Class of 2023: 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 @ecsr2023 to the number 81010 to join the Remind group. 

August 29^th-September 2^nd – 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 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 16^th – 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 13^th – Homecoming Parade 

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

October 28^th – Senior Pep Rally 

More information will be sent out in the Remind app once the cheerleaders have released the information.

October 31^st-November 4^th – 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 9^th – Senior Portrait Make-up Day

Jim Owens will be at ECHS on November 9^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.

February 3^rd – 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. Please note that you must submit any photos, design, and verbiage that you’d like on the ad by March 31^st. 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

February 28^th – Senior Fun Day

All other students will be taking the ACT this day, so seniors will not report to their usual classes. We are planning a fun day for seniors… possibly a field trip. More details will be shared closer to this date. 

February 28^th – Graduation Fees Due (REQUIRED)            Cost $100 

**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 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 FIVE PICTURES PER SENIOR. You can send in baby pictures, elementary pictures, high school pictures, etc. Only SENIORS are allowed in the pictures. Pictures will most likely be uploaded to Google Drive.  A message will be sent out through Remind once we have finalized the link. 

April 26^th – Senior Awards Day @ 9:00AM
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.)

April 28^th – Decision Day @ 10:00AM

Decision Day will take place on the football field. This is a new event where we will celebrate seniors’ plans for their education/career after graduating. Students can wear a 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 8^th & 9^th – Senior Exams & Cap/Gown pick up
May 8^th – 3^rd/4^th block exams May 9^th – 1^st/2^nd block exams

Seniors will pick up their caps and gowns from Ms. Jones’s room (102). Seniors’ last day is Tuesday, May 9^th. 

May 5^th – 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 12^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.

May 17^th – Baccalaureate Practice @ 9:00AM
Students will be bused to Wade Baptist Church. We will return before the end of second block. If you do not attend practice, you cannot attend Baccalaureate. 

May 21^st – Baccalaureate @ 5:00PM
Students will arrive at Wade Baptist Church by 4:30 PM. Students will wear their caps and gowns with “Sunday Dress”. Parents/guardians/family are invited. (See Dress Code on back.)

May 25^th – 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 25^th – 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, and Graduation Dress Code

Dress Code -Males 

• White button-down oxford-style shirt (long or short sleeve - no polos)

• A tie or bow tie must be worn 

• Khaki or navy pants (no slits/ragged edges on pant legs - NO JEANS! NO SHORTS!) 

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

Dress Code – Females 

• Appropriate dress (no strapless or spaghetti strap, open back, too short, or low cut; straps should be approximately 1 inch thick)

• No off the shoulders - One shoulder is acceptable 

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

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

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, before 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 October- 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

EAST CENTRAL SENIOR INFORMATION SHEET 

In order to ensure your child’s name is spelled correctly on the diploma and in the graduation program, please CLEARLY PRINT your child’s FULL LEGAL NAME with any accent marks as well as titles such as Jr., III, etc.

first             middle                               last                                  title

Statement of Acknowledgement

I have read and fully understand this information and what is expected of me if I participate in graduation or any other senior event. 

I am further aware that senior fees and graduation fees are NON-REFUNDABLE no matter the graduation status of my senior or if my senior transfers.

Further, I am aware of the responsibilities – financially, academically, and behaviorally – for this senior year.

I also agree that I understand when my senior receives the graduation cap, gown, stoles, etc., that we take full responsibility to ensure that we maintain the condition of the gown. 

I also understand that if damage is done to any graduation gown, cap, etc. while in my possession, I am responsible to cover the cost to replace the gown. 

I also accept that if damage is done to the gown that it is not replaceable within the time before graduation, my senior may not be able to participate in graduation.  

Student Signature ______________________________________ Date ____________ 

Parent Signature ______________________________________ Date ____________

What size t-shirt will your child need for the senior class t-shirt and the senior sunset t-shirt? ___________

Please return to this form to Ms. Jones (room 102) or Mrs. Burlison (room 202) no later than Friday, August 19^th. If you do not return this form, you will not be allowed to participate in senior events.    

Sponsors

Christin Burlison

Lindey Jones