JV Humphries School Graduation Handbook 2024-25

 

A guidebook for graduating students and their parents

last revised September 2024

 

Welcome Class of 2025 Grads and Parents!

It’s finally here: your final year of high school!

The purpose of this page is to give you an idea of what graduation entails and the activities you’ll be involved in as the year progresses. 

For students, the year will be quite busy with schoolwork, accumulating the right number of credits , applying for post-high school education and training, or looking for a job, and being feted as this year’s graduating class. 

So let’s take a quick look at the happenings so you’ll know what to expect and won’t feel so overwhelmed.

There are two pieces to "grad", and it's important to know how they are different. 

1. Graduation Cap and Gown Ceremony

Your final year at JVH will culminate in the Graduation Cap and Gown Ceremony on Saturday, June 21, 2025 beginning at 4:30pm at JV Humphries. Save that date on your calendar!  This event, along with the diplomas, scholarships and bursaries, and all the speakers and presenters, are the responsibility of the school to organize and host.  For more information about Grad Ceremonies in SD8 and guidelines see https://www.sd8.bc.ca/graduation-guidelines

2. Parent and Grad organized activities 

The second piece involves all the other events associated with "grad", but are not part of the formal diploma ceremony.  Organizing these is the primary task of the Parent and Grad Committee, with the school staff providing support and assistance when needed.  Over the course of the year this committee will hold 2 or 3 grad meetings with the grads and their parents. These meetings are an opportunity to review all the events and activities that take place in preparation for graduation. Please attend all the meetings if possible. Grads and their parents will be asked to offer your assistance in various activities. Meeting notes will be emailed but please note that if you are​ not in attendance you may be assigned​  a less than desirable role or responsibility.

At JVH, the events organized by this committee have included the following (not necessarily all of these happen every year):

1. Graduating Class Legacy gift

Each year the graduating class leaves a gift to the school to celebrate their class, the JVH staff and the school. Here is an idea of some of the past legacy gifts:

• Grad mural
• Wall-mounted water bottle refilling station and water fountain
• Sporting equipment 
• Grad lounge furniture
• A bench dedicated to staff members
• Plants and trees

2. Fundraising Events 

Every year the grad class participates in community fundraising events to raise funds to subsidize various grad initiatives, like grad clothing, yearbooks, prom and grad trips.

Fundraising events have included the Rubber Ducky Race held on the May Day weekend, bottle drives, Purdy’s chocolates and Indeygo Cookie Dough Sales. In the past we have been fortunate enough to have leftover funds in the grad account from previous years.   A committee consisting of grads and parents will be formed early in the year to agree​ upon and to carry out different fundraising opportunities.

4. Cavalcade 

The cavalcade is a two-lap circuit of downtown Kaslo by the graduating students in vehicles (first lap) and then on foot. The students meet at Vimy Park at 2:15 pm with their drivers and vehicles (A parent volunteer will organize vehicles and grads in class) and then drive up to the Victorian Hospital (so the hospital residents get to see the grads). The grads then drive back down to town, turn left at the post office and drive down Front Street slowly, turn right at the Bluebelle and drive back to the post office. Then they march down Front Street following a piper to the cheering crowds of Kaslovians. At the Bluebelle, the grads are picked up and brought to the back of the school for photos and the planting of a tree in honour of the Grad Class of 2025.

5. Grad Banquet

The Grad Banquet is for students, their families and the JVH teachers.  Over the years it has taken place off site, last year it took place at the Golf Course.  Each student can bring a predetermined number of guests. In the event of a large family, there are sometimes extra tickets to be had. The office can help the student or parent arrange this. The cost for banquet tickets for Grad students is part of their grad fees (see below) Banquet tickets are typically $25+ each for a lovely, catered meal.

Following the meal, there are some toasts to the grads and their families and the teachers often roast the students in a fun-hearted way. After the banquet, all grad parents help take down the decorations and stack the chairs. This takes about 45 minutes.

A parent will find a caterer, negotiate the costs and make banquet arrangements on behalf of the graduating class. Students will get to choose the menu closer to grad. This planning typically occurs in April.  The banquet itself happens after the Cap and Gown Ceremony, around 6 pm, at a location to be determined.

6. May Days Parade

Every year the graduating class decorates, enters and rides on a float down Kaslo’s main street in the May Days parade on the Monday of May Days at 12 noon. This is one of the highlights of the May Days parade and a chance for everyone in town to see who is a member of Kaslo’s graduating class.

 Two to four parents and a group of students decorate the float the Monday morning before the parade (Note: A truck and flatbed trailer are also required.)  A theme is picked and the float is decorated with signage, streamers, balloons, etc. The parents then remove the decorations and wash the trailer and truck afterwards.  

Note: the local tradition is to soak the graduating students as their float leaves the parade to head to it’s parking spot near Vimy Park. Stand clear if you don’t want to get wet. It is fast and furious and lots of fun to watch!!

7. Rubber Ducky Race

Every year JVH grads hold the rubber ducky race fundraiser. One or two parents organize ticket sales. The grads and their parents sell tickets (cost per ticket is $5). The race is held on May Days Monday. At 3pm a Kaslo Village worker dumps the ducks from the bucket of a front-end loader into the Kaslo River from the bridge leading out of town. A group of parents are in canoes, kayaks and motorboats at the mouth of the river to catch the ducks as they enter Kootenay Lake. Prizes are awarded to the winning tickets for the first, second and third ducks to enter the lake. For organizing information and timelines see https://jvh.sd8.bc.ca/node/49160

8. Banquet Decorations

Four to six parents assist Grade 11 students in preparing the venue for the Grad Banquet, if possible a few days before the grad ceremony. This is usually a commitment of 8+ hours of time. This group is in charge of buying table decorations, hanging up the decorations made by the students, hanging lighting, setting the tables, etc.

1. Grad Program

The ​ Grad Program is digitally prepared by a parent volunteer in June. It is typically printed at​   the school. (See the order of events below, followed by a sample program)

10. Grad Tree

A parent volunteers to go to Georama (or another nursery) to order/purchase a tree for the grad class to plant on graduation day. The budget is around $200. Please refrain from purchasing a poisonous tree or one that will attract bears.  In the past the trees have been planted on the back field, but our new plan is to plant them in the village along the roadways where they are more regularly watered and likely to survive.

11. Grad Video

Every year a few graduating students create a grad video showcasing the current graduates that will be played just before the grad ceremony begins in the auditorium. (Note: The video must be approved by Mr. Sherman a minimum of 1 week before grad day.)

l.  Prom

Prom is typically held the week before grad. Past locations have included The Bluebelle Bistro, the Kaslo Hotel and the Kaslo Golf Course. This event usually runs from about 6:30-9pm. Often grads get dressed up (less formal than grad), have food and non-alcoholic beverages, play music/dance at a decorated facility. At the beginning of the event, there is an opportunity for parents to take photos of the grads.   

Two parents spearhead decorations for prom (and take decorations down, too). The school has some decorations that can be used and, if fundraising has been successful, there might be a small prom budget for decorations (keep your receipts). One parent must remain onsite as a chaperone. (Note: this is a chaperoned “dry” grad event)

JVH applies for a Dry Grad bursary from BC Liquor for the event; this amount varies year to year. 

m.  Grad Breakfast

After the grad party (usually at one of their favorite outside venues), the grads are invited to a grad breakfast at the home of one of the graduating students, the United Church downtown, or another appropriate venue. This breakfast is earlier than the typical breakfast, often starting as early as 3 am!

The parents (two to four parents) make and serve the students hot coffee, juice, pancakes and sausages or bacon and are then sent (and sometimes driven) off to their beds for a big sleep. It’s been a long and jam-packed day!! There is a budget of about $200 for the food for this event.

14. Grad Day Staffroom Snacks

A parent organizes, picks up and delivers a tray of cheese, crackers, and fruit and some beverages to the JVH staffroom for the grads while they get into their gowns and caps for the grad ceremony.  Costs of this are the responsibility of the school; receipts to the office please

o.  Grad clothing (optional)

Two to four students select and organize the ordering, purchasing and distribution of the grad clothing the class decides they would like. This typically happens before Christmas break so that the grads can wear and enjoy their grad clothing during their grad year (and let everyone know they are graduating!).

16. Grad Yearbook (optional)

A group of graduating students form a grad book committee and spend the year accumulating photos and other mementos to include in a special book all about the graduating class. A couple of parents assist the students (technical support; managing student and advertising payments, if applicable). The book must be submitted for printing before the end of May for students to receive a copy before the end of the school year. (Note: final approval from Mr. Sherman is required.)

School Responsibilities regarding Grad

1. a.   Grad gowns

2. Grad gown and cap measurements will be conducted by email and submitted to the office staff for ordering. Two parents will hang the grad gowns and caps in the staff room when they arrive, assist the grads in getting the caps and gowns on and then repackaging the gowns to be shipped back after grad. The parents who assisted the students before the ceremony are responsible for packing up the grad gowns to be returned to the gown rental company by JVH staff the following week. Students can keep their caps. 

3.  
4. b.  Grad Photos 

Grad photos will take place during school hours on one day only, no retakes.  We will update this page when the date is booked and communicate this out to families, please mark your calendars with the date when it arrives.  In addition, a sign-up sheet will be in the office. Photos are taken by Mountain West Studios, who will publish proofs for purchase shortly after photos are taken.  A variety of packages are available for purchase by families.  A $20 sitting fee is required prior to the photo shoot, please submit this to the office starting in January

c.  Graduation and Additional Fees

Please pay your grad fees ($125) at the office starting in January. Grad fees are broken into two parts

$45 covers costs related to the Graduation Ceremony:

• Gown rental and cap (you can keep the cap!)
• Decorations for the Ceremony (plants, flowers, streamers, etc)
• Snacks prior to the ceremony (served in the staffroom)
• Any costs related to the ceremony not otherwise covered.

$80 covers costs related to events outside the ceremony

• Banquet meal for each graduating student  
• Banquet decorations
• Grad breakfast
• Other costs related to events organized by the committee

2024-25 Year Overview

 

Date	Activity
October	Deadline for some of the larger national scholarships; stay tuned for a notice from Ms. Terlingen
November (est)	First Grad meeting with graduates, parents and staff sponsor
December	Early admission deadlines for major BC and other province universities
January	Grad Fees payable to office ($125)
Date TBD	grad photos
March 15-30	Spring Break
May 19 weekend	May Days incl Rubber Ducky Race
Spring	SD8 Scholarship Application Deadlines: will be announced by Ms. Terlingen
June 1	All students will be passing all subjects effective June 1st to be considered for participation in their graduation ceremony.
June 11	Short Grad bio (for ceremony) due to office
June 21	Graduation ceremony and banquet
June 26	Administrative Day
June 27	School closed for summer vacation

  

Graduation Day 2025

 

Graduation Day Schedule 

Saturday, June 21, 2025

 

1:30 pm	Golf course for photos
2:30 pm	Cavalcade
3:15 pm	Tree Planting (JVH field area)
4:00 pm	Into Gowns (enter staff room from outside)
4:30 pm	Formal Grad Cap and Gown Ceremony
6:00 pm	Group Photo (in gowns)
6:15 pm	Grand March & Grand Waltz
7:00 pm	Banquet (location TBD)
8:00 pm	All parents are required to remain behind to help tear down the banquet: all wall and table decorations taken down, tables and chairs put away.
Early the next day	Grad breakfast

 

 

Details for Events on Grad Day

Moyie for photos

Grads and families meet at the Moyie at 1pm for individual and group photos. NOTE: shoes with stiletto heels are not allowed on the Moyie deck, please bring other shoes for photos.

Group Photos and Tree Planting

Every year the grad class plants a tree in honor of their grad class. Students each take a turn shoveling dirt into the hole (photo op) and take a group photo by the tree.

Into Gowns

Back in the staff room in the school, two parents assist grads in donning their grad gowns and caps (remember tassels are on your right before you graduate!). The girls might need bobby pins to attach caps to their (styled) hair. Snacks and water are provided in the staff room for the grads (it’s already been a long day!).

Ceremony

The graduating students line up outside of the auditorium at 4:25pm and wait to be introduced by the principal and the grad teacher in the Graduate’s Procession. As each grad walks into the auditorium, a short bio of the student will be read to the audience (each student prepares this bio in advance of graduation day).

Grand March and Grand Waltz

After the grad ceremony is completed, the grads fling their caps in the air and go outside for some fresh air and photos. Meanwhile the teachers and audience stack the chairs and move them out of the way for the Grand March and Grand Waltz. Each grad is accompanied by a parent or family member in the Grand March and Grand Waltz. This will be explained to the students in class before grad and they will guide their guest through the process (Students: you may want to practice waltzing with your chosen guest in advance of grad!).

 

Graduation Ceremony; Sample Program of Events 

 

O Canada	Song leader (Musical Guest)
Welcome	Principal
Graduate’s Procession​	Principal, Grad teacher
School Trustees
Superintendent
Introduction to Guest Speaker
Guest Speaker Thank yous:	Chosen by grad class
To guest speaker	Student
To staff	Student
To community	Student
Introduction to Valedictorians	Teacher
Valedictorian Address	Student(s)
Candle lighting ceremony	Grad Teacher
Presentation of Scholarships	Principal, Grad teacher
Presentation of Diplomas	Principal, Grad teacher
Closing Remarks	Principal

 

Programme Sample:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Final Week

Secondary Awards

These awards are handed out at an evening assembly the final week of school. Everyone is invited to attend. Award recipients are notified in advance of the assembly. (These awards are no longer handed out at grad in order to keep the program short in the potentially hot early summer weather.)

Last Day of School

Students go to school on the last day to pick up their report cards and thank the teachers and staff for their support over the years.

 

And now school is out....