Class of 2024: Important Dates to Remember

*All dates are tentative and subject to change.*

*All fees can be paid in advance. The dates listed below are the LAST days the fees can be paid.**

Senior Class Sponsors – Christin Burlison (christin.burlison@jcsd.ms)   Lindey Jones (lindey.jones@jcsd.ms)         

Senior Counselor – Sherry Hart (sherry.hart@jcsd.ms) (228)283-3124

College and Career Readiness – Shirrell Williams (ccshirrellwilliamsechs@gmail.com)

REMIND – Text the message @ecsr2024 to the number 81010 to join the Remind group. 

August 28^th-September 1^st – 1^st Half of Senior Fees Due (REQUIRED)     Cost $75

Senior fees cover the following senior events: Senior Fun Day, Senior Awards Day, Decision Day, Baccalaureate, Senior Sunset (and t-shirt), and Senior Walk-Through, and one additional senior event (TBD). This year we have included the yearbook at a discounted rate AND access to photos taken by the yearbook staff at all senior events. We will send out information on how to access these photos as soon as possible. These fees also include the senior class shirt. If you would like to order any additional shirts for your senior or yourself, prices are as follows: adult S-XL are $16 and 2XL-4XL are $18. Please put all payments in an envelope with your senior’s name and what they are paying for on the front of the envelope. Cash & check payments are accepted. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO ECHS.

September 1^st  – Senior Breakfast @ 7:00AM

This event is organized and hosted by parents every year. If you are interested in helping with this event, please see us after the meeting for a brief discussion. 

October 12^th – Homecoming Parade/ Powder Puff Game

More information will be sent out in the Remind app once Student Council has released the information.

November 3^rd  – Senior Pep Rally/ Senior Parade 

The Senior Parade is a new event suggested by the senior class officers. Since this is a new event, we haven’t worked out all the details yet, but basically the seniors will decorate their vehicles and drive past the high school while the underclassmen are all outside cheering for the seniors. This will take place in the morning. More information will be sent out in the Remind app closer to the date of the event.

October 30^th-November 3^rd – 2^nd Half of Senior Fees Due (REQUIRED)      Cost $75

Senior fees cover the following senior events: Senior Fun Day, Senior Awards Day, Decision Day, Baccalaureate, Senior Sunset, and Senior Walk-Through, and one additional senior event (TBD). This year we have included the yearbook at a discounted rate AND access to photos taken by the yearbook staff at all senior events. Please put payment in an envelope with your senior’s name and what they are paying for on the front of the envelope. Cash & check payments are accepted. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO ECHS.

November 13^th – Senior Portrait Make-up Day

Jim Owens will be at ECHS on November 13^th to take senior portraits for those who did not take them over the summer. These appointments will be on a first come, first served basis. Ms. Henry (room 103) is the only person who can schedule your appointment; see her ASAP! If you are not able to take your portraits on that day, you will have to contact Jim Owens in Mobile and take portraits at their studio, or you will not be included in the yearbook.

December 1^st   – Senior Christmas Movie Night @ 6:00PM

This event will be held in the gym. More details will come through the remind app. 

February 1^st- 29^th – Graduation Fees Due (REQUIRED)             Cost $100
** December Grads MUST pay before December 15^th **

** Graduation Fee payments made from March 1^st – 31^st will include a $50 late fee.**

Graduation fees cover the cap, tassel, gown, stole, diploma, and diploma cover, all of which are yours to keep. This year all payments will be made ONLINE with Balfour at https://spa.ms/order-cap-gown 

You will need to know your senior’s height and weight when completing the payment. If the cap/gown does not fit because you do not enter the correct information or because your child gains weight OR if your child loses/damages the cap/gown before graduation, you will be required to purchase another cap/gown. DO NOT TRY TO PAY THIS FEE UNTIL WE SEND A MESSAGE OUT THROUGH REMIND. THE LINK IS STILL ACTIVE FOR LAST YEAR’S SENIOR CLASS. 

March 22^nd  – Senior Yearbook Ad Fee Due

The Hornet Yearbook senior ads are a special way for families to highlight and celebrate their graduate! Please understand that our AD SPACE IS LIMITED. These will be sold on a first come, first serve basis! We allot a certain number of pages for ads, so we will not be able to make any exceptions as our page count is set in our contract. You may pay with cash or check made payable to ECHS Yearbook. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Henry at bhj1994@jcsd.ms. To guarantee your spot in the yearbook, you must pay and submit any photos and verbiage that you’d like on the ad. If you or your family own a business, you can also purchase an ad space for that.  *All payments and questions related to yearbooks and ad space will be handled by Ms. Henry.

1/6 page ad $65

1/3 page ad $125

March 31^st - Slideshow Pictures Due     

All students should submit pictures to be included in the slideshow shown at graduation by March 31^st. NO MORE THAN TWO PICTURES PER SENIOR. You can send in a baby picture and a current picture. Only SENIORS are allowed in the pictures. 

April 26^th – Decision Day @ 10:00AM

Decision Day will take place on the football field. This event celebrates seniors’ plans for their education/career after graduating. Students can wear school shorts or jeans with a t-shirt representing their choice of college/military/work force or their senior shirt. Parents/guardians/family are invited. More details will be shared closer to this date.

May 2^nd – Senior Awards Day @ 9:00AM & Cap/Gown pick up @11:30
Senior Awards Day will take place in the ECHS gym. We will present ECHS club and academic awards, announce college scholarships, recognize students enlisting in the military, etc. Parents/guardians/family are invited. “Sunday Dress” is encouraged but not required. If students do not dress up, they are required to wear their school uniform. (See Dress Code on back.) Seniors will pick up their caps and gowns from Ms. Jones and Mrs. Burlison by last name. More information will be sent via remind.

May 5^th – Baccalaureate @ 5:00PM
Students will arrive at Wade Baptist Church by 4:00 PM. We will practice before the program. Students will wear their caps and gowns with “Sunday Dress”. Parents/guardians/family are invited. (See Dress Code on back.)

May 6^th & 7^th  – Senior Exams 

May 6^th – 3^rd/4^th block exams       May 7^th – 1^st/2^nd block exams       Seniors’ last day is Tuesday, May 7^th. 

May 10^th – Senior Walk-Through @ 9:00AM
Students will report directly to the ECHS gym by 8:30AM. The walk-through will start at 9:00AM. Parents/guardians/family are invited, but they will not be able to walk down the halls of any schools because of safety issues. Parents can follow the students from school to school and take pictures while the students are outside. During the walk-through, students will have the opportunity to present a Thank You Certificate to one teacher (at any grade level) who impacted their lives. This certificate will be given to the students with their caps/gowns. Students walk from ECHS to ECLE, and then they will be bused from ECLE to ECUE. They will walk from ECUE to ECMS and then be bused back to ECHS. Students must wear their caps and gowns.

TBA – Senior Sunset @ 6:00PM
Senior Sunset will take place on the football field. A picnic style dinner will be provided for the students. We will have multiple water slides and yard games. Students need to wear athletic shorts/swim trunks and the Senior Sunset t-shirt. The shirt is included in your senior dues and will be given out a couple of days prior to the event. Girls may want to wear a swimsuit under their clothes. Bring a towel to sit on/dry off with. This event will end shortly after sunset. 

May 23^rd – Graduation Practice @ 8:00AM

Students will report to the ECHS gym by 8:00AM. They will be bused to the coliseum. We will go over everything they need to know for graduation. We will be back before noon. If you do not attend practice, you cannot attend graduation. 

May 23^rd – Graduation @ 7:00PM

Students will arrive at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center at 5:30PM. Parents, handicap seating is available on a first come first served basis. Doors open at 5:00PM. Metal detectors will be used.

Senior Awards, Baccalaureate, & Graduation Dress Code

Dress Code -Males 

• White button-down oxford-style shirt with tie or bow tie (no polos)

• Appropriate dress PANTS - khaki, navy, or black (no rips - NO JEANS! NO SHORTS!) 

• Dark dress shoes with dark socks (no tennis shoes)

•  

Dress Code – Females 

• Appropriate DRESS of any color (no open back, off the shoulders, strapless, cut outs, too short, low cut, etc.) 

• OR appropriate dress PANTS - khaki, navy, or black (no rips - NO JEANS! NO SHORTS!)

• Dress shoes (no bright/distracting colors - spiked or extremely high heels are NOT recommended due to tripping concerns)

**If you cannot obtain the appropriate attire or have any questions as to whether something is appropriate or not, please come see Mrs. Burlison, Ms. Jones, or Mrs. Hart**

SHERRY HART, SENIOR COUNSELOR

sherry.hart@jcsd.ms 

228-283-3124

TRANSCRIPT ANALYSIS/CREDIT CHECK – I HAVE CHECKED ALL SENIORS’ TRANSCRIPTS, AND I AM GOING THROUGH THEM AGAIN TO BE SURE ALL SENIORS HAVE THE NEEDED COURSES FOR GRADUATION.  IF A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT IS IN QUESTION, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME! I will meet with each senior, individually, by the end of 1^st quarter to review their transcript and which endorsement they are working towards. The info will be sent home with the student. I will update you through Remind as to when to be looking for this.

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS ~ TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS - Once you apply to a college/university, you have to send your transcript in order to receive an admissions decision. 

You MUST request transcripts online at jcsdms.scriborder.com

Shirrell Williams, Career Coach

• Work with Jackson County Chamber of Commerce- Economic/Workforce Development

• ENROLL- College, Technical Program- scholarships, FASFA, MS aid etc.

• EMPLOYED- networking with the industry 

• ENLISTED- all branches of military 

• FASFA opens in January- to receive any college scholarships your FASFA must be completed.

• goals- visits from industries, college career day 

I am a resource to ECHS- we have partnerships with colleges and industries. We utilize YOU SCIENCE, a tool that helps create a Pathway for students after graduation. 

My office is within room 612. 

I am the best resource to create a path for your child. 

I am passionate about - Investing, impacting, inspiring, and interacting one student at a time!

Thank you for your help!

Shirrell Williams

Career Coach

East Central High School

ccshirrellwilliamsechs@gmail.com

Sponsors

Christin Burlison

Lindey Jones