R.
D. PARKER COLLEGIATE
GRADUATION 2010
Friday, June 25
– 7 p.m.
The quote in the hallway this month is one
of my favorites: “It is never too late to be who you might have been” (George
Eliot). Astronaut? Mechanic? Engineer? Graphic Artist? Dancer? Prime Minister?
Graduate? George Eliot leads me to believe there is still time. As you embark
on this final leg of your educational journey at R.D. Parker I want you to
consider dreaming big, that is if you are not already doing it. There were few
moments during my high school career (let me assure you) wherein I dreamed of
being a teacher or a principal, or bigger, but I am glad I found the dream and
stuck with it because I am now living it at R.D. Parker Collegiate. This is the
year of choice at RDPC, and you have the power to choose your future in and
through everything you do this year. Choose big.
Of course, as Spiderman’s uncle said: “With
great power comes great responsibility!” At no time is this more evident than
for young people today. The world is a pretty fast-paced place and a wrong turn
can send you hurtling in the wrong direction. But Eliot reminds us, “it is
never too late” and I choose to believe this to be true. I hope you do too. I
hope you will do everything within your great power to chase your dreams this
year at R.D. Parker Collegiate. And if you find yourself knocked off the tracks
by the many hurdles, bumps and challenges that your year will undoubtedly
present, I want your promise that you will walk through my office door and say,
“Mr. Land, I need your help.” You are also welcome and encouraged to pass
through the door to say hello or share a success—I promise to be here if and
when you do.
To
be honest, I can’t wait to see what you do next. Parents, guardians, families,
younger students, your peers, the community, the media, the school board
office, and Manitoba Education are all watching so that they can celebrate your
accomplishments and pat you on the back. No pressure, but choose wisely. I will
continue to look forward—every day I see you in the hallways walking tall or in
classrooms learning with enthusiasm and dedication—to shaking your hand in June
as you float across the stage adorned in proud red and achievement.
Yours
in leadership and learning,
Mr.
R. Land
Principal,
R.D. Parker Collegiate
R. D. Parker
Collegiate – Graduation 2010
Commencement is, first and foremost, an
academic celebration, an acknowledgement of your successful completion of high
school, and the achievement of a Manitoba High School Program diploma.
Whether or not commencement is a meaningful
event requires your active participation.
You can participate by:
ü
Being informed about diploma requirements and
ensuring that you have passed or are registered in all the necessary courses.
ü
Completing
a formal graduation check.
You must have this complete to be eligible for the grad list and to pay
grad fees. The Grad check deadline is the
end of February.
ü
Checking for grad notices in the Student
Services, reading information letters and any new updates that you may receive,
submitting your address for group e-mail; attending
all Grad assemblies.
ü
Providing input as requested, such as regularly
checking the posted grad list and participating in surveys.
ü
Providing necessary information, such as is
needed for the student committee, the parent committee, and the yearbook.
ü
Being measured for cap and gown by deadline.
ü
Volunteering to help, either on a short or long
term basis.
ü
Cooperating with the Graduation committee.
ü
Joining the Grad Choir
In order to obtain a Manitoba High School
Diploma, students must meet the requirements:
ü
Earn a minimum of 30.0 credits
ü
For the regular
_______ English, Grade 12
_______ Math, Grade 12
_______ Physical Education, Grade 12
_______ Electives (2), Grade 12
_______ English, Grade 11
_______ Math, Grade 11
_______ Physical Education, Grade 11
_______ History, Grade 11
_______ Elective (1), Grade 11
_______ English, Grade 10
_______ Math, Grade 10
_______ Science, Grade 10
_______ Geography, Grade 10
_______ Phys Ed, Grade 10
_______ English, Grade 9
_______ Math, Grade 9
_______ Science, Grade 9
_______ Social Studies, Grade 9
_______ Phys Ed, Grade 9
_______ Additional 10 electives – at any grade
level from 9 - 12
Different
graduation requirements apply to students in French Immersion, Technology or
the Mature Student Program.
Please confirm the required courses when you are completing your Grad
Check. Have your Grad Check done early, in case
you are missing a course.
In order to be placed on, and remain on, the R. D. Parker Collegiate Grad List, all
students must comply with certain conditions.
1. You
are responsible to check the accuracy of your high school record of
courses, marks and credits by doing a Grad
Check with a counselor.
2. Each student is required to complete a
Career Plan form, which needs to be
reviewed and signed by a counselor.
3. You must ensure that you are registered
in the necessary credits and courses to fulfill high school diploma
requirements.
4. If you lack credit in any compulsory
senior courses, you must be registered in, or be taking them, in Grade 12.
5. If you are earning prerequisite courses
by distance learning or correspondence courses, all lessons and exams must be
completed by June 1, 2010. If you have
not completed the lessons or exams by this date, it is quite possible that you
will not participate in the commencement ceremony.
6. A student must be in good standing and
ensure all grad fees are paid and textbooks are returned or paid for.
Outside the
Student Services Office, for the entire school year, there is a
table and display board on current
scholarship information available.
This is for Nonlocal Scholarships
outside Thompson. Once the deadline for
application for a given award passes, then that information is removed from the table. This means that when students check the
scholarship information, they will not
be wasting time looking at awards that that can no longer be applied
for. Students are encouraged to check
the scholarship area weekly for new
opportunities.
Students should also use online resources as
well. Two excellent sites are www.scholarshipscanada.com and www.studentawards.com where they can do
their own profiles and get individualized lists of awards. Mr.
Fricker (677-6230) is available to assist with doing these profiles or with
completing applications for any award.
Information on Vale Inco
scholarships can be found through the Vale Inco Human Resources Department
or at valeinco.com.
For Local
Scholarships, which are awarded by businesses and organizations from Thompson, only a single application
needs to be filled out. This single form allows a student to apply
for as many of the approximately 30 different local awards as they wish. For many of these awards, a high academic
average is not the main requirement. Community/ extracurricular/ organization or
athletic participation is often the more important criteria
considered. So, Any student who plans to continue training or study after
graduation should apply. These scholarships are awarded on graduation
day.
Applications
can be picked up in Student Services April 7th, 2010 and
must be handed in by the May 13th, 2010 deadline.
More information is available from Louise Gaslard in Student Services,
677-6228.
COMMENCEMENT/GRADUATION
CEREMONY
The commencement ceremony will take place on
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 7 p.m. The
ceremony lasts approximately two hours.
Location will be announced at a later date.
The Class Valedictorian and Guest Speaker are
chosen by the students at a Grad Assembly in 2nd semester.
Grads will wear a rented gown and stole that
must be returned directly following the ceremonies, and cap that they are all
allowed too keep. Formal wear is not necessary.
Students must be eligible to graduate in order
to participate in these ceremonies. See
previous sections for details on how students can ensure their eligibility.
COMMENCEMENT/GRADUATION
RECEPTION
The Grad reception is usually held just prior
to the graduation ceremony in the school gymnasium. All grads and their family and friends are
welcome to attend. No tickets are necessary.
It is a casual come and go reception.
It is a good time to meet and mingle with the grads and their families.
The cost of Graduating is $155. Cheques can be made
payable to the RDPC Grad Committee. Payments are given to Mrs. Portey in the main
office. Grad Fees are due at Spring Break.
These fees cover the cost of the following:
ü
Gown and stole rental
ü
Memento cap and tassel purchase
ü
Yearbook
ü
Decorations
ü
Sound System
ü
Souvenir
ü
Roses
ü
Diploma pictures
ü
Reception
The Grad Committee has arranged for Lifetouch
Photography to come to the school to take individual portraits. Each grade twelve must have their picture
taken during this time for the
composite picture and the yearbook. There is a $5 fee for this
picture. You are under no obligation to order any
further photographs from this photographer.
These photographs were taken in February during exam week (February
1-5). Only pictures taken during this time will be eligible for the composite
and yearbook. Life touch will be
back for Prom in May to take more grad photos but these would not be in the
yearbook or composite. Sign up sheets will be posted in Student Services in
January.
If you wish to order photographs from this
photographer: (Lifetouch)
ü
There are different sitting fees to choose from,
which are payable at the time of your appointment. The proofs will be delivered approximately 3
weeks later.
ü
Image enhancement is available at an additional
cost.
ü
Picture packages are available with the cost
varying according to the package contents.
Prices are determined by Lifetouch, NOT the school.
The Grad Committee has arranged
for Jostens to come the school in
order for students to purchase of rings.
You are under no obligation to order a ring from this representative.
Jostens will be at our school on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
to take your order for your graduation ring. Visit their website www.jostens.com and use their online Ring Designer
to check out styles, prices, and build you ring exactly as you would customize
it. Print your order form off the web for Ring Order Day. You can also link to
their Ring Designer on our school website in the grad information section.
The cost of rings varies with the style of
ring. A $50 deposit is required when
ordering a ring. Sign
up will take place in the Student Services area.
Please note: You are welcome to use
local suppliers for the purchase of grad photos and rings.
Questions regarding photographs or
rings must be directed to the supplier (not
the school).
Media Waivers – all potential
grads are asked to complete this form. It will be distributed in class and
returned to the classroom teacher. It
will also be available at the Front Desk.
Grad
Clothing: Grad
clothing will be available for purchase in the second semester. Grad clothing
will be an additional cost to students. There is no obligation to purchase grad
clothing.
Grad
BBQ: In
June the Graduating class will be honored at a lunch time barbeque on the front
lawn of the school. This celebration
will include the taking of the aerial class photo on the lawn.
The
Safe Grad event is put on by a committee that is made up of the parents and
guardians of grade eleven and grade twelve students. The object of this event
is to provide a controlled environment where grads and their guests can go to
safely enjoy some time together until they are taken home safely at the end of
the night. We need approximately 70 volunteers in order to keep this function
safe and successful. Please remember that we do this to protect all of the
grads and their friends—our young people. Although this event is recognized and
supported by R.D. Parker Collegiate and the School District of Mystery Lake, it
is organized and supervised by parents, who accept responsibility for it. We
also work very closely with the Liquor Control Commission, the RCMP and Manitoba Association of School Trustees (MAST) to
make it a safe night for all. Please call Danny Morris at 778-3541 for more
information.
GRADUATION
ORGANIZING COMMITTEES
The chairperson of this committee is the member
of R. D. Parker Collegiate staff assigned as Graduation Advisor. Students of the present graduating class who
wish to participate in the organization of their graduation should attend all
meetings. The meetings will be held
after school or at noon, and the frequency will vary. This year the Staff Grad Advisor is Mrs.
Katie Maloney-Buchanan. She can be
reached at 677-6187 or at kbuchanan@mysterynet.mb.ca
The
Student Committee will ask for input from any and all members of
the graduating class. Based on this
input, the Student Committee will coordinate the following activities:
ü
guest speaker selection
ü
decorations
ü
grad assemblies
ü
valedictorian election
ü
photographs
ü
ceremony guests and invitations
ü
reception menu, if applicable
ü
fundraising, if necessary
ü
grad clothing
The
Parent Commencement Committee will be formed by interested parents who
have students in the present grad class.
This committee will provide input on the following decisions:
ü
consult on the budget and decorations
ü
fundraising, if necessary
ü
consult on critical issues and decisions
STAFF
GRAD ADVISORS
In addition to overseeing and consulting with
student and parent committees, the staff advisors are responsible for the
following:
ü
setting dates and booking locations for all
events and activities
ü
paying deposits where necessary
ü
maintaining an accurate graduation list
ü
setting budget, and helping determine grad
fees; tracking revenue and expenditures
ü
communicating with students, parents and school
staff
ü
compiling the gown order
ü
compiling photos and information for newspapers
ü
organizing ceremony program
ü
arranging for help with decorating, set-up and
clean-up
ü
making arrangements for composite photo
Report Cards are available at the
school until June 30. Each Grad will be
given 2 copies of their transcript with their report card. More are available from the Records Clerk at
no cost.
Grad
Check completed and signed by end of 1st semester.
Career
Plan form completed and signed by the end of 1st semester. (Available in Student Services)
Completed and submitted Local Scholarship application
(If Continuing Study after high school).(Application forms are available between April 7th and May
13th, 2010 from Ms. Gaslard in
Student Services.)
18+ Consent Form completed by students once
you become 18 years of age. Available in Student Services.
Cap
and gown form completed and handed in
Attend Grad BBQ and be in aerial photograph
Have
photo taken for hallway composite during Semester One exam week
Complete the School leaving form after June
exams are completed (available from
Front Office)
Purchase
Portrait packages, Grad ring and Grad Clothing,
Safe Grad tickets (optional)