in the cafeteria by 6:00 p.m. with caps, tassels, and gowns.
• Caps may be decorated within the guidelines shared at the end of this letter. A cap and stole (if a student chooses to wear a stole) must be approved by May 16. All questions about appropriate decorations and requests for approval should be directed to Dr. Dispenzieri, Mr. Therber or Mrs. Budzenski with ample lead time.
• Each family will receive one parking pass that guarantees parking on the Scecina campus. There will be additional parking at Little Flower Catholic Church, two blocks west of Scecina Memorial High School on Nowland Ave. A shuttle between Scecina and Little Flower Catholic Church will run before and after the ceremony beginning at 5:15 p.m.
• Brian Disney, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, will be joining us to participate in the ceremony and share words of congratulations on behalf of the Most Rev. Charles Thompson, Archbishop of Indianapolis, to the seniors.
• Commencement is a dress-up event. Boys are to be clean shaven. Dress code expectations for Senior Award Day and Baccalaureate also apply for Commencement.
• Please note that if you choose to bring large balloon displays for a graduate, you will be asked to keep the balloons in the back of the gym outside of the seating areas until after the ceremony. Space will be tight, and we want to make sure everyone can see the graduates walk across the stage.

Behavior at all events should reflect the tradition and dignity of over 70 years of Scecina history. We expect every senior to conduct him/herself in a way that is respectful of the others in the Class of 2025, his/her family, Scecina Memorial High School and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Diplomas – After successfully completing the ceremony, Commencement activities, and all other school expectations with proper decorum, seniors will go to the front office to pick up the student’s diploma, assuming all academic, conduct and financial expectations are in order.  The front office will be open until 9:00 p.m. that evening.

Tickets for Commencement will be available the week of May 5.  Please have your child come to the President’s Office (located next to the School Counseling Office at the west end of the main hall) to pick up your family’s tickets.  We will distribute seating tickets as well as one parking pass for on-campus parking to each senior for his or her family.  Each senior will receive eight (8) Commencement seating tickets, which will include two (2) floor seats of a different color from the six (6) general seating bleacher seats.  Guests will be asked to present their tickets upon entering the gymnasium at Door #5 (North gym lobby).

Important Notes:

Receiving the above information regarding Commencement activities does not ensure your child’s graduation requirements have been fulfilled.  Please instruct your child to visit the School Counseling office as soon as possible to make sure all academic criteria are on track.  If your family’s tuition account or other financial obligations are behind schedule, please contact Ms. Bethanne Doyle, 317-352-3260, bdoyle@scecina.org, in the business office as soon as possible before Commencement to develop a payment completion plan.

Commencement Expectations

Commencement at Scecina Memorial HS is the conferring of a high school diploma, earned after twelve+ years of hard work, dedication to studies and commitment to your future.  It is a formal affair, with tradition and decorum that spans the 70 years of Scecina’s history.  Please review the following guidelines so as to preserve the tradition and ritual of the ceremony:

• Graduation Wear
  • Caps may be decorated according to the following themes:
    • Country(ies) of family origin
    • American Flag
    • Religious imagery
    • “2025” or “Class of 2025”
    • A brief thank you message that holds meaning for your parents
    • Must be 100% within the borders of the top of the cap and flush with (not at all elevated) the surface.
  • Stoles may be worn this year over the graduation gown:
    • Country(ies) of family origin
    • American Flag
    • Religious imagery
    • “2025” or “Class of 2025”
  • Names (family, graduate, favorite pet, etc.) are not permitted on either cap or stole.
  • The tangible cap/stole, or a picture of the actual artwork, must be approved by Dr. Dispenzieri, Mr. Therber or Mrs. Budzenski by May 16.
  • Stoles may be worn at the Awards Ceremony, Baccalaureate and/or Graduation. Caps are worn only at Graduation.
• Rehearsals for Baccalaureate and Graduation are mandatory events, as are Awards Day, Baccalaureate, and Graduation. Please be on time and present so that you know what to do and when to do it!
• You will receive your diploma cover when you walk across the stage; your actual diploma will be picked up at the front office before you leave the night of Graduation, provided all academic, conduct and financial obligations have been met.

Thank you very much for your participation and support in your child’s education at Scecina Memorial High School. We look forward to a positive and enjoyable Commencement Week and related activities.