ROBERT MORGAN EDUCATIONAL CENTER

CLASS OF 2019 GRADUATION INFORMATION ASSEMBLY

APRIL 30, 2019

• You have not graduated until

you have your diploma in your

hand AFTER the graduation

ceremony on Tuesday, June 4th.

• There are MANY things you

must do to prepare for that

moment.

• Please pay close attention.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Senior Exit survey dates will be announced by Ms. Altidor

• May 15th – 16th : Marching order cards for graduation rehearsals will be

distributed through government classes

• May 20th: Green/red cards go out (counselors)

• May 21st: Treasurer/Ms. Waddell/Ms. Altidor will be signing green/red

cards → you will be sent in groups assigned by Ms. Peña

• May 24th : 1st graduation rehearsal @ 1:00 pm

• May 29th : Final graduation rehearsal

• May 30th – 31st : Cap & Gown distribution through English classes

• Friday, May 31st: Last day to be cleared for graduation

• June 4th : GRADUATION @ FIU Arena, 7:00 pm

ALL graduation rehearsals

are MANDATORY to

participate in the

graduation ceremony

SENIOR EXIT SURVEYS ARE A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT,

MS. ALTIDOR WILL HAVE TO SIGN YOUR GREEN/RED CARD FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP

YOUR CAP AND GOWN

WHAT IS A GREEN

CARD AND A RED CARD?

YOU WILL NEED:

• Your counselor’s signature

• Ms. Waddell’s (Media Specialist) signature

• Ms. A (CAP Advisor) signature

• Ms. Gonzalez’s (Treasurer) signature

IN ORDER TO PICK UP

YOUR CAP & GOWN ON

MAY 30th or MAY 31st

You will need to have completed all

graduations requirements to get your

counselor’s signature.

• Community service hours

• Testing requirements

• Passing grades for all graduation

required classes & not have excessive

absences in these courses

• Virtual school (FINISH IT NOW!)

You cannot owe money for:

• Library books

• Tablets/chargers

• Financial obligations: fees, dues,

text booksPay for these

things or return

them in advance!

VIRTUAL SCHOOL/2H CREDITS

• Potential June graduates taking

classes on virtual school MUST have

their coursework completed no later

than Friday, May 24th.

• 2H: you must receive a passing grade

and will be cleared by Ms. Anderson if

you have met all graduation

requirements

• Credit can be denied if you have

more than 5 unexcused absences in

a semester course or 10 unexcused

absences in an annual course.

See Mr. Blanco for questions

CAP & GOWN DISTRIBUTION

CAPS AND GOWNS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ON:

Thursday, May 30 & Wednesday, May 31

• You will be called by English class to the Activities Office

• Your card MUST have all signatures to get your cap and gown

• If you did not purchase a cap and gown in

January, I will not have one for you!

• You MUST see Ms. Peña for a special form, and take that

form to Herff Jones on your own time. There, you will

purchase your cap and gown→ Your card must be signed

in order to get the letter from Ms. Peña.

WARNING:You cannot get a form to take to Herff

Jones until you are cleared for graduation

and have a completely signed off

green/red card. Herff Jones will not sell

you a gown without a letter signed by me.

This is YOUR responsibility!!!!

I WILL NOT go looking for you.

May 31st @ 10:00 am is the absolute

LAST DAY to get a Herff Jones letter

from Ms. Peña.

No cap/gown, no graduation!

What you will receive with your Cap & Gown:

• Cap & Gown (collar if you are a girl) will come in a bag with:

• Medallion (which you can keep after the ceremony)

• 4 tickets to the ceremony

• Form to order/purchase the graduation video

• Form to order a graduation plaque

• Your RMEC stole and academy cord

• Gold, silver, or bronze hood

(summa, magna, and cum laude)

• Extra Tassel if you have 500+ or 1000+ community

service hours

• MOST IMPORTANT: Your Marching order/name

reader card, which I will explain in a minute

You will keep everything EXCEPT for the GOWN

IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO HERFF JONES FOR YOUR CAP AND GOWN YOU MUST

SEE ME AFTER WITH A RECEIPT TO GET THE OTHER ITEMS

Make sure Herff jones sells you a:

cap, gown, tassel, medallion, RMEC stole,

academy cord.

You will get your tickets, marching card, (hoods if

applicable), and order forms from Ms. Peña.

WARNING:If you lose anything once your cap and gown

bag has been given to you, it is on you! I will not

replace anything you have lost. This includes

caps, gowns, medallions and/or honors and

academy cords, tickets, etc.

If you lose the gown you will have to pay for it

since it is only being rented from Herff Jones!

PRE-GRADUATION

• Try your gown on.

• Make sure length is correct.

• Make sure the zipper works.

• Hang up your gown to smooth out wrinkles.

• Take pictures with your cap and gown BEFORE graduation, you

will be returning the gown at the graduation site, immediately following

the ceremony .

What do I wear? GENTLEMEN

Dress Shirt & TIE (light colored, nothing dark.. It will show through the gown)

Dress Pants (light colored preferred, dark color acceptable)

Dress shoes. No sneakers, no flip flops!

Absolutely NO Jeans, shorts, or any other garment considered to be casual.

PRE-GRADUATION

PRE-GRADUATIONWhat do I wear? LADIES

• Dress or Skirt & Blouse (light colored,

nothing shorter than your arm length)

• Dress Pants and Blouse (light colored preferred, dark color acceptable)

• No crop tops.

• Dress shoes or dress sandals. No sneakers, no flip flops, etc.

• Absolutely NO Jeans, shorts, mini skirt or any other garment considered to be casual.

PRE-GRADUATION

HOW do I wear the Cap/Gown?

• Caps are one size fits all (try it on)

• Tassels on the RIGHT side

• Gowns should be wrinkle free (do not iron)

• Gown length is mid-calf.

• Light colored clothing underneath the gown.

• Young men MUST wear ties.

PRE-GRADUATIONDO NOT ALTER YOUR CAP

AND/OR GOWN IN ANY WAY.

No messages, pictures or any drawings on the cap/gown.

DOING SO WILL RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM THE CEREMONY.

How do I know

where to line up at

graduation?

THERE ARE TWO LINES THAT PROCESS INTO THE ARENA

• GOLD SIDE

• Band

• Entrepreneurship

• Health Science

• VPA

• BURGUNDY SIDE

• Officers/Student Speaker

• Summa, Magna, Cum Laude

grads

• Chorus

• DMT

• EngineeringYou will sit

alphabetical

by academy

REMEMBER I SAID YOU WILL GET A NAME READER CARD IN YOUR CAP

AND GOWN BAG? THIS IS IT:

Castellanos, Ashley

Side: Gold MO: 23

You will have a

white label at the

top with your name,

the side you will

march on (color),

and “MO” which

means “marching

order” in that row.

ALSO ON YOUR NAME READER CARD:

On the back:

PLEASE fill out information

including address and email

address or you will NOT get your

picture proofs from

Grad Images

You MUST bring your

NAME READER

CARD!!!!!The way you write your name on it is

how it will be read!

IT MUST BE NEAT!!!!

GRADUATION REHEARSALS

#1 – Friday, May 24th @ 1:00 pm

#2 –Wednesday, May 29th @ 8:30 am

You will get a “practice” name reader

card with your actual color and marching

number on it in your government class..

• If you get BURGUNDY you will

report to the auditorium for

rehearsals

• If you get GOLD you will report to

the cafeteria for rehearsals

• Once in your designated location,

you will line up numerically.

Teachers will have signs indicating

which numbers line up where.

PRE-GRADUATIONGraduates and Guests MUST adhere to the following:

Inform your guests!!

All graduates and their guests must conduct themselves in a

dignified manner.

No items that distract from the ceremony will be permitted.

Graduates and guests not in compliance will be removed from the

premises.

Graduate will not receive his/her diploma. Diplomas will be withheld.

GRADUATION DAY

Tuesday, June 4th, 2019

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ON

GRADUATION DAY IS….

YOU MUST BE ON TIME

• Tuesday, June 4, 2019

• FIU Arena

• 5:45 PM Graduates Arrive

• 6:00 PM Guests Enter Arena

• 6:50 Doors Close

• 7:00 PM (START TIME)

WILL THERE BE TRAFFIC?

YES!This is Miami and there is always

traffic. Please plan accordingly.

WHERE DO I GO ONCE I ARRIVE

AT FIU?

PARKING

BLUE ENTRANCE STUDENTS

Turnpike

Seniors enter here!

Parents/guests enter here

PARKING

KEEP IN MIND:• FIU area has a lot of traffic

• Previous graduation ceremony &

regular student traffic

• PLAN TO BE THERE WITH ENOUGH

TIME TO PARK AND TO WALK TO

NW4 entrance by 5:45 pm

IF YOU ARE NOT ATNW4 ENTRANCE BY 6:50 PM

THE DOORS WILL CLOSE AND YOU WILL NOT BE

ALLOWED INSIDE.

If your guests are not at the front entrance

by 6:50 pm the doors will close and they

will not be allowed inside

WHEN YOU CHECK IN AT NW4 ENTRANCE YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO:

• Summa, Magna, and Cum Laude as well as seniors

in chorus will report to the racquetball court area

inside the arena

• Everyone else reports to the large tent outside to

line up, this includes the seniors in Band

1. GO TO YOUR SIDE

2. LOOK FOR

TEACHERS (they will display the MO#)

3. FIND YOUR

NUMERICAL SPOT

Titled: “MO”

(marching order) on

you name card.

HINT: You will line

up behind the

person with the

MO # higher than

yours

Castellanos, Ashley Side: Gold MO: 23

Peña, Janelle Side: Gold MO: 24

You will be directed at check-in to

your location

INSIDE THE TENT: YOU WILL SEE TEACHERS WITH SIGNS(MO# 50-31) (MO# 30 – 1)

Gold:

MO#30 - 1Gold:

MO# 50 - 31

Burgundy

MO# 130 - 109Burgundy

MO# 131 - 150

PLAN FOR RAIN.

PLAN FOR HUMIDITY.

PLAN FOR HEAT.

DO NOT CARRY WITH YOU:

• CAMERAS

• CELL PHONES

• PURSES

• You should only have your name reader

card in your hand when you arrive

WHAT IS PERMITTED:

• Official RMEC regalia (Yours Only)• Official RMEC Medallion (received at the

same time as cap & gown distribution)• Honor Society or CTSO cords/stoles

(provided by your sponsor)

No other pins, medallions, cords, etc. will be permitted

GRADUATION DAY

• Graduates MUST arrive at 5:45 PM

• BRING Name Card!!!!!

(Fill out info on back for pictures)

• Weather: Be prepared for both rain and heat. Students go to

“NW 4” entrance

• Parents/Guests may take their seats at 6:00 PM in the

front entrance

• Doors will CLOSE at 6:50 PM. Guests who arrive late will not be permitted to enter until the processional has ended.

I CANNOT stress

this enough, no

card.. No walking!

WHO NEEDS A TICKET?

Floor seating will be

reserved for the

elderly and handicap

PLUS 1 GUEST

GRADUATION CEREMONY

• Graduation will begin at exactly 7:00 PM

• Students will walk in the procession quietly, attentively, and respectfully.

• Teachers will direct you to your seat.

• When you enter your row, walk all the way to the end, don’t just sit

down!

• Remain standing until you are asked to be seated. IMPORTANT. . .

Look to the teachers for guidance.

• Listen attentively to all of the speakers. No shout-outs. Act

appropriately.

CAPSMEN MUST REMOVE

CAPS WHILE THE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS SUNG

GRADUATION CEREMONY

• RECEIVING DIPLOMA COVER:

• Hand your Name Card to the announcer at the podium.

• Walk across the stage (in a dignified manner).

• Shake the principal’s hand with your RIGHT hand

• Accept the diploma cover with your LEFT hand.

A photo will be taken, while shaking hands with Mr. Fox

• Respectfully shake the hands of the remaining

administrators and dignitaries.

PICTURE POSE ACCEPTING DIPLOMA

RIGHT HAND UNDER LEFT

SHAKE HANDS WITH RIGHT HAND

GRAB DIPLOMA WITH LEFT HAND

WRONG HANDS!

Don’t get nervous or overwhelmed, just

refer to your name card ☺

1.) Find your side (Burgundy or Gold)

2.) Find your “MO” #

3.) Line up behind the MO# larger than yours

(it’s backwards from largest to smallest)

*The teachers will help you!*

PHOTOGRAPHS DURING THE CEREMONY

• When do I have my picture taken?

You will have 2 – 3 Pictures taken.

1.) Head shot before you enter stage.

2.) Accepting your diploma shaking hands with the principal

3.) Picture with flags after you exit the stage.

Pictures are taken by GradImages

GRADUATION CEREMONY

Conclusion of Ceremony

• Senior Class President will lead with the turning of the tassel.

• RIGHT to LEFT.

• Join in the singing of the Alma Mater.

• You will be pronounced GRADUATES by the principal.

• You will exit the arena, at this time start getting ready to remove your gown

• All other regalia you keep!

TOSS IT, LOSE IT.DO NOT THROW OR REMOVE YOUR CAPS. It is

against MDCPS policy. Disciplinary action will be taken,

and your diploma will be withheld.

CONCLUSION• After Closing Remarks

• Exit the arena in an orderly manner. Do not exit your row until you are called to

• You will be returning your gowns at the graduation site (FIU). Then walking into

the racquetball courts to receive your diploma, find your table marked

alphabetical by last name

• As you walk, unzip the gown, release your medallion from it’s button, and return

to Herff Jones once you are in the back of the arena

POST GRADUATION CEREMONY

Diploma Plaque

Herff Jones will be selling diploma plaques

outside of the arena before and after graduation.

Graduation Pictures

Pictures are taken by GRADIMAGES

www.gradimages.com

If you do not receive a card with your name and

marching order in your government class by May 16th,

please see Ms. Peña.

You will need this on May 24th for our first graduation

rehearsal.

If you have any questions you can contact

Ms. Peña via email or Remind Class of 2019

Ms. Pena @ penaja@dadeschools.net or

Ms. Lujardo @ lujardo@dadeschools.net