CHHS Graduation 2026
Greetings to the Class of 2026 and Parents,
We are all excited about the upcoming graduation ceremony at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 13th at the Dean Smith Center. Students, please arrive no later than 3:00 p.m. Tickets are not required for admission. As we get ready for the big event, there are a few important reminders that we would like to share:
Required Places, Times, and Obligations
● Graduates must be at the Dean Smith Center for graduation rehearsal by 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, June 11th. Rehearsal should end by 1:00 p.m. In order to march, all seniors must be at rehearsal promptly and stay for the entire practice.
● On Saturday, June 13th graduates arrive at the Dean Smith Center no later than 3:00 p.m., dressed appropriately. Students should leave all keys, personal bags, cell phones, etc. with their family during the ceremony. Graduates will be shown their exact line location during rehearsal. We anticipate the ceremony running approximately 2 hours.
● Seniors must be cleared of all financial and academic obligations. If all financial and academic obligations are not cleared, their diploma may be withheld. They must also have successfully completed all graduation requirements and be in good standing. These obligations include parking tickets, lost books, library fines, graduation fees, and borrowed equipment.
Attire
● Graduates should wear business casual attire under their gown to graduation. Students will be dismissed from graduation services for inappropriate dress or behavior.
● Please do not add decorations to graduation robes, caps or stoles. Faculty members will monitor processional lines.
● Caps shall be kept free of decoration outside of the graduation tassel, unless approved by the District based on recognition of a religious or cultural right or benefit.
● The graduation cap and gown is black. The tassel is black and gold. The stole is gold. Students with long hair may want to use hair pins to hold their caps in place. Graduation tassels should hang on the right side of your cap until declaration of graduation is announced.
● Per district policy, only cords given by an honor society may be worn. Cords received from school clubs will not be permitted.
● Students are permitted to wear stoles that represent their heritage
● Again, students must have appropriate attire to participate in the ceremony.
Ceremony and Procedure
● At the beginning and end of the ceremony, graduates will process down the aisles. Please keep the aisles clear of people and miscellaneous items to help the ceremony proceed smoothly. ● Accessory items such as frisbees, silly string, beach balls, etc. are prohibited. The Smith Center has strict policies regarding these items in the building.
● Photo Specialties will take pictures during the graduation ceremony of students receiving their diplomas. We respectfully request family members to refrain from approaching the stage area during the ceremony. A free color portrait proof will be sent to graduates’ current mailing address, including
a password for online viewing. Please visit www.photospecialties.com to pre-register for an email alert that will notify you that pictures are available online.
Parking
● Parking is available in the Dean Smith Center lots.
● There are handicapped parking spots available in the lot directly across from the Dean Smith Center main entrance. You should have a state-issued handicap tag to park in these spaces. These spaces are available on a first come basis. You are welcome to drop off those who have difficulty walking at the entrance and then park and return.
● Handicap seating is available at the Smith Center. Please see a Smith Center representative as you enter and they will help you access the elevator to the handicap seating area.
● We recommend that family members be at the Smith Center by 3:00 p.m. This will allow enough time for you to park and clear security. Please leave all extra bags and items at home to make the security checks go as quickly as possible.
Project Graduation
● Project Graduation will be held Saturday, June 13th, beginning at 11:00 p.m in the UNC Chapel Hill Student Union. Students will not be permitted to enter Project Graduation after 12:00 a.m. ● All CHCCS graduates are invited to attend. Specifics regarding this event will be distributed to Seniors at their respective high schools.
We are all looking forward to seeing all of you at this special event. Please help us keep the ceremony special for everyone by following these guidelines. Best wishes to all of you as you continue your life journey beyond high school!
Sincerely,
Chapel Hill High School Student Services