March 2021
Dear Senior Parents and Guardians:
Graduation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at the Free State High
School Stadium. We are writing in anticipation of this event to inform you of upcoming senior
events and the graduation ceremony. Enclosed you will find several important documents.
Your student should complete and return the Senior Exit online form by March 30.
https://forms.gle/ft2XQwuE5bawy5Mn7 This form advises us of your student’s post-secondary
graduation plan and captures scholarship information used to recognize them at our Academic
Assembly on April 26. In addition, students who plan to attend college should login to
Parchment.com and make a NEW REQUEST to have their final transcript sent to the college
they will be attending in the fall. A new request must be made, as the final transcript includes
their final GPA and graduation date. Sending a transcript that does not include the graduation
date will create a hold on the post-secondary enrollment. We are told in July the fee for sending
transcripts will increase for graduated students.
We are very proud of the Free State High School Class of 2021. The administration and staff
look forward to honoring them and their families. The Lawrence Free State Graduation is a
formal ceremony during which seniors in good standing come forward to receive recognition for
their efforts. We ask for your support to help maintain a positive tone beginning with senior
week and throughout the final days before graduation. Specifically, instances of hazing
underclassmen (ex. shaving heads) and vandalism of property cause serious harm and are
illegal. Such acts should be reported to the police. Mischievous and prankish behavior at school
will not be tolerated. All inappropriate behavior will be treated seriously and can result in a
student’s removal from graduation.
Your help to create a positive atmosphere at graduation makes the event more meaningful.
Please do not bring any type of noisemakers. While family and friends are as excited as the
graduates, we ask that no one distract from the formality of the ceremony. Each graduate
deserves to receive positive recognition and have their name heard when crossing the stage to
receive their diploma. Please observe the courtesy of not obstructing the view of others by
entering the areas near the podium staging area. For those wanting a picture of their graduate,
a professional photographer will be present to take a picture of each graduate. These pictures
may be purchased at a reasonable cost.
In keeping with the spirit of graduation, graduates should dress appropriately. Caps and gowns
must be free of writing, signs, flowers, etc., with the exception of culturally related regalia.
Graduates are only allowed to wear school-issued cords and honor stoles. Students who do not
follow the graduation guidelines or other school policies may be denied participation and/or
have their diplomas withheld until a parent conference or other requirements are met.
There will be a mandatory senior WebEx meeting on Wednesday, May 5, 1:30 PM. The $40
graduation fee can be paid online through PowerSchool, via mail or in the financial office. The
fee covers the cost of the graduation cap, tassel, gown, diploma, and diploma cover (these fees
were not a part of the package that Jostens sold). Caps and gowns will be distributed on April 1
from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM in front of school by the firebird (north side) at FSHS. Jostens will also
be present at this time for any other purchased supplies available for pick up. Fees may also be
paid at this time.
We will not hold a traditional graduation practice. Details will be discussed about this at a later
time. We do not have access to Allen FieldHouse in the event of inclement weather. A makeup
date and plan for graduation is being determined by the district office.
For the evening of graduation, graduates should be at the Free State High School
Baseball/Softball Field by 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, May 26. There will be a limit on the
number of guests to ensure social distancing to take place. Each student will be given 4 tickets
for family members.
We will have diplomas available for students to pick up as they exit the stage on graduation
night.
Sincerely,
Myro Grabe
Myron Graber
LFSHS Principal
Mat Ren
Matt Renk
LFSHS Assistant Principal