To celebrate the students that are finishing high school this year, the district will hold a graduation ceremony starting with a rehearsal Thursday.
“I’m so happy to be gone,” senior Dylan Riley said. “On the other hand, I’m going to miss all of my friends, I’m going to miss some of my teachers, I’m going to miss being able to come here and know that every day I’ll have something to do.”
The graduation for MHS students will start Friday at 9:30 a.m., but students must report to their home campuses by 6:10 a.m..
“It’s pretty bittersweet,” social studies teacher Aleisha Utterback said. “It’s fun to watch, but then I know, as soon as they leave, I probably won’t see them again.”
The after-school rehearsal will cover things like seating arrangements and transportation.
“I’m ready to get out of Mansfield High School,” senior Ryan Webb said. “I’m just excited. I’m ready to get on with my career.”
Student who are graduating must have completed their FAFSA, turned in their school-issued Chromebook, paid any fines and completed the Peace Officer Training required by the state.
“I feel like there’s less of an ‘academic stress’,” Webb said. “But outside, there’s more senior stress. Like ‘you need to get this done, you need to get this done.’”
Last Thurday and Friday, students were able to pick up tickets for graduation after paying fines and turning in their Chromebook. Each student received seven grouped tickets and two parking passes for family and friends.
“I haven’t been to a graduation in a while but I see a lot of them,” astronomy teacher Byron Barrett said. “There’s kind of this realization as you get toward the finish line the fact that it’s going to be over.”
Students are required to wear business casual attire under their gowns. All regalia must be provided by the school or district. Students will walk across the stage to receive their diploma and get pictures.
“Most people don’t know this unless they’ve graduated or they had a brother or sister, but the teachers, we call it ‘the gauntlet’,” English teacher Terese Henry said. “The teachers line up in the back of the arena and there’s a hallway where all of us are standing. When the kids turn and they see that, some of them bust into tears. That’s the best part.”
