Graduation 2012
HEAV Graduation Ceremony
Saturday, June 9, 2012
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Greater Richmond Convention Center
403 North 3rd Street (at the corner of Fifth and Broad streets)
Richmond, VA 23219
Commencement Speaker: To Be Announced
Celebrate this milestone in your student's life at the HEAV graduation ceremony! The ceremony, held during the June convention, is a wonderful way to include family and friends in a special, God-honoring celebration.
[ Photo © Seth Fisher, Through My Lens Photography ]
REGISTRATION
We plan to open registration for the 2012 HEAV
graduation ceremony in late February. An announcement will be included in the
HEAV Update when registration opens, and you can also send an e-mail to graduation@heav.org requesting to be
notified when registration opens. Work is currently in progress to offer online
registration this year.
QUESTIONS
The FAQ below can be a very helpful source of
information for you, but please keep in mind that some answers may not yet be
accurate for 2012. If you would like to ask the graduation coordinator a
question, please send an e-mail to graduation@heav.org.
GRADUATION FAQS
Canaan McAllister, Graduation Coordinator, graduation@heav.org
1. What are the requirements to participate?
2. How can I receive information about participating?
3. What is a GRAD Packet?
4. If I request a GRAD Packet, does that mean I am registered for graduation?
5. When am I considered a registered graduate?
6. What is the deadline for registration?
7. When and where will the ceremony be held?
8. Do I have to be an HEAV member to participate?
9. What are the costs to participate?
10. How do I order my cap and gown, diploma, and announcements?
11. May I choose the color of my cap and gown?
12. What does the diploma look like? Does it look "official"?
13. How do I choose an inscription for my diploma?
14. Do I have to use the HEAV diploma?
15. Do the announcements serve as invitations?
16. What does the announcement look like?
17. How many graduates are you expecting?
18. How many guests may I invite to the ceremony? How do I get tickets to give to my guests?
19. Do the graduate and his parents need tickets?
20. Who is the graduation speaker?
21. May we attend convention workshops?
22. What is the schedule for Graduation Day?
23. Graduation check-in is held on Friday and Saturday. Do we have to
check in both times?
24. If we have items for sale in the Used
Curriculum Sale, will we be able to pick up our unsold items?
25. May our guests shop in the Exhibit Hall?
26. Does HEAV offer a class ring?
27. I
am not familiar with the proper etiquette for the ceremony, or for
addressing and sending graduation invitations or thank-you notes for our
graduate's gifts. Can you offer any help?
28. Where can we find information about preparing for and taking the SAT?
29. We
are looking at future plans, including college, for this graduate or
another child; do you have any resources to guide our search?
1. What are the
requirements to participate?
HEAV does not have academic (GPA, credits, or courses) or age
requirements for participation in the graduation weekend. Consistent
with our belief that education is the primary responsibility of parents,
we leave this decision in the hands of each family. As long as the
graduate has been home educated for a minimum of one year under Virginia law §22.1-254.1
(homeschool statute), §22.1-254(B)(1) (religious exemption), or
§22.1-254(A) (certified tutor provision), we invite your family to
participate in the Class of 2011. If the participating graduate is from
another state, he or she will have to have abided by the laws pertaining
to home instruction in that state.
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2. How
can I receive information about participating?
Download a GRAD
Packet, a PDF document containing complete graduation details. Note:
You will NOT be considered registered for graduation until you complete
the process outlined in the packet.
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3.
What is a GRAD Packet?
A GRAD (Graduation Registration And Details) Packet includes all the
forms necessary for registration, as well as other vital graduation
information.
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4. If I request a GRAD Packet, does that mean I am registered for graduation?
No. Requesting or downloading a GRAD Packet simply gives you
information and details about graduation; it does NOT register you for
graduation. Anyone can download a GRAD Packet, but graduates will NOT be registered until the registration
process outlined in the packet is completed and HEAV has received the
registration fee.
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5. When am I considered a registered graduate?
You are not considered a registered graduate until the
registration process outlined in the packet is completed and HEAV has
received the registration fee.
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6. What is the deadline for registration?
Registration will close either April 6, 2012, or when 200 graduates are registered, whichever comes first.
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7. When and where will the ceremony be held?
The graduates of the Class of 2012 will receive their diplomas on
Saturday, June 9, 2012, at 3:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place from
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Greater Richmond Convention
Center at the corner of Fifth and Broad streets, in Richmond, Virginia.
(View maps and directions.)
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8. Do I
have to be an HEAV member to participate?
No. Both member and non-member families are invited to participate in the ceremony.
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9. What are the costs to participate?
The only required cost is the application fee. If you do not have a
royal blue or white cap and gown, you will also be required to purchase
one. The costs,
as well as the optional items, are thoroughly explained in your GRAD
Packet.
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10. How do
I order my cap and gown, diploma, and announcements?
Instructions for ordering your cap and gown, diploma, announcements, and name cards will be included in the GRAD Packet.
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11. May I choose the color of my cap and gown?
You may choose to wear either a royal blue or white gown, with a
matching cap. The tassel color is gold. Traditionally, the men choose
royal blue and the ladies choose white.
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12.
What does the diploma look like? Does it look "official"?
The
diploma was designed by HSLDA for home-educated graduates and is
printed in rich navy and black ink on parchment. This certificate will
be inscribed with the graduate's name, date of graduation, and the name
of the graduate's school or curriculum. It will also include the
signatures of the graduate's parents, the HEAV president, and the
commencement speaker. A gold-foil seal and navy ribbon adorn the
diploma, which is encased in a beautiful padded and lined navy case.
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13. How
do I choose an inscription for my diploma?
For the diploma wording in the section, "...has completed the course of
study prescribed for graduation by...," you may want to write, "his
parents," the name of your school, or the name a correspondence course you used. Please do not use "prescribed by the Commonwealth of Virginia."
The Commonwealth of Virginia does not prescribe a curriculum or course
of study for Virginia homeschoolers. It is up to the parents to decide
the course of study. This also incorrectly implies the Commonwealth of
Virginia has authorized and approved your course of study.
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14. Do I
have to use the HEAV diploma?
You are not required to purchase a diploma through HEAV. Some families
use a diploma from their local support group's graduation ceremony or
simply a computer-generated certificate. If you do not purchase a
diploma through HEAV, you are required to bring something that resembles
a diploma for the presentation during the ceremony. It should be flat,
sturdy, clearly labeled with your full name, and measure 8 ½" by 11".
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15. Do
the announcements serve as invitations?
No, announcements are not invitations. Announcements are designed to be a
formal means of letting your friends and family know of your graduation
from high school.
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16.
What does the announcement look like?
Last year's formal graduation announcement read as follows:
Home Educators Association of Virginia
is pleased to announce its
Commencement Exercises
for the Homeschool Graduates of the
Class of Two Thousand and Eleven
on Saturday, the eleventh of June
at three-thirty in the afternoon
Greater Richmond Convention Center
Richmond, Virginia
[Photo Credit: Seth Fisher/Through My Lens Photography]
Note: The picture shows a prior year’s announcement. The 2012 announcements have the same general look and feel. They will be printed in raised black ink on a heavy-weight, triple-bordered, bright white panel that measures approximately 5” x 7”. They come with double envelopes and tissue paper liners. Matching, single-border name cards, to be placed on top of the announcements when they are mailed, may be ordered separately. Announcements may be sent with or without name cards.
If you choose to order our announcements, you
will receive envelopes and an
addressing guide with them. Name cards, sold separately, may also be ordered. Name
cards are placed on top of the announcements. Announcements may be sent
with or without name cards.
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18. How many graduates are you expecting?
The Class of 2012 is expected to be comprised of approximately 200 graduates.
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19. How
many guests may I invite to the ceremony? How do I get tickets to give to my
guests?
When you register, you should indicate the number of tickets you need
for your family and friends. Each graduate is initially allotted 10
tickets; however, please indicate on your registration form the exact
number you need so any "extra" tickets will be available to those who
need them. If you need more than 10 tickets, indicate the number you
would like on your registration form and we will do our best to get them
for you if possible. "Extra" tickets will be distributed on a
first-requested, first-served basis. Tickets (including "extras"
requested, if available) will be mailed to you in May in your
confirmation packet.
The only reserved seating in the ballroom is for graduates and parents;
the rest of the seating is general admission, meaning seats are not
pre-assigned, but tickets are required. Ticketed guests need to arrive before 3:15 p.m.
At 3:15 p.m., tickets are no longer needed and all available seats may
be filled by convention attendees. Ticketed guests who do not arrive
before 3:15 p.m. may not get a seat.
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20. Do
the graduate and his parents need tickets?
The graduate and his parents do NOT need tickets as these honored
graduation guests will be wearing nametags, which replace the need
for tickets.
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21. Who
is the graduation speaker?
The graduation speaker will be determined soon
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22. May
we attend convention workshops?
If you would like to attend the convention, you will need to register for that separately by contacting the HEAV office at 804-278-9200 or office@heav.org.
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23. What
is the schedule for Graduation Day?
Check-in will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 10:30 a.m. Portraits will
be taken throughout the morning, by appointment. Walk-ins will be worked
in whenever possible. A mandatory rehearsal for graduates and parents
will take place from 1 p.m. until about 2:30 p.m. Graduates will begin
to line up in processional order at 3 p.m. The ceremony will begin
promptly at 3:30 p.m.
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24. Graduation check-in is held on Friday and
Saturday. Do we have to check in both times?
No, if your family checks in on Friday, you are not required to check in
on Saturday. Likewise, if you plan to check in on Saturday, you do not
need to check in on Friday. You need to check in on either Friday or Saturday. Please note: We would strongly encourage you to register on Friday if at all possible, as there is much more time pressure on Saturday.
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25. If we have items for sale in the Used Curriculum
Sale, will we be able to pick up our unsold items?
No, you will not be able to pick up your unsold items. UCS closes before
the graduation ceremony ends. Please make arrangements for someone else
to pick up your unsold items.
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26.
May our guests shop in the Exhibit Hall?
Yes! Family members and friends with a ticket to the graduation ceremony
may browse the Exhibit Hall in the adjoining Richmond Center FREE OF
CHARGE on Friday evening after 5 p.m., and all day on Saturday.
Be sure to let your guests know they will be admitted at no cost when
they show their graduation ticket. This is a perfect opportunity for
grandparents and other family members and friends to see the extensive
resources available to homeschool families--they are often amazed at the
variety and diversity of educational materials. (It's also a great
place to purchase gifts!)
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27. Does HEAV offer a class ring?
The Lord's Fine Jewelry will supply the Class of
2012 with individual, high-quality, reasonably priced class rings. They have a
wide selection of emblems, stones, metals, and cuts from which to choose. You
should contact them directly through their website, Lord's Fine Jewelry,
or call 800-775-LORD, to request a catalog and pricing information. The Lord's
Fine Jewelry is owned by a homeschooling family in Oklahoma and is committed
to offering only the finest-quality, hand-tooled jewelry as a testimony to the
Lord's goodness and majesty!
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28. I am not familiar with the proper etiquette for the ceremony, or
for addressing and sending graduation invitations or thank-you notes for our
graduate's gifts. Can you offer any help?
Yes! We have put together a Graduation Etiquette Guide just for you! It is included in your GRAD Packet.
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29. Where can we find information about preparing for and taking the
SAT?
You may pick up SAT information from a local high school, or you may request
a "SAT Registration Bulletin" from the HEAV office at
office@heav.org. This bulletin
tells when and where the test will be given and how to register. The following
booklets, which include preparation tips and a practice test (SAT I) or sample
questions (SAT II), are also available through our office: SAT I: Reasoning
Test and SAT II: Subject Tests. To request one, please contact
the office at
office@heav.org or 804-278-9200. Be sure to provide your mailing address and we will be happy to
fill your request.
Additionally, please see the homeschool high school testing information we have on our website, which includes test registration information, links to practice tests, helpful articles, and more.
You may also go to www.collegeboard.com to find
information and to register online for the SAT.
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30. We are looking at future plans, including college, for this
graduate or another child; do you have any resources to guide our search?
The HEAV office has packets from the Christian
Connector, Inc., which contain information on Christian colleges, Bible
colleges, short-term missions, and other Christian youth opportunities. Please
contact the office at
office@heav.org or 804-278-9200. Be sure to provide your mailing address. We will be happy to fill
your request.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2012!
We look forward to celebrating with you and your family in June. If you have
additional questions you think would be helpful to add to this list of FAQs,
please send them to
graduation@heav.org.
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This page last edited: 13 January 2012
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