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.