Dear Seniors and Parents:
This letter is distributed to all prospective 2025 graduates to ensure that students and parents are aware of the procedures involved at the conclusion of your senior year. Please carefully review this bulletin and place it in a convenient place so that you may refer to it, as necessary.
Seniors are reminded that their attendance and appropriate conduct are just as important during the final weeks of school. Teachers continue to work extremely hard on your behalf. You demonstrate your respect by your attendance and purposeful behavior. Participation in senior activities is a privilege which will be revoked for violations of the Code of Conduct. This includes the graduation ceremony. To ensure that you are thoroughly familiar in advance with what is expected, the following information is presented for your review and compliance. The activities listed are the only school-sponsored activities.
Tuesday, May 20th - Seniors will return their laptop, charger and case on Tuesday, May 20th. Students who do not return their laptop, charger or case will be subject to a $450.00 replacement fee for laptops, $45.00 fee for chargers and $25.00 for cases.
Thursday, May 22nd - Last day of classes for seniors and end of quarter 4. Students must arrive at 7:25 am and remain through the end of Bridge Block (10:53 am). Wear your senior t-shirt. On this last day of school, seniors will meet in the faculty parking lot to decorate cars and proceed to the AHS cafeteria for a parent-sponsored breakfast, yearbook signing, and car parade. They will participate in a number of activities that will help them say goodbye to high school.
Senior Breakfast: Senior parents who are willing to volunteer to make donations for and/or serve breakfast to the senior class on Thursday, May 22nd are asked to e-mail senior parent Alyssa McSharry at alyssamcsharry@gmail.com .
There will be a yearbook signing and caps and gowns will be distributed at the conclusion of the breakfast. Caps & gowns, together with final instructions for graduation, records of immunizations and permanent records will be distributed. Students must fulfill their obligations (e.g., return books, athletic equipment, laptops, chargers, pay fines, administrative obligations, pay for cap and gown, etc.) before they receive their caps and gowns.
Senior Slideshow: The senior class officers will be presenting a slideshow with their classmates following the Senior Breakfast. If you are interested in providing pictures from PreK, Kindergarten or elementary grades, please email them to any of the senior class officers at ahsseniorslideshow25@gmail.com
Senior Reception: This year’s Senior Reception will be held on Thursday, May 22nd. Students should arrive at the AMS cafeteria at 4:45 pm for the Receiving Line. Reception tickets are $20.00. If the senior is bringing a guest, the reception tickets are $120.00. Students must ride the buses if they plan to attend. The buses will leave the AHS parking lot at 5:30 pm and return to AHS at 10:30 pm.
Friday, May 23rd Based on quarter 4 report cards, seniors in good standing will only have to attend school to make up missed work or meet with their teachers by appointment. To earn this privilege, seniors must be on track to graduate on May 31st and have passing grades (60 or better) in all credit bearing classes.
Tuesday, May 27th - Music Banquet at AHS outdoor dining area and cafeteria at 5:00 pm.
Wednesday, May 28th - Seniors’ Athletic Banquet in the Middle School Cafeteria @ 6:30 pm
Thursday, May 29th - Senior Awards Night, the final academic recognition of graduating seniors, continues another tradition at AHS. During the ceremony, academic achievement awards and scholarships will be presented to members of the Class of 2025. Abington is fortunate to have generous donors supporting the future education of our graduating seniors. Donors will present their scholarships on this evening. Please join us at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 29th in the Auditorium to honor our accomplished seniors. The parents of those seniors receiving a special award that evening will be notified by mail the week before the ceremony. This is a formal event. Appropriate dress is required (no jeans, t-shirts, shorts, or hats).
Friday, May 30th - Mandatory Graduation Practice: Graduation is, of course, the culminating event of senior activities with many details to consider. Graduation practice will be held on Friday, May 30th at 9:00 am in the auditorium, and attendance is mandatory. (Rearrange work schedules!) Senior Stroll: The Senior Stroll will take place on Friday, May 30th from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Members of the Class of 2025 will revisit the schools they attended for grades K-12 in caps and gowns and bring their education full-circle. The stroll will provide a moment of inspiration for other students, and staff will have an opportunity to see students they previously taught. Senior Picnic: Following Friday’s rehearsal and Senior Stroll, the senior parents will sponsor their annual picnic for seniors at Reilly Field. Parents are asked to email senior parent Alyssa McSharry at alyssamcsharry@gmail.com with any donations or questions.
Saturday, May 31st - Graduation Day: Commencement exercises will be held on the front lawn at AHS at 10:00 am.
❖ On the day of graduation, seniors should arrive in the AMS cafeteria by 9:30 am. The parking lot adjacent to the middle school will be reserved for seniors.
❖ Seniors should arrive wearing their caps and gowns, with the tassel on the right side of the cap. (The class valedictorian will signal you to shift the tassels from right to left at the end of the graduation ceremony, signifying that you have graduated.) While seniors are allowed to decorate their graduation caps, we reserve the right to prohibit a cap which has been inappropriately and/or offensively decorated.
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ Seniors will be called individually to the stage to be presented a diploma. Life Touch will be taking professional photos of each graduate on the stage with diploma in hand. The ceremony will be live broadcast by Abington CAM (Comcast channel 14 and Verizon channel 26).
In case of a forecast of inclement weather for Saturday, May 31st, the ceremony will be moved into the Auditorium. Graduation is a formal event staged as much for parents and grandparents as for the graduates. I ask that you join school officials in urging appropriate decorum and attire for all participants and their guests. A packet will be given to the seniors on Thursday, May 22nd at the senior breakfast. This packet will contain a cap and gown, final instructions for graduation, record of immunizations, permanent records, and a copy of the current Individual Education Plan, if appropriate. This may be the only record you have of these immunizations, which may be needed in the future. If your students have a need for a transcript, contact the Guidance Office at 781-982-2165. The permanent transcript will be kept for sixty years beyond graduation.
If any families are interested in senior lawn signs, an order will be placed next week. They are 24 X 18 double-sided, black, white and green and say “Class of 2025 Senior, Abington High School.” Metal stakes will be included. Cost will be $25. If you are interested in ordering a sign, email senior parent Jenn D’Ambra at dambrajenn@gmail.com by Friday, May 2nd.
Abington High School Seniors for the past several years have taken it upon themselves to engage in a game they refer to as ‘senior assassin.’ The game involves a hit list of all the seniors. Students are challenged to take each other out with water guns that resemble real guns. This often occurs in passing cars, in parking lots, at student job sites, in local restaurants, and in back yards. I cannot stress enough how dangerous this game is for our students. Those not familiar with this game may believe that students have a real weapon. The response from an unknowing citizen may very well be violent. Please discuss the dangers of this activity with your children in the hopes that we can all keep them safe. This is not a school-sponsored event. If the game interrupts learning or school activities, consequences will be administered by the school.
We are looking forward to being able to celebrate the Class of 2025 in person on graduation day and greatly appreciate your understanding and support. Congratulations and best wishes for a happy and safe celebration. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 31st at 10:00 am. Sincerely,
Jonathan Bourn Principal
Kate Casey Assistant Principal