Graduation Information

Two La Follette graduates smiling for a picture

Welcome

Dear graduates,

Congratulations on your upcoming commencement! You are no doubt very excited about this occasion—and rightfully so; you have worked hard for this achievement!

Your high school diploma represents years of dedication and hard work, and demonstrates your readiness for the next chapter of your life. During your time at La Follette High School, you may have met challenges and overcome obstacles to achieve the honor of claiming your diploma. As you have matured since your first day at LHS, we encourage you to continue to grow as you move on in your post-secondary journey.

In the coming weeks, many activities, presentations, and events have been planned in your honor. Please take the time to be a part of these events as they will add to your memories of your senior year at La Follette High School.

This page contains essential information regarding upcoming senior events and commencement. You are responsible for understanding and complying with all of the guidelines established for this special time. Your full cooperation will make all of these activities a success and will allow for the recognition that each one of you deserves.

Please feel free to contact us when you have questions or concerns regarding graduation activities or commencement.

We look forward to celebrating your accomplishments!

Mathew Thompson Building Principal
Cullen Haskins Assistant Principal, Tuskegee Neighborhood	Alisha Raabe Assistant Principal, Spelman Neighborhood
Cody Shepard Assistant Principal, Howard Neighborhood	PF'Anique Hill Assistant Principal, Southern Neighborhood

Graduation Requirements

Before a student is issued a diploma, counselors must verify that they have met all graduation requirements.

Counselors will be working closely with teachers to make sure students are passing, and will continue to reach out to students/families that are in danger of not passing a course required to graduate.

A senior with 20.5 credits earned by June 7th may participate in the graduation ceremony with the understanding that the student will not officially graduate until 22 credits have been earned.

Students having earned less than 20.5 credits will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

If you have any questions or concerns about credits, please contact your counselor to get clarification as soon as possible

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To earn a La Follette High School diploma, students must have earned 22 credits, including the following:

English: 4 credits
Math: 3 credits
Social Studies: 3 credits
Science: 3 credits
Physical Education: 1.5 credits
Health: .5 credit
Financial Literacy: .5 credit
Humanities: 1 credit
Civics Exam: Must Pass

Caps, Gowns & Stoles

There is still time to place your orders for graduation attire, if you have not done so already. All paper orders with checks must be mailed to Midwest Scholastic or orders can be placed through Midwest Scholastic. Orders and payments must be made directly to Midwest Scholastic;

La Follette will NOT accept orders or payments.

ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT ORDERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED DIRECTLY TO MIDWEST SCHOLASTIC at questions@midwestscholastic.com

*Please Note: Caps and gowns will be distributed on May 19th

Participation in the graduation ceremony is optional. Students who choose to participate are required to wear the following items:

Cardinal cap
Cardinal gown
Silver and cardinal tassel
Silver stole (worn over gown)

If you have not placed an order for your student’s cap and gown, please do so as soon as possible by visiting this link. Orders and payments must be made directly to Midwest Scholastic; La Follette will NOT accept orders or payments. ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT ORDERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED DIRECTLY TO MIDWEST SCHOLASTIC at questions@mwscholastic.com.

Students may use caps or gowns from La Follette alumni and purchase tassels and stoles à la carte, if desired.

Students who may need to borrow a cap and gown package should connect with their guidance counselor or school social worker as soon as possible. Please email gkelley@madison.k12.wi.us if you’d like to borrow an outfit. Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.

Borrowed gowns need to be returned immediately following the graduation ceremony. Diplomas will not be released until the borrowed cap and gown are returned. You may keep the tassel and stole.

**STOLES WILL BE HANDED OUT AT GRADUATION PRACTICE ON JUNE 8th.

Senior Exit Fair

The students-only Senior Exit Fair will take place on May 21, 2024.

Seniors will attend the fair with their English class, where they will complete the MMSD Senior Survey, fill out their commencement name reader card, and visit booths with pertinent graduation information.

All seniors are required to complete the MMSD Senior Survey prior to graduation. This is a web-based survey that contains questions relating to a student's post-secondary plans and overall high school experience.

All students who plan to participate in the graduation ceremony are required to have a name reader card completely filled out prior to the ceremony. Students will receive and return these cards at the fair; the cards will then be passed on to the ceremony name readers, so they can practice name pronunciation prior to the ceremony.

Students will also proceed to cap and gown pickup upon completing the survey and visiting all booths, and then will get their senior/graduation sign. Early graduates and alternative program students can pick up their items from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on this day. Students who are absent from school may pick up items from the Howard Office (room 1235).

Graduation Rehearsal & Class Picture

Senior class picture/rehearsal will be held at La Follette High School on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., in the Spectator Gym.

Please note: Rehearsal and class pictures are for seniors only. Parents and guardians are respectfully asked to wait for their students either at the Welcome Center or outside of the building.

Senior class picture/rehearsal is mandatory for all students who plan to participate in commencement.
Senior class picture/rehearsal will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Please do not be late.
Students should wear their gown (no cap) and any cords to rehearsal.
Stoles will be distributed at rehearsal.

The order form is linked here and also will be provided by Empire Photography at rehearsal.

Commencement Ceremony

Madison La Follette High School will celebrate its commencement ceremony on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

The ceremony will be held at the University of Wisconsin–Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton Street

Tickets are not required for this event – there is ample seating.

All guests will be required to go through security screening & metal detectors. Guests will need to remove cell phones, cameras, and keys before going through the metal detectors. Prohibited Items: Please see the Kohl Center Carry In Policy.

Seating is available on a first come basis for guests. Attendees are urged to be on time for the ceremony by preparing for traffic and planning for time between parking and arriving to the Kohl Center

Closed Captioning will be available on video screen throughout the ceremony and an American Sign Language Interpreter will be located near section 121.

Wheelchair and wheelchair companion locations are scattered throughout the main level concourse (Kohl Concourse or 100 level), and the upper level (Kellner Concourse or 200 level). The top two rows of chairs in the 100 level will be reserved for those that can handle some chairs, and the Kohl Center will also have ADA platforms that will allow those individuals with wheelchairs. For seating in the 200 level, please note that due to construction the Kohl Center does not have access to the Gate B elevator. For any guests that need elevator assistance, they will need to use the one that is located at Gate A.

Final Senior Transcripts

Seniors are responsible for requesting that their final transcripts be sent to the school they plan to attend in the fall. It is recommended that transcripts be requested during the last week of the school year.

To order final transcripts and track the status of their request, students should visit the Parchment website.

Please note: It is not the responsibility of school staff to request final transcripts on behalf of any student. Colleges and universities will only receive transcripts from La Follette High School if there has been a direct request made by the graduate via Parchment.

Senior Calendar of Events

Class of 2023
Date	Event
April 18	Midwest Scholastic: Announcement pickup during lunch
May 1—12	AP exams
May 6	Prom (Monona Terrace)
May 8	National Honor Society ceremony (7:00 p.m.)
May 16	Scholarship Night
May 18	Senior Exit Fair / cap & gown distribution
May 21	Family Fun Day (presented by Booster Club)
May 26	All library materials due back to LMC
May 29	Memorial Day (no school)
June 1	Cap & Gown Parade (a.m.)
June 2	Chromebooks due back to LMC
June 6	Fees & obligations due by noon
June 8	Lockers must be cleaned out Graduation rehearsal in Spec Gym (Required) Senior class picture
June 9	Graduation ceremony at Kohl Center (7:30 p.m.) (Students to arrive by 6:15 p.m.)

Parking

Accessible Drop-off Locations & Mobility Assistance

Student Dress Code

At their graduation ceremonies, students will be allowed to adorn their sashes with pins that signify an accomplishment they achieved during high school (e.g. AVID, PEOPLE, Early College STEM Academy Graduates, etc). Stoles for MMSD programs such as BSU and other MMSD clubs/programs can also be worn with building principal approval, but the school stole must be laid over any other being worn.

It is preferred that students don't decorate their caps; however, if students choose to do so and the decorations become a disruption to the ceremony, the student's cap will be taken and returned at the end of the ceremony. A student has the right to wear religious, ceremonial, or cultural adornments at graduation as long as it is not likely to cause a substantial disruption of, or interference with, the ceremony. One example of adornments that would be allowed under this guidance is a Native American student who wishes to wear a feather that holds religious or cultural significance for them. Any exceptions to this guidance must be approved by the Associate Superintendent of High Schools.

Student Arrival

Students should arrive at the Kohl Center with all graduation attire and dress clothes no later than 6:15 p.m.

Doors open to families and guests at 7:00 p.m.

Due to construction at the Kohl Center, the exact gate the students will enter will be determined closer to graduation. This information will be shared as soon as it is known.

Students will go through security screening at the Student Entrance.

There are no pockets in the gowns, so students should leave ALL valuables, money, cell phones, purses, wallets, etc. with family or friends.

Note: Students who arrive late will be placed at the very end of the processional and will not be seated in alphabetical location.

Ceremony

Doors open to the public at 7:00 p.m.. The ceremony is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., and is expected to last until approximately 9:00 p.m.

Audience members are not allowed on the main floor before, during or after the ceremony.

There will be areas set up for photography on both sides of the stage.

These areas will be clearly marked and are to be used briefly by anyone who wishes to get closer to the stage and take a picture of their graduate.
Seating is not allowed in this space in order to provide all families an opportunity for pictures.
Empire Photography will take individual graduate pictures as students cross the stage, and again as they exit the stage. Empire will email you the ordering information.

Livestream

Post-Ceremony

Diplomas will be distributed after the commencement ceremony at the Kohl Center to those students who have successfully completed all graduation requirements and who have no outstanding fees or obligations.

Family members and guests will not be allowed in the diploma pick-up area.

Graduates will exit the Kohl Center immediately after diploma pick-up.

Family and friends of graduates should meet and celebrate with students in front of the Kohl Center at the main entrance at Gate A.

Students who borrowed a cap and gown will receive their diploma upon returning all borrowed items to a staff member at the Kohl Center following the graduation ceremony. Students can keep the stole.

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