Dear Senior Parents or Guardian:

The faculty and staff of Gaffney High School and Cherokee County School District One thank you for supporting your son or daughter in his or her educational efforts over the past 12 years. All of the hard work by the students, parents, and teachers will culminate on June 6 - GRADUATION DAY!

In our society, graduation is the ceremony that marks the end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood. Graduation has two parts. First, it is a solemn ceremony that should be approached with great dignity, and second, it is a time of celebration that should be greeted with fanfare. We are working hard to plan our graduation ceremony so that it has both elements.

The ceremony will be held outside in W.K. Brumbach Stadium on the campus of Gaffney Middle School. In case of inclement weather, each candidate will be issued five tickets for admission should we have to move the ceremony inside to the Gaffney High School gymnasium. An announcement will be made from the local radio stations at 5 p.m. as to the location of the ceremony. Graduation will be a formal affair; therefore, the ceremony should be solemn and dignified. Our board members, teachers, and administrators will march in with our seniors. Also, I have contracted with a professional photographer to make a picture of your student as he or she receives his or her diploma. This company will send you the proofs and deal with you directly.

Each student graduating will earn the South Carolina High School Diploma for completing the minimum 24 units and passing the High School Assessment Program (HSAP) exam as required by law. To ensure that students receive the correct diploma and to keep the lineup moving smoothly, the diplomas will not be placed in the covers but will be distributed to graduates following the ceremony. Your student will receive more details on this during graduation practice, which is required and will be held at 9 a.m. on June 6 at Gaffney High School.

Over the past several years, area schools have seen an increase in inappropriate behavior at graduation ceremonies by both the students and the spectators. Such behavior will not be tolerated at Gaffney High School. As principal, I will do whatever is necessary to prevent this behavior and deal with it promptly if it occurs. We will have additional police and security officers throughout the crowd, and they will remove anyone who creates a disturbance. Noisemakers, beach balls, or other things that could disrupt the ceremony are strictly prohibited. Persons possessing or using those items will be asked to leave immediately. Any candidate creating a disruption in the ceremony will be disciplined as necessary. Please stress to your student and your guests the importance of keeping graduation solemn, reverent, and dignified.

Dr. Quincie Moore

Principal Gaffney High School