James Buchanan High School Graduation

Gates/Doors open at 5:30 pm

• Graduates should arrive by 5:15 pm in the JBHS cafeteria

• Ceremony will begin at 6:30 pm

• Commencement will be live streamed from https://www.youtube.com/@tsdvideolive for family and friends who may not be able to attend. 

• Please remember that state law prohibits the use of cigarettes, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs as well as the possession of weapons and firearms of any kind on school property.

• Graduation is Tuesday June 2nd- Rain or Shine!
  • JBHS Administration will begin studying the weather on Monday, June 1st.  A final decision about the location of Commencement will be made on Tuesday, June 2nd by 12PM. That decision will be shared with graduates and families via Parent Square.  

• Balloons and may not be brought into the building.

• Please limit bags and large purses to those that will fit comfortably in your lap.

• ONLY water is permitted in the gymnasium and auditorium.

• Per ADA guidelines and TSD policy, registered service animals, limited to dogs, are permitted; emotional support animals are not permitted. If you are bringing a service dog, please contact our building secretary (anamsley@tsdrockets.org ) so we can seat that individual appropriately.

• We ask that you please be considerate of those around you regarding your personal belongings so as not to impede their enjoyment of the ceremony.

• Students will receive a minimum of 6 tickets for preferred seating on the bleachers. We do not sell or issue extra tickets, if you are in need of extra tickets please ask fellow students if they will have extra.

  • More tickets may become available depending number of participating graduates

• For Outdoor Graduation:

  • Either color ticket will gain admittance to the bleachers in the stadium.

• For Indoor Graduation:

  • 6 tickets will gain admittance to the gymnasium

  • Overflow seating will be available in the auditorium, where a live stream will be shown

• Tickets will be given to graduates on the first day of practice. 

(NOTE: Fines/Obligations must be paid.  Students may not receive their tickets and could potentially be excluded from participation in the ceremony if they have unpaid obligations).

• Extra tickets not needed by the graduate's family may be turned into Mrs. Amsley's Office.

• Please remember that guests may attend without a ticket. For our outside ceremony, there will be standing room and seating (if you bring a chair) along the fence on either side of the bleachers. There will be no standing or seating permitted in front of the bleachers. If the ceremony is moved inside to the JBHS Gymnasium only ticket holders will be in the gym, all other guests will watch a live feed of the ceremony on the screen in the Auditorium.

Decorations on graduation caps (mortar boards) are a symbol of pride and accomplishment. The decorations represent personalized statements about accomplishments that can be presented in the form of a quote, an image, a symbol, or other things. 

Consistent with past practice, James Buchanan High School students are not permitted to decorate or adorn the gown; the only items permitted with the gown are those provided by JBHS; stole, cords, medallions, pins awarded by our school.

To ensure that commencement exercises remain a dignified celebration of the achievements of all students, the following rules must be followed when decorating caps for graduation: 

• Not wearing a JBHS issued graduation cap at graduation is NOT an option and if you are not wearing a cap, you will not participate in the ceremony.

• Decorations should not interfere with attaching the tassel to the cap. 

• Only the flat top of the cap may be decorated. 

• Decorations may not hang off the sides of the cap.

• Large 3-D embellishments may interfere with the view of students seated behind you and are, therefore, prohibited. 

• Caps must not threaten the safety of others or use any hate speech of any kind. 

• Caps must be consistent with the JBHS code of conduct. 

• Obscene, profane or vulgar language is expressly prohibited. 

• Words or items diminishing or slandering toward any individual or institution, the JBHS, TSD, any faculty or staff member, and/or any student are prohibited on graduation caps. 

• Your cap CANNOT make noise- No bells, horns, or anything that makes noise. 

• Your cap CANNOT contain any 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. 

• Your decoration should also not include:

  • Nicknames (unless approved) 

  • Gang-related signs/slang 

  • Boyfriend or girlfriend’s name 

  • Political affiliations 

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 damage yours when decorating. Failure to adhere to these rules for graduation cap decoration and/or instructions from commencement event staff could result in a student’s removal from commencement exercises and may add a Student Conduct Violation to the student’s record.

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