St. Thomas Aquinas High Senior Class of 2012 Information

 

Senior Class Retreat

Retreat 2012 will be held on May 29th and 30th at Camp He Ho Ha. All members of the Senior Class who have completed or have a grade of 50% or better in Religious Studies 35 may attend unless otherwise notified by school administration. More information will be provided at a later date.

 

Senior Class Liturgy of the Word

Friday, June 1st, 2012, beginning at 6:30pm the Senior Class Liturgy of the Word will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Spruce Grove. Grads should dress appropriately. Class members are to arrive at 5:45 p.m

 

Graduation Exercises

Graduation exercises will be held immediately after the senior class liturgy on June 1st at Holy Trinity Church, Spruce Grove. Any students wishing to participate in these exercises must order their caps and gowns through the school by mid February of 2012. Seating is on a first come basis. Ceremonies are combined with Grade XII Awards. Grads should dress appropriately.

 

Senior Class Banquet and Dance

The Banquet and Dance will be held Saturday, June 2nd, at the Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave. Sit down dinner will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. Toasts will follow the meal. A dance will follow until 12:30 a.m.

Tickets will cost approximately $60.00 each. (depending on funds raised at the Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction) Tickets will be limited to 6 tickets/ family. Families can purchase tickets and sign up for a table number in the office between April 30th and May 17th. Families will be able to purchase any unsold tickets from May 22th through 25th.

 The approximate overall costs associated with the activities surrounding Retreat and Graduation are $38,000. This overall budget does NOT include the costs of banquet and dance tickets for each member of the Senior Class. Each student will be responsible for his or her own banquet and dance ticket.

Graduation Portraits

These are the formal pictures taken at the school in a cap and gown. They are used in the yearbook, in the class composite picture and as family keepsakes. This year grad portraits will be taken on Dec.19th, 20th, 21st & 22nd. Each grad must have a picture taken, even if they are not ordering a package.

  

Group Pictures

The group photo will be taken immediately after the meal. These must be pre-ordered through the school by June 1st at a cost of approximately $15.00 each. This picture is optional and there is absolutely no obligation for students to purchase it.

 

Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction

This is the only fundraiser for the Senior Class and requires the effort and cooperation of all Senior Class members. The Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction will need to raise approximately $38,000. This money is used to pay for the Senior Class Retreat, Senior Week and Graduation expenses. Each student is asked to sell five tickets to the supper and solicit a minimum of two donations from local businesses for the silent auction. These donations may come from relatives or friends, places of employment or from other businesses that need to be approached. The items we receive are entered into the auction which runs during the spaghetti supper. At the meeting January 12th, each student will receive a cover letter from the school and the names of three businesses they are to contact to obtain a donation. If students have a preference as to which business they wish to approach, they should see Mr. Briner by December 20^th.   Students will be charged $25.00 for every ticket not sold & $25.00 per auction item not delivered. This year the Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction will be held on Sunday, March 4th at St. Thomas Aquinas. Auction items MUST be handed in by February 17th.   More information will follow, but it is important to note that the sooner you contact the businesses, the sooner the donations can be brought to the school and prepared for the auction.

 

Senior Class Clothing

You can place an order for “Class of 2012” clothing in February.

 

Toasts

During the Banquet and Dance, there are usually a number of toasts given by members of the Senior Class expressing their appreciation for those who have shown support to them over the years. Through a nomination and selection process that will take place in late April or early May, members of the Senior Class select from among their peers those who will be giving these toasts

 

Senior Class Theme/Song

The theme and song will be selected by the members of the Senior Class. Suggestions should be submitted prior to April 26th, 2012. Often class members comment that they need more time to decide. We therefore encourage you to begin your decision making process soon. All submissions should be forwarded to the staff advisor, who will sit down with 5 representatives of the Class of 2012 to limit the submissions based on the popularity and propriety of the Theme/Song. Once done, a general meeting will be called to listen to each and vote on which one will be the Theme and/or Song for the Class of 2012. Forms for submissions for Theme/Songs will be available during the month of April.

 

To be eligible to participate in grad activities:

- Must have completed 60 credits prior to grade 12

- Successfully complete 3 credits in Religion in our district for each year attending STA

- Maintain a passing mark in Religion 35

- Maximum of four 3 credit spares

- All school fees paid in full

- Completed an application for graduation and paid fee.

 

On Track to complete the following diploma requirements:

- English 30-1 or 30-2

- Social 30-1 or 30-2

- Math 20P, 20A or 24

- Bio 20, Chem 20, Phys 20, Sci 20 or Sci 24

- P.E. 10

- Calm

- 10 credits from: CTS, RAP, P.E. 20/30, Second Language or Fine Arts

- 10 Credits at grade 12 level in addition to English and Social

(i.e. P.E. 30, CTS - 3 Level, Religion 35, Work Exp, RAP, Math 30, Bio 30, etc..)

- 100 Credits

**See Mrs. Johnson or Mrs. Lotz for requirements for

K & E Certificate Achievement

 

Grade Designation

To participate in STA Graduation Exercises students are required to fulfill all of the Alberta High School Diploma Requirements. There must be a reasonable expectation that the students will successfully complete the required classes 2 weeks prior to the graduation ceremonies. (May 15th) This includes any courses at Outreach that fulfill grad requirements. These courses must be half completed: marked and passing 50% of course material.

 

Eligible students can participate once in the Senior Class Exercises, Mass and Banquet during their high school career. Grade 12 status does not guarantee participation. Alberta Education will grant Diploma Certificates to students upon completion of all high school requirements.

 

** If you have any questions about grad requirements please call the School Counselors**

 

Class Valedictorian

Each year a member of the senior class is selected to address his/her peers at the Graduation Ceremonies. The selection process involves an application and presentation to a selection committee. The committee is made up of students and staff. The valedictory address is the farewell speech representing the graduation class and should be relatively serious and articulate. Selection process begins in early May.

 

After Banquet Activity

Each year an After Banquet Activity (formerly called After Grad or Safe Grad) is planned and carried out by parents of the Senior Class. This activity occurs after the banquet and dance. What form this activity takes is entirely up to the students and their parents. The school is not involved in these activities. However, it would be appreciated if this activity were to begin no sooner than 1:00 a.m. to allow students time to enjoy the Senior Class Dance which ends at 12:30 a.m.

 

Dates to Remember

Sr. Class Photos Dec 19-22

Class Meeting Dec 8

Parents Meeting Jan 12

Clothing Orders Feb

Items for Silent Auction Feb 17

Spaghetti Supper ticket money &

unsold tickets Feb 22

Application for Graduation form

Submission Feb 17

Spaghetti Supper/Silent Auction March 4

Theme Song Submission Deadline Apr. 26

Valedictorian Submission Deadline May 2

Banquet Tickets on sale April 30 to May 17

Group Photo order deadline June 1

Retreat May 29 & 30

Sr. Class Liturgy of the Word, Graduation

Exercises and Awards June 1

Banquet and Dance June 2