4/23/2025
Dear Parents of Graduating Seniors,
Graduation from high school is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our seniors have earned the opportunity to be recognized and honored. We request that you, parents/guardians who have long awaited this day, help us by impressing on your Senior the dignity and honor of this occasion. A formal graduation ceremony is scheduled at the end of this academic year. The guidelines explained in this correspondence have been established and will be implemented to ensure a dignified ceremony, designed to honor all seniors, parents, and staff.
Important Dates
Wednesday, April 23 – Senior Meeting
At 9:15 a.m. in the Tiger Pit there will be a senior class-only Senior Meeting where Senior Contracts for Graduation will be delivered. The deadline to return contracts, and Senior Exit Form is Friday, May 16th, 2025, both will be turned into Adeline Derenzy in the Front Office.
Thursday, May 15 – Friday, May 16 – Final Exams
Final Exams are scheduled for seniors ONLY on May 15- 16, 2025. *Seniors enrolled in non-Senior Courses (those are made up with mostly underclassmen) will take the Final, Monday, May 19, 2025 – Wednesday, May 21, 2025, during the underclassmen test schedule, unless arrangements are made with the teacher to take early. All students must take their Final Exams during this time period. Graduation status will be verified on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, after exams have been graded.
Sunday, May 18 – Baccalaureate
The Alamogordo High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be sponsoring Baccalaureate in the Alamogordo High School Cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. Attendance at this special service is voluntary for graduates and their guests. The side doors to the Cafeteria will open at 5:00 p.m. Parents may park in the lot by the cafeteria, or come to Tiger Drive. While handheld video equipment is permitted for use in the audience during the service; due to safety reasons, we ask that no tripods be used.
Wednesday, May 21 – Practice for Commencement Ceremony
Seniors should report to the Commons area at 10:00 a.m. for instructions. This practice will last from 2-3 hours. Students who are not eligible to go through the graduation exercise (i.e., due to a shortage of credits) will be informed before this time. (There is a possibility that students would be informed after this date if all requirements are not met but students had been given time) Please note that participation in graduation ceremonies will not be permitted if a student is short of any credit(s), or does not fully meet all graduation requirements. Any student showing up under the influence to any practice or ceremony, will be pulled from the line and not allowed to walk the line.
Thursday, May 22 – Dress Rehearsal for Commencement Ceremony
Seniors should report first to the Commons area at 2:00 p.m. for instructions. Dress rehearsal will be held from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Dress for this event as you would for the actual commencement ceremony. Graduation pictures may be taken by parents during the dress rehearsal, as this will be the only time parents will be allowed on the field to take pictures until after the official ceremony. Please note that only flat-soled shoes (wedges, flats, boots, etc.) may be worn by anyone walking on the field. LifeTouch photos will offer pictures in the commons. A proof will be either mailed or emailed to the senior approximately two weeks after graduation for preview to purchase graduation photo(s). You may also go to http://events.lifetouch.com to view your photos.
Friday, May 23 – Commencement Ceremony
5:00 p.m. - All gates to the football stadium will be opened.
AHS respectfully requests that all guests remain through the entire ceremony.
5:15 p.m. - Seniors will report to the Commons area.
Students must be on time. Please do not bring any personal, hand-carried items (i.e., cell phones, iPods, any electronic devices, etc.). Counselors will check the appearance of students during this time. Please note, lining up will take some time because each graduate must be given name cards to present to the announcer as they approach the platform for their diploma.
6:25 p.m. - Graduates will line up for the procession.
Students should move to the relative position they were in during the Thursday evening practice. Counselors will pass out the name cards as they check the sequence of the line. Principals and counselors will lead the graduates toward the field.
Graduation Ceremony
The 2025 Graduation Ceremony will take place in the Alamogordo High School Tiger Stadium at 7:00 p.m. The graduation ceremony usually lasts approximately 75 minutes. Diplomas will be issued to students during the graduation ceremony. In the event of inclement weather, graduation will be moved into the Tiger Pit, please note that IF this happens, each graduate will be allowed only 2 guests.
Guest Information
Tickets are not required for the ceremonies except for seats in the handicapped section. Adults must pick up tickets for handicapped guests. Only one family member for each handicapped guest is permitted to accompany a handicapped guest. Those people sitting in the handicapped section must give this ticket to the adult supervising the handicapped area. Please contact Adeline Derenzy after Saturday, May 10, 2025 at (575) 812-6502 or adeline.derenzy@alamogordoschools.org to obtain tickets for the handicapped section. You will be required to present a state-issued handicapped placard to obtain a ticket. If you have two family members requiring a handicapped ticket, each member must present their own individual placard to obtain a ticket.
Please remember, no animals, no weapons, no explosive devices, no alcoholic beverages or electronic cigarettes will be allowed while on school property.
During the graduation ceremony, only officials will be permitted on the field with the graduates. No cameras or video equipment will be permitted on the field or in the handicapped section for elderly or handicapped guests who cannot sit in the bleachers.
Processional
Graduates should remain standing until the posting of colors is completed and the National Anthem is played. At the time the diplomas are presented, the first row will rise on the cue from its Junior Conductor, face to the outside, and file up the platform for diploma covers. When the total row is back in place, the entire row sits down together. The next row then rises on cue from the Junior Conductor, faces outside and moves into line. Students will rise on the cue from the Senior Pupil for the closure and will remain standing for Certification of Graduation by the President of the Board of Education. When the President of the Board directs seniors to move their tassels, reach up and move the tassel from the right to left side with your right hand. At that point, commencement exercises have been concluded.
Parents may enter the field to greet graduates. Note that Custodial and maintenance crews will be working to pick up chairs and stage setup. Please note that only flat-soled shoes (wedges, flats, boots, etc.) may be worn by anyone walking on the field.
Photography
Parents, please support our request for students to leave their cell phones and any other handheld electronic device with you or at home from the time they line up in the Commons area through the graduation ceremony. Mr. Williams will take a photo of every senior who receives a diploma. Pictures will be emailed to families a week or two after Graduation. Please note that parents/guardians, who desire, are welcome to take their own pictures during the “dress rehearsal” on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 3-5 p.m. since no photography on the field is permitted during the actual ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025.
Decorum and Dress
All students participating in graduation exercises must wear the Black and Gold cap and gown. The graduation ceremony represents the keystone of years of work on the part of each of the graduates from Alamogordo High School this year. It is an important event for each of the young people graduating, and should be treated with all the dignity and importance afforded such special occasions.
Males: Must wear a plain business/dress shirt with collar; with a tie preferably (T-shirts and turtleneck shirts will not be permitted). Appropriate shoes (any color; no tennis shoes or flip-flops), with socks, and dark trousers (no jeans) must be worn.
Females: Must either wear a blouse with a skirt, capris, or dress pants; or, an appropriate dress. Appropriate dress shoes (any color; no flip-flops or tennis shoes) must be worn. Please note that only flat-soled shoes (wedges, flats, boots, etc.) may be worn on the field.
The only adornment permitted on the gown will be: Golden Scholar sashes, cords, and medallions; honor graduate cords; club cords; and honor society cords. Please see Mrs. Shay or Mrs. Estrada about additional adornments.
Graduation protocol does permit additional ornamentation on the cap. Any adornments outside of these need to be approved by the principal. Students may decorate their caps within the following guidelines:
Decorations must be tasteful and appropriate.
No offensive, obscene, controversial, or otherwise inappropriate words, images, symbols, etc. are allowed.
Cap decorations must not hang down or obscure the student’s face.
Can not be more than an inch high on the cap.
Administration reserves the right to determine if decorations are appropriate. Students whose decorations are deemed inappropriate will be asked to remove the decorations or provided with an undecorated cap for the ceremony.
Students refusing the administration's request to remove decorations deemed inappropriate will not walk.
The administration, faculty, and staff at Alamogordo High School have appreciated the opportunity to work with your senior. We would like to take this opportunity to wish the Class of 2025 much health, happiness, and prosperity.
Sincerely,
April Shay, AHS Principal
PDF Parent Letter: https://5il.co/3f6r6