ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ

It's time for high school graduation in ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ. Here is the schedule.

• Ashbrook: Held Saturday, June 9.
• Bessemer City: Held Saturday, June 9.
• Cherryville: Held Saturday, June 9.
• Stuart W. Cramer: Held Saturday, June 9.
• East ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ: Held Saturday, June 9.
• Forestview: Held Saturday, June 9.
• ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ Early College: Held Thursday, May 17.
• Highland: Held Saturday, June 9.
• Hunter Huss: Held Saturday, June 9.
• North ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ: Held Saturday, June 9.
• South Point: Held Saturday, June 9.
• Warlick Academy: Held Wednesday, June 6.
• Webb Street School: Held Wednesday, June 6.

All high schools have a comprehensive safety plan for graduation, and school officials have spent time working with local law enforcement to ensure that graduation is an enjoyable experience for everyone in attendance.

To ensure safety, the following procedures will be in place:

â–ª Each school will have additional security personnel – a police presence will be noticeable on campus.

â–ª Attendees should arrive early and be prepared to stand in line to enter the ceremony.

â–ª Metal detectors (walk-through units and hand-held wands) will be used. Everyone at graduation, including students, parents, relatives, school personnel, and guests, will be subject to metal detection screening.

â–ª Attendees are discouraged from bringing purses and handbags to graduation. Purses/handbags must be screened, a process that slows down the entrance line.

â–ª Traffic congestion is likely near the high schools beginning one hour before the start of graduation. Attendees should plan accordingly to allow enough time for parking and entering the ceremony.

â–ª Being vigilant is important. Anyone who sees or is aware of suspicious activity at graduation should contact a school official or law enforcement immediately.

Admission tickets are required for ceremonies that are held indoors (East ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ, Highland, North ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ, Warlick).

If outdoor ceremonies are moved indoors because of inclement weather, a ticket is required. Because of space constraints, most schools require tickets for ceremonies that are held in the football stadium.

Anyone with questions about admission tickets for graduation should contact the school for specific information.

A promising future awaits the Class of 2018

This Saturday morning, seniors in the Class of 2018 will walk across the graduation stage and receive their high school diploma.  It is a milestone that signifies the successful completion of their K-12 educational journey and marks the beginning of a new and exciting phase in life.

While graduation is bittersweet, it also is a time for our 2,283 seniors to enjoy the moment, take pride in their accomplishments, and look ahead to going to college, serving our country in the military, or joining the workforce.  Whatever our seniors choose to do, we are confident that what they have learned in ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ has prepared them for what tomorrow holds.

Without question, the future is bright for our graduating seniors.  Our students were offered more than $58.6 million in academic, athletic, fine arts, and military scholarships – this is a record amount for us.  Some 170 colleges and universities awarded scholarships to our seniors.  We have students planning to attend schools all across North Carolina, including UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, and N.C. State.  We also have students who earned scholarships to attend Yale, Johns Hopkins, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Tulane, Syracuse, and other nationally-known schools.

In addition to scholarships, students in the Class of 2018 have earned many honors in academics and other areas.  We have award winners in science and engineering, financial literacy, sports, theater and the performing arts, moot court, visual art and writing, career and technical education, and community service.  Their achievements, too many to mention all of them here, are truly exceptional.     

Several years ago, Time magazine published a list of tips for high school graduates.  Gleaning inspiration from the list, here are a few pieces of advice for the Class of 2018.

â–ª Be informed – know what is going on in the world around you.  Get the knowledge you need to make a wise decision, and always seek accuracy and honesty.

â–ª While our digital world requires us to be plugged in, take time to unplug – put down the phone and tablet and connect with others through “good old” face-to-face conversation.

â–ª Befriend the people around you and build relationships.  These relationships can lead you down the path to success.

â–ª Prioritize and be organized – it will save you time and help you to avoid stress.  And, be sure that nutritious food, regular exercise, plenty of sleep, and time to play are priorities.

â–ª To experience the best in life, you have to find your voice, your personality, and your creativity.  This will lead to developing your style.  Further, make sure to expand your knowledge, skills, and talents – this will give you substance.  And, when you take substance and add your style to it, the result will be amazing success.

A promising future awaits the Class of 2018.  The Board of Education joins me in congratulating our seniors and wishing each graduate a life filled with lots of happiness, unlimited opportunities, and many wonderful reasons to celebrate.

W. Jeffrey Booker is superintendent of ÐÜèAVÊÓƵ.