Information Regarding the Class of 2020 Graduation:

On Saturday, May 16, 2020 District 300 will host three high school graduation ceremonies at the Sears Centre Arena (5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, 60192) as follows:

Dundee-Crown High School

Dundee-Crown High School’s graduation ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m.  

All students should plan to arrive at the Sears Centre Arena no later than 9:00 a.m.

Hampshire High School

Hampshire High School’s graduation ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m.

All students should plan to arrive at the Sears Centre Arena no later than 1:00 p.m.

Jacobs High School

Jacobs High School’s graduation ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m.

All students should plan to arrive at the Sears Centre Arena no later than 5:00 p.m.

 

Senior End of the Year Activity Brochures

• The Senior End of the Year Activity Brochures are expected to be posted in this location in March of 2020.

 

Answers To Frequently Asked Questions For Class Of 2019 Graduations

District 300 has compiled the following list of Frequently Asked Questions for parents and families attending a District 300 graduation ceremony. Each high school will send additional school specific information in advance of the ceremony.

When is graduation walk?
May 14, 2020. More specific information will be sent from high schools to parents and students.

What is graduation walk?
Seniors, dressed in full graduation attire, visit elementary schools as staff and students line the hallways to applaud and celebrate the graduate’s achievement.

When is graduation rehearsal? Are graduates required to attend?
TBA. Graduation rehearsals are on each high school’s campus and attendance is mandatory for participation in the May 16th graduation ceremony.

 

School	Rehersal Date
Dundee-Crown High School	TBA
Hampshire High School	TBA
Jacobs High School	TBA

 

When do graduates receive their caps and gowns?
Caps and gowns were distributed to students on the following dates:

 

School	Pick-Up	Location
Dundee-Crown High School	TBA	TBA
Hampshire High School	TBA	TBA
Jacobs High School	TBA	TBA

 

Students are required to wear a cap and gown. Please call Herff Jones as soon as possible at 815-756-4743 if you have not ordered or received your attire.

How do graduates receive their cords, medallions, etc. if applicable?
Additional attire beyond caps and gowns will be distributed at either final club meetings (i.e. National Honor Society, AVID, etc.), at Senior Awards, or at graduation rehearsal.

May students decorate their caps?
Yes, students may decorate caps as long as they are appropriate.

What are the guidelines for student attire under the cap and gown?
Students must arrive properly dressed for the commencement ceremony. Appropriate attire under the cap and gown is required. Athletic wear, jeans, shorts, sneakers or “flip-flops” are not permitted.

What behavior policies are in place for graduation?
All District 300 and school policies adhere to the commencement ceremony and will be enforced.  In order to ensure the safety of all attendees and participants, individuals demonstrating disruptive behavior, found in possession (or who are under the influence) of drugs or alcohol, or are using any object that disrupts the graduation ceremony will be subject to immediate ejection from the Sears Centre Arena.

What time should graduates arrive at the Sears Centre Arena for the Graduation Ceremony?
All graduates should arrive at least 60 minutes before the start of their graduation time.

• Dundee-Crown graduates should arrive no later than 9:00 a.m.
• Hampshire graduates should arrive no later than 1:00 p.m.
• Jacobs graduates should arrive no later than 5 p.m.

Where is the Sears Centre Arena Located?
The Sears Centre Arena is located at 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, 60192

What is the parking process at the Sears Centre Arena?
As attendees enter the Sears Centre Arena parking area, uniformed police officers and attendants will direct traffic.

There are 3,200 on-site parking spots at the Sears Centre Arena. District 300 and the Sears Centre Arena encourages you to arrive early to avoid congestion and tie ups. The lots are accessible off of Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Boulevard, and Pratum Avenue.

Is handicapped seating and parking available?
Yes, the Sears Centre is ADA compliant for accessibility including restrooms, parking, drop off lanes, and service counters. 

The Sears Centre has provided the following information:

Accessible Parking: For patrons with mobility needs, ADA parking is available in the East Lot Only.

ADA parking is limited, so the Arena will reserve additional spaces adjacent to the ADA parking during graduations; however, space is still limited and provided on a first-come first-served basis.

More accessible information, including parking map, can be found at www.SearsCentre.com

ADA Entry: Wheelchair escorts are available from the Main Entrance doors to ADA Seating. Upon arriving at the Arena’s Main Entrance, please request a wheelchair escort from a member of the Arena staff. Please be aware that our staff will not remain with you during the event, nor will they allow you to remain in our wheelchair for the duration of the event as other guest may require use of this equipment.

The wheelchair escorts are unable to take guests outside the Arena or to their vehicles. Wheelchairs provided by the Arena and the escorts must remain inside the Arena at all times. If a member of your party cannot make it from the parking lot to the main entrance, we recommend renting a wheelchair from a third party vendor.

ADA Seating: ADA Seating is available in several areas throughout the arena. Due to space limitations, arena policy is one ADA guest and one companion permitted in the ADA Seating area.  
 

Does the Sears Centre security staff randomly wand students, staff, and guests as a general safety protocol?
Yes. Sears Centre security will do so for any school districts that host their graduation ceremonies in the facility. This is done not to alarm anyone, but rather for the general safety and security of all participants and audience members.

Here is some specific information about security directly from Sears Centre staff:

Prior to entering the building, graduates will pass through metal detectors. We ask that graduates keep their gowns unzipped during this security screening.

Screening will also be enhanced at the Main Entrance for guests. We recommend that guests leave any unnecessary bags at home. This additional security should not substantially effect or delay accessing the Arena.

 

Does Sears Centre Have Any Prohibted Items?

Yes, prohibited items include balloons, noisemakers, and beach balls. Please visit www.SearsCentre.com for a full list of prohibited items.

Do I need a ticket to attend graduation?
No, tickets are not required to attend graduation. However, seating is based on a first come, first served basis. District 300 recommends arriving early to secure a good seat. Students are requested to arrive one hour before their ceremony start time.

Is there reserved seating?
Audience members do NOT need to seek reserved seating nor is there a limit on number of guests.

Following numerous inquiries over the years, the Arena will be offering reserved seating for all graduations on the upper Suite Level. This will be available for a fee, and guests will need to contact the Arena directly to make arrangements. Information regarding this option will be posted on the Arena's website. Arena staff will handle all logistics regarding this seating,

How long does the graduation ceremony last?
Each graduation ceremony lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Will the graduation ceremony be available to watch online?
While graduation will not be streamed live, the graduation ceremony will be recorded and a digital version will be posted on the District 300 website and Facebook page in the days following the commencement ceremony. Schools will also send a link to senior families via email after the ceremony once finalized.

Will I be able to purchase a copy of the video from the ceremony?
No, but the graduation ceremony will be professionally recorded. Each school will provide families a link to view the ceremony via YouTube.

Can I get up and move closer to take pictures as my child walks across the stage?
While picture taking is encouraged, District 300 asks that all attendees remain in their seats during the graduation ceremony. Attendees will not be permitted on the floor at any time during the commencement ceremony

Will professional pictures be taken of the graduates?
For your convenience, District 300 has made arrangements for a professional photographer to photograph graduates receiving their diplomas. Families will receive a proof in the mail after the ceremony. Families are not obligated to purchase photos and will have the option of ordering several photo packages.

How are programs distributed at the Sears Centre Arena?
Programs will be distributed to families upon arrival.

Where will I meet my graduate after the ceremony?
After the ceremony, families and students will be directed outside to the closed portion of Hoffman Boulevard to meet up after the event. There are designated meet-up locations on Hoffman Blvd that are numbered 1-6. To assist in locating your party, please designate a meeting location with your graduate prior to the ceremony parents may meet up with students in the “Parent/Student Meet-Up Area” located on the west side of the Sears Centre Arena main entrance (please see map for further details). Staff will also be available to help families locate the “Parent/Student Meet-Up Area” location.

Is there a district or school sponsored reception after the ceremony?
No. Historically families hold private parties after graduation.

 

Future Graduation

Graduation Class of 2021

Dundee-Crown High School: May 15, 2021 at 2 p.m.

Hampshire High School: May 15, 2021 at 6 p.m.

Jacobs High School: May 15, 2021 at 10 a.m.

 

Important Information

The Cum Laude System

District 300 uses the Cum Laude system to honor graduates. The Cum Laude system establishes three distinct “honors” levels where students are recognized for their academic performance at the graduation ceremony in May. These classifications will account for both the unweighted and weighted GPA. The honors distinctions include:

 

Level	Meaning	Unweighted GPA	Weighted GPA
Cum Laude	With Honors	3.5 - 3.69	4.5 – 4.99
Magna Cum Laude	With Great Honors	3.7 - 3.84	5.0 – 5.49
Summa Cum Laude	With Highest Honors	3.85 - 4.0	5.5. +

 

It is important to note that a student’s unweighted GPA may place them in a different Cum Laude level than their weighted GPA (and vice versa). If this is the case, the higher of the two levels will be applied for the student.

The cum laude distinctions are reserved for only those students who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5+ (unweighted) and 4.5+ (weighted) with no failing semester grades (F) or incompletes (I). The inclusion of the “and” option using a weighted and unweighted calculation ensures that students who take challenging coursework are recognized for their overall attainment.   

The cum laude system does not eliminate the Valedictorian or Salutatorian designations. Instead, both the Valedictorian and Salutatorian will continue to be selected based upon overall weighted GPA. In the instance where multiple students have the same weighted GPA, the school will allow for co-valedictorians as has been past practice.

 

Is the Cum Laude System Based on Seventh Semester or Eighth Cumulative GPA?

Seventh semester. However, in fairness to students that do not earn any cum laude designation after seven semesters but do meet the threshold after eight semesters, schools will mail home a cum laude sticker for the diploma and post the distinction to transcripts in June. This only applies for students that did not earn any cum laude designation but end up meeting the “cum laude” threshold after eight semesters.  Students that earned one of the three distinctions after seven semesters will maintain their cum laude distinction earned despite possible changes in GPA after an additional semester.