Location:  Senior Sub-school

Due Date: May 31, 2024

Deadline to Pay by Check:  May 15, 2024

Each senior must pay a one-time graduation fee of $50.  Graduation dues cover the cost of the venue, cap and gown, diploma cover, rental of equipment, security, senior lunch, rehearsal breakfast and flowers associated with the graduation ceremony.  All dues are collected in the Senior Sub-school located in room 240.  The deadline for paying by check is May 15, 2024.  After May 15, all fees can be paid by cash, a money order made payable to South Lakes HS, or by credit card.  Go to www.myschoolbucks.com, School Store, Class of 2024 Senior Dues, to make your payment by credit card.  To pay by credit card, you MUST have a myschoolbucks.com account already set up. Students will not be permitted to pick up their cap and gown until all fees are paid.

Location: Senior Sub-school

Due Date: All Outstanding Obligations, May 31, 2024

Students need to pay all fines and fees by start-of-business on Friday, May 31, 2024.

The Senior Sub-school will have obligation lists available so students can conveniently check to see if they owe money or have any outstanding obligations.  After May 15, all fees must be paid by cash, a money order made payable to South Lakes High School or via credit card through www.myschoolbucks.com.  To pay by credit card, you MUST have a myschoolbucks.com account already set up.  It is particularly important for seniors to continue monitoring their obligations as the year ends.  If textbooks or other school equipment is lost, the student will still be responsible for the cost of replacement.  Students may not participate in the graduation ceremony until financial obligations are met. 

Location: Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel, Herndon

Date: April 27, 2024

Time:  8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

The 2024 South Lakes High School Prom will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 8:00 pm  to 11:00 p.m. at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel in Herndon.

South Lakes High School juniors and seniors are invited to the prom.  If you are bringing a non-South Lakes guest, a guest form is required to be approved before you can purchase a ticket for your guest.  Guest forms can be picked up in either the junior or senior sub-school or on Schoology.  Completed guest forms need to be returned to the junior sub-school for final approval.  If turning in a guest form during regular ticket sales, please allow two (2) days for forms to get approved once submitted to the sub-school.

NOTE: Guest forms are due on April 22, 2024 - no exceptions!

Tickets can be purchased via MySchoolBucks.com. Tickets during the regular sale period will be $75. Please note that NO PERSONAL CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024. Tickets will be sold during lunch only, April 22, 2024 through April 26, 2024 at the price of $85, cash only. Tickets will be sold at the door, April 27, 2024 for $100.00. CASH ONLY WILL BE ACCEPTED THE DAY OF PROM.

Tickets prices are as follows:

• $75 per person until April 19, 2024
  • Tickets can be purchased online via MySchoolBucks.com
• $85 per person from April 22 - 26
  • Cash only at all lunches
• $100.00 on the day of Prom
  • Cash only at the door

We expect the prom to be a safe activity.  Students attending will be expected to support this goal.  Students and guests should anticipate their needs by bringing their prom tickets, picture ID, purses, cameras, and make-up with them before registering at the entrance to the prom.  The prom ticket must be shown for admittance.  Guests’ prom tickets must also be shown, and all guests must show picture identification.  Students who depart the parking lot/tent or other entrances will not be readmitted.  Students should be aware that there is no coat or bag check at prom. Students are responsible for their own items at the event.

South Lakes High School firmly adheres to a zero-tolerance policy on the use and/or possession of alcohol or other drugs.  Students possessing, using, or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or in possession of drug-related paraphernalia, at any senior activities including prom, or any other school-related activity, will be subject to a mandatory 30-day suspension from school activities and may face additional disciplinary action, including a possible referral to the Division Superintendent, in accordance with FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Dates:  May 29 to June 3, 2024- Full School Days

Exam Day 1: Wednesday May 29, 2024 - Green Day - Periods 6 & 8        

Exam Day 2: Thursday May 30, 2024 - Blue Day - Periods 5 & 7 

Exam Day 3: Friday May 31, 2024 - Green Day - Period 2            

Exam Day 4: Monday June 3, 2024 - Blue Day - Period 1 & 3

Location: South Lakes High School Gymnasium

Dates & Times:  

• June 5th & June 6th, 2024- MANDATORY
• Wednesday, June 5th, 8:15 am - lunch will be served immediately following
• Thursday, June 6th, 8:15 am - quick breakfast will be served before rehearsal

Rehearsal for the graduation ceremony is required of all seniors who will participate in graduation.  Seniors will report to the South Lakes High School gym on Wednesday and Thursday.  Rehearsal will take approximately 2 hours each day.  Attendance will be taken for this mandatory activity.  Important details pertaining to the ceremony such as lining up, seating, receiving of diplomas will be discussed and practiced.  

Cap & Gown Distribution, Rehearsal, and Senior Lunch

Location: South Lakes High School Gymnasium

Date:  June 5th, 2024

Time: 8:15 am

All students walking at graduation will be required to wear the issued cap and gown and must conform to the dress code expectations which are fully explained below under Graduation Attire.  Cap and gown distribution will be on Wednesday, June 5th so that students will have their caps and gowns to wear on the Graduation Walk to elementary schools the next day.  Caps and gowns will not be distributed early. 

Students who have not paid fines and fees (e.g. textbook fees, library fines, transcript fees, senior fee etc.), WILL NOT receive their cap and gown until all financial obligations are satisfied.  Please visit the Finance Office and settle all financial obligations by May 31, 2024. Checks will not be accepted after May 15, 2024; only cash or money orders made payable to South Lakes High School will be accepted as payment, or you may pay by credit card at www.myschoolbucks.com.

Any students still owing fines and fees as of June 3, 2024 will be advised of their obligations and will need to pay these obligations before they receive their cap and gown.  Finance and sub-school AA’s will be set up in the gym to receive payments, returned textbooks/calculators.  Once all fines have been paid, you will receive a ticket to go pick up your cap and gown from the counselors located across the gym.

Lunch will be served after the rehearsal and there will be a short time of socializing for the senior class. The Senior Walk through the halls of SLHS will tentatively take place on June 5, 2024. 

Senior Breakfast, Rehearsal, and Graduation Walk through Elementary Schools

Location: South Lakes High School Gymnasium

Date:  June 6, 2024

Time:  8:15 am

A grab-and-go breakfast will be served, followed by graduation rehearsal.  After rehearsal is complete, the Elementary School visits will occur.  Buses will depart at approximately 10:30am.

Location: Theatre

Date: May 30, 2024

Time:  6:00 pm 

The Senior Awards Program will take place on Thursday, May 30, at 6:00 p.m. in the South Lakes High School Theatre. 

Recognitions will include the following:
• Community Based Scholarships and Awards
• Department Awards
• Executive Council and other SGA leadership
• National Merit Recognition
• IB Diploma and IB Career-related Program Candidates

Invitations will be sent to the families of students who will be recognized.

Location: EagleBank Arena, George Mason University

Date:  Friday June 7, 2024

Time:  7:30 pm

The administration, faculty, and staff of South Lakes High School extend to the graduating class of 2024 our best wishes for a distinguished commencement ceremony, a safe and enjoyable summer, and a successful future. The graduation ceremony is a formal recognition of your years of successful academic work. Graduation is an occasion for joy, dignity, and reflection. South Lakes High School administration, faculty, staff and student leaders have made every effort to ensure that your commencement ceremony is worthy of your accomplishment. It is expected that you will do your part to make the 2024 South Lakes High School commencement ceremony one of which we may all be proud. Doors open at the Arena at 6:30 pm.  After the ceremony, please plan to meet your graduate outside of the Eagle Bank Arena near the South entrance (tip: arrange a specific meeting place as it is very crowded after the ceremony and students will not have cell phones).

Graduation Tickets

Since the Eagle Bank Arena seats approximately 10,000 people, there are no tickets needed for graduation.  

Location/Line-Up

Seniors will report to Eagle Bank Arena through the loading dock.  Students should report to the line-up area no earlier than 6:00 pm. Students must be on time for graduation! Students should bring only their car keys and cap and gown.  To ensure that the ceremony starts on time and goes smoothly, please listen to instructions carefully and cooperate cheerfully! 

Graduation Attire

All Seniors will wear the same color gowns for the graduation ceremony. Graduation caps may be tastefully decorated. The overall height of the cap may not be increased due to decorative objects. Only school-provided and nationally recognized honor society cords and stoles are appropriate. Seniors are expected to arrive at graduation appropriately dressed for the occasion and carrying their caps and gowns. Young women should wear dress shoes, dresses, skirts, or slacks that are not excessively full or long. Young men should wear dress shoes, dress shirts, ties, dress pants or khakis. No sunglasses, flip-flops, sandals, athletic footwear or sneakers are to be worn.  No one is to wear jeans or shorts. Casual attire is for the All-Night Graduation Party, not for the ceremony.

Security

After graduates have reported to the loading dock of the arena, they will proceed through the inspection stations to be checked for inappropriate items.  Graduates will enter with their gowns over their arms and carrying their caps.  Do not chew gum or eat candy.  Do not bring purses, cameras, cell phones or any valuable items since secured storage is not provided. Car keys will be the only item you can bring into the Eagle Bank Arena.  Safety pins and bobby pins will be supplied, if needed.  

Appropriate behavior is expected by all participants and guests before, during and after the ceremony.  Inappropriate behavior or possession of any inappropriate items (i.e. beach balls, balloons, horns etc.) by participants or guests detracts from the ceremony honoring our seniors.  Seniors may be removed from the graduation ceremony by South Lakes High School or Arena personnel.  

Photos

Arrangements have been made with Victor O’Neil to take a picture of each graduate as he/she receives their diploma from Mrs. Retzer.  This picture and others will be available for purchase from the photographer.  These portraits will be available online through the Victor O’Neil studio. Photos will be available 72 hours after graduation at https://galleries.photoday.io/gallery/SLHSGRAD24. Email questions to @email

Guests must remain in their seats during the graduation ceremony. Those who wish to take close-up pictures should use a telephoto lens.  

Accessible Seating

Eagle Bank Arena provides ample accessible seating for patrons in wheelchairs as well as those who may have difficulty with steps.  Approximately 400 accessible seats are reserved via signage for each graduation.  Eagle Bank Arena has a wheelchair that can be used to assist guests to and from one location to another, but it must be returned after each use rather than kept for the duration of the event.  The main entries are wheelchair accessible; there are no steps or elevators to negotiate.  Accessible parking is available outside the South Entry and a drop-off area is available at the West Entry.

Location: South Lakes High School

Date:  Friday, June 7, 2024

Price: $50 until October 15th, $60 until December 31, $70 until March 31, and $80 until June 6, and $100 at the door*

Time:  10:30 pm to 4:30 am

The All-Night Grad Party (ANGP) is a chaperoned, alcohol-free, and drug-free celebration held at South Lakes High School the evening of graduation (10:30 pm - 4:30 am). This event is sponsored by the PTSA to give graduating seniors an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments with their classmates in a safe and entertaining environment.  South Lakes High School ANGP is made possible by the generous support of local businesses, parents and many volunteers who value the achievements of our graduates and care deeply about their safety. It takes a community to put on an all-night grad party and we invite parents/guardians from ALL grade levels to get involved in the planning and/or volunteer at the event. Consider being part of this long-standing tradition by contacting [email protected]!

To register your senior, order lawn signs, or purchase raffle tickets online visit this website. Orders for lawn signs close on May 24th.  ANGP registration must be received by midnight June 6th^, or students must pay at the door ($100).  We strongly discourage registering at the door. Please register in advance. We will not be issuing paper tickets. If you have any questions, you may contact at [email protected].  

*Please note: If your student is eligible for free and reduced meals, we have scholarships available to help with the party registration fee and information is available on the registration form. If you have any questions about party registration, you may contact [email protected]. If you have questions about lawn signs, please contact [email protected]. 

Links:

To order video:

To livestream:

Q. Where can I find and pay the senior dues?

A. My School Bucks- under Class of 2024 or by cash or check in the Senior Sub-School.

Q. When will the student pick up the cap and gown?

A. Counselors will hand them out on June 5, 2024 during rehearsal, if all dues are paid in full.

Q. What is the website to order announcements, etc.?

A.  www.Jostens.com

Q. Are tickets required for graduation? Is there handicapped accessible seating?

A. No tickets are required, and handicapped seating is first come, first served.

Q. What time do the doors open?

A. 6:30 pm.

Q. Where can I find out info about lawn signs and ANGP?

A. @email and @email

If there is a question that is not listed, please contact Ms. Bruens.