Royal Oak High Graduation: What You Need to Know

The season for funny hats is at long last upon us. It’s time for graduation! To make this milestone as hassle-free as possible we asked coordinators and experts for advice. Here’s your 2011 graduation guide.  

When and Where

Commencement takes place at 7 p.m. sharp Thursday at Ultimate Soccer Arena, 867 South Blvd. E, Pontiac. Graduates need to arrive no later than 6:15 p.m.

About Ultimate Soccer Arena

After several years at Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights, this is the first year ROHS will have commencement at Ultimate Soccer Arena. Owner Geroge Derderian says his facility can seat 4,000-5,000 people on the floor, with an additional 1,000 contoured bleacher seats.

The facility is air-conditioned and all activities take place on the first level, making everything easily accessible for elderly relatives and wheelchairs users.

Royal Oak High School will be the first of six commencement ceremonies at the arena this year, Derderian said. Chippewa Valley, Dakota, Romeo, Pontiac and Birmingham Groves High School are also on the schedule. This is second year for Groves. Next year Ultimate plans to have 12 dates for graduations.

“We also have a full-service coffee shop and restaurant,” Derderian said. “No helium balloons will be allowed in the building.”

ROHS Principal Mike Greening said you can expect the ceremony to last "around an hour and 40 minutes. We have it down to a science."

Directions

Most soccer and lacrosse parents are familiar with Ultimate Soccer Arena. If you have never been there, you can find directions using Mapquest, which has routes usings Interstate 75 (17 minutes, 12.36 miles) and Woodward Avenue (18 minutes, 9.66 miles). Times and mileage were calulated starting from the high school.

Because students need to arrive at 6:15 p.m., you should allow additional time for rush hour traffic.

Marek and Derderian said they prefer the Woodward route to avoid most traffic and construction.  “Unless you live right off of I-75, the Woodward route is your best bet,” Derderian said.

Parking

The main parking lot at Ultimate Soccer Arena can handle 400 vehicles, but a parking pass that is given to each graduate is required. An additional 600 spaces are located off Centerpoint Boulevard, about a block away, and no pass is required for this lot. No parking is allowed in neighboring business lots.

A shuttle service will be provided from the lot to the arena.

Nancy Marek, senior class advisor, recommends carpooling. “Students should use the parking pass and park in the main lot,” she said. “For convenience, I think it makes sense for parents to come with their graduate.”

Tickets

Admission is by ticket only. Tickets for the commencement ceremony were given out at today's rehearsal at the high school.  Each graduate receives 10 tickets.

Weather Forecast

Grads and family can expect a picture perfect day, with mostly sunny skies and high around 70 degrees. 

Speakers

Five seniors have been selected to address the class.

Ashley Cortez, Bill LeAnnais and Gina Saab will give 1-minute remarks each near the beginning of the ceremony.

Class President Enxhi Merpeza and Vice-President Olivia Adams will address graduates after diplomas have been passed out.

Dress Etiquette

A cap and gown is required for students to participate in the ceremony.

The graduation cap should be worn flat on the head, parallel to the floor, with tassel on the left side. Apparently, the right side is customary, but Marek said Royal Oak has been using the left side since 1995.

She told seniors, "We've blazed a new trail and started our own tradition here in Royal Oak" after there was some debate.

Men generally wear dark trousers, dress shirts with a collar and ties under their gowns. Women generally wear lightweight dresses or a blouse and skirt. Purses are not allowed.

Flowers and jewelry should not be attached to the gown.

Women will not be allowed to wear high heel shoes when they line up on the axillary field before the ceremony. Shoes must be removed while they are waiting for the procession to begin.

Students purchased “keeper” gowns. "The gowns are a good quality and may be worn again by a younger brother or sister,” Marek said, so take care to put it in a safe place after the ceremony.

Students who received stoles and cords should wear them. Regalia pins may be worn on cap.

Photos and video

A professional photographer will be on hand to take photos of students as they receive their diplomas, which will be available for purchase, and WOAK will be there to take video of the ceremony from start to finish.

“They'll play the graduation ceremony on WOAK about 5,000 times,” joked Allison Adams, mom of senior Olivia Adams, PTSA volunteer and one of the All Night Party coordinators. 

“But seriously, they do a great job. They tape the whole thing so you can listen to all the speeches, and they show every student getting their diploma.”

WOAK can be found on Comcast Channel 19 and WOW Channel 15. If you don't subscribe to these cable stations, the video is also available to purchase.

Royal Oak photographer Gary Quesada said it is unlikely anyone will get a better shot than the photographer who is directly on the stage. Remind your student to pause and smile for the camera while receiving his or her dipolma.

“Unless you’re shooting with a professional quality camera and a 200 mm lens, you’re better off just buying the photograph of your child receiving his or her diploma,” he said.

Quesada did offer a few tips for the casual photographer:

• Do a triangle shoot:  Take overall shots that set the theme, such as shots of the crowd and the surroundings. Take mid-range shots that tell the story. For example, candid shots of two grads talking. And take close-up shots that show mood and texture for drama.  “A tight shot of a tassel is a nice little detail,” he said.
• Portraits: “Everyone thinks you need to be in the sun when you take a portrait, but the sun is really harsh — too much contrast," Quesada said. "You’re better off moving to the shade or waiting for the sun to go down a bit. Sunset shots are nice.”
• Using a flash: Natural lighting is best, but when you are indoors you’ll want to consider a flash. “It used to be that a flash didn’t make much difference if you were shooting something more than 10 or 15 feet away” he said. “But I’ve been surprised lately. A flash, even at a distance, can make a slight difference.”

Going out to Eat?

Graduation is later this year than in the past, starting at 7 p.m. To treat your grad to dinner before the ceremony, you’ll have to sit down by 4 p.m. to be safe. If you wait until after the ceremony, it might be too late, especially if your child is planning to go to the All Night Party.

“Going out to dinner might not be an option this year," Adams said. "I would make sure your child has something to eat before they leave home. If they are planning on going to the All Night Party they’ll get a snack at midnight and pizza at 1 a.m.”

Showing Your Senior Spirit

Want to splash your school spirit across your car? Seniors Amanda Floen and Catherine Koehn recommend washable window paint.

“You can pick it up at a dollar store,” Floen said. “They have lots of colors. I bought white, blue and black.”

If you think about what you want to write before you start, you can decorate an entire car in about 15 minutes, the girls said.

“It lasts a long time," Floen said. "Even with rolling windows up and down. If it rains, though, that’s a different story.”

Should You Bring a Beach Ball? No!

Don't even think about disrupting the ceremony with shenanigans. Students who do will not be allowed to receive their diplomas on stage.

All Night Party

Students going to the All Night Party at Joe Dumars Fieldhouse in Shelby Township must meet at the high school at 11 p.m. Buses leave at 11:30 p.m. Students are not allowed to drive to Joe Dumars or be dropped off there.

About 160 seniors have already signed up for the party, but there is still space on the buses. If your student is interested in attending, email Adams at allison527@sbcglobal.net.

Best Tip for Moms

Throw tissue in your pocket or purse and only wear mascara on upper lashes!

Best Tip for Grads

Use the restroom before the ceremony. You will not be allowed to get up and move around once the ceremony begins.