Chopticon Class of 2022

Important Dates
Please see this link for the Senior Braves Bulletin

March 29 - Announcement delivery during Pride Time in the cafeteria lobby

**March 31 - Senior Class Meeting, period 2 in the auditorium**

April 11-18 - Spring Break - no school for students

April 27 - CSM Enrollment Day - pre-registration required - details at the bottom of this newsletter

May 2-May 12 - Prom Ticket Sales

May 11 - Prom Guest Forms Due

May 13 - Project Grad forms due

May 17 - Cap & Gown Distribution, 11:30 - 1:30 in the auditorium lobby

May 20 - Last day for seniors who have completed their coursework for graduation - two hour early dismissal for all students. All library books, textbooks, and SMCPS issued laptops (with charging cable) need to be returned to the library.

May 21 - Prom - Ocean Hall in Bushwood, MD

36889 Bushwood Wharf Road

May 26 - Senior Awards Assembly, 9 am

May 30 - Memorial Day, Schools & Offices are Closed

June 1 - Mandatory graduation practice followed by senior day activities - tickets will be distributed at the practice

June 2 - Senior Sunset
Rain date for June 1 activities

June 3 - Graduation at Chopticon, 9th, 10th and 11th grade Chopticon students will stay home that day and will participate in virtual instruction.

Prom - May 21

• Prom ticket sales will be from May 2-May 12, 2022. Seniors will be able to exclusively purchase tickets during the first week, and sales will open to juniors and remaining seniors the second week of sales. Tickets are $65.

• We are excited to announce that guests have been approved for prom. Guests are defined as students that do not attend Chopticon High School between the ages of grades 9-12 and no older than 20 years old. Below you will find a PDF of our guest form. This must be filled out by the guest's home school administrator. This form must be returned to Mrs. Smith in the main office by Wednesday, May 11, 2022 and must be approved prior to purchasing a ticket. Students are also able to pick this form up in the main office.

Graduation Ceremony Information

Graduation will take place on June 3 at 10 am on the football field.

• Each graduate will receive one parking permit to park on site at Chopticon which means the graduate and guests will need to arrive in one vehicle. We do have an option for limited additional parking at Bowles Farm with shuttle bus transportation to and from Chopticon. You may request an additional permit to park at Bowles Farm in the participation survey.

• Tickets - 5 tickets for the outdoor ceremony. If ceremony is moved indoors, 3 of the 5 will be valid for the indoor ceremony. Every person must have a ticket, including infants. The ceremony will also be livestreamed. Tickets will be distributed at the June 1 practice - All school debts must be taken care of before the tickets will be given to the senior.

• In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place in 2 groups (similar to last year) at 10 am and noon in the auditorium. Groups would be in alphabetical order (For example Group A last names beginning with A-Ja and Group B last names beginning with Jo-Z - this is for illustrative purposes only, final groupings will not be determined until May).

There will be a mandatory graduation practice on June 1 during the school day for students who plan to participate in the ceremony.

Ceremony Participation Fee

In lieu of class dues, there will be a $10 fee for students who choose to participate in the graduation ceremony. This fee must be paid prior to purchasing prom tickets. These funds are used for graduation expenses including professional printing of the graduation program, decorations, and other expenses associated with the ceremony.

The Graduation Ceremony fee may be paid through MySchoolBucks by going into the "School Store," choosing "Browse All Items," and scrolling through to "Graduation Fees." Students may also bring cash or check to the School Bank any time during the week between 7:45 am through 3:05 pm (a pass is required during instructional time). Please contact Ms. Hertzbach with any questions or concerns. 301-475-0215, x38138

Dress for Graduation

Graduation is a formal occasion. In addition to the cap and gown set, students are encouraged to dress up but it is not required.

No high heel or spike heel shoes will be permitted on the turf. Shoes with a flat bottom or a wedge style shoe will be permitted. Keep in mind that you will have to walk down the road to the football field and across the turf.

Cap and gown distribution will take place on May 17, 2022, during lunch. A table will be set up in the auditorium area. Any student that does not pick up their cap and gown will have it left at Chopticon to pick up at a later time. If you have not purchased your cap and gown, please visit the following website to do so: Jostens: Cap and Gown Purchasing

Decorating Your Mortarboard

Please take into consideration the following rules when decorating your graduation cap.

Failure to follow these rules will result in the removal of the cap before the ceremony.

Graduation cap decorations:

• No advertisement, symbols, abbreviations, initials, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that: Refer to drugs or controlled substances, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons or be of a sexual nature.

• Nothing that denotes an affiliation with gangs or which advocate drug use, violence, illegal activity, or disruptive behavior which is detrimental to the safety and welfare of other students.

• No obscene, profane, vulgar, or lewd language or visuals.

• No numbers other than the graduation year.

• Cannot threaten the safety and welfare of any person.

• Cannot make noise. No bells, horns, or anything that makes noise
  Only the flat, top area of the mortar board may be decorated. There may be nothing hanging down from any of the sides of the cap or standing up on top of the cap. Decorations must be two dimensional (flat to the top of the cap) so you are not blocking the view of the graduates and parents sitting behind you.

It is appropriate to put the following on your cap.

• Thank a parent, grandparent, teacher, friend

• Recognize the university you will be attending

• your graduation year

• the branch of the military you will be joining

Students, we highly suggest you trace your cap onto cardboard and decorate the cardboard. In case you make a mistake you can start over with a new piece of cardboard. We will not furnish new caps if you mess yours up decorating. After you decorate it, stick it to your cap with double-sided tape or Velcro stickers. Velcro tape can be purchased at many stores.

Administration will reserve the right to disallow anything that is not considered appropriate for commencement ceremony.

Pre-Order Flowers for Graduation

The Commencement Group will accept pre-orders for flowers which may picked up at the graduation ceremony. Click here for more information.

Project Grad Returns!

Project Grad is a sponsored event that occurs the night of graduation. All attendees will have an opportunity to enjoy wonderful fellowship with classmates, great food, bowling, swimming, dancing, softball, basketball, games, volleyball, movies, and ice cream and more all for free!

Students will park in the Chopticon parking lot starting around 8 pm (will confirm bus times once we receive them) and board buses for the naval base. Safety & Security will monitor the parking lot overnight.

Click here for the permission form. The form must be completed by May 13, 2022.

Last Day for Seniors

The last day for seniors who have completed all coursework for graduation is May 20. Some seniors may need to continue attending school after May 20 to complete work.

AP Testing Dates

May 2 – AP US Government EXAM

May 3 – AP Environmental Science Exam

May 4 – AP English Literature Exam

May 5 – AP Macroeconomics Exam

May 6

• AP US History Exam

• AP Art History Exam

May 9 – AP Computer Science Principles Exam

May 10 – AP English Language and Comp Exam

May 11

• AP Spanish Language and Comp Exam

• AP Biology Exam

May 12

• AP World History: Modern Exam

• AP Physics 1: Algebra Based EXAM

Past Information

Senior Cap and Gown Ordering as of 11/30/2021

Currently, the cap and gown package is $42. After December 31, 2021, the price will go up to $50. You can find graduation package information at this site (click here). If you click on "shop now" at the bottom of the screen, you will find information to order just the cap and gown if you prefer not to order a graduation package.

Senior Ads for the Yearbook

This year has been unique, to say the least, and so will this year's yearbook. Each year, senior families are offered the opportunity to surprise their students with a recognition ad in the yearbook. You have an opportunity to not only purchase a yearbook that will be unlike any other, but you can also document your student's personal story within the pages! If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please visit the website below, click on "Get Started", search for Chopticon High School and begin building your own personal advertisement for your senior. Attached, you will find a flyer with information, as well.

The deadline to complete this is January 31, 2022, so please, do not delay!

https://www.jostens.com/yearbooks/students-and-parents/yearbook-ads

Please contact the yearbook advisors, Mrs. Hooven (rlhooven@smcps.org) or Ms. Duriez (kbduriez@smcps.org) with any questions.

Senior Portrait Dates
Website: Prestige/Lifetouch. Flyer

Make Up Dates:

No further in-school dates will be offered. If senior photos need to be completed they must be done at Lifetouch's studio. Call 800-736-4775 for more information.

Questions? Contact Mrs. Hooven or Ms. Duriez

Prom

May 21, 2022

Prom will be held at Ocean Hall in Bushwood, MD on the Wicomico River

Graduation

May 31, June 1 & 2, 2022 - Graduation Practices/Laptops & Textbooks Returns/Distribution of Tickets (Tentative) Any graduate planning to participate in the ceremony will be required to attend all practices - tentatively scheduled for June 1 and 2

June 3, 2022 - Graduation - 10:00 a.m on the football field. I we have inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the auditorium and will be done in 2-3 groups. More information will be shared once it is available

Past Important Dates

Friday, Oct 1 - Class of 2022 Meeting in Auditorium with Josten's Rep - order info on graduation announcements and other graduation items

October 11-16 - Homecoming Activities with the dance on Saturday, October 16 - more details to come

October 13 - Senior Day - Please see the flyer below for more information