Live Oak High School

Senior Class Information

 

Your senior year is a busy one!  Activities range from ensuring graduation requirements are satisfied, to applying for scholarships, completing community service and participating in all those special end-of-year senior events. 

 

Most of the following guidance for seniors exists on other parts of the Live Oak website.  Use this page as an additional index to ensure you are able to quickly find and reference what you need. 

 

Academic Considerations

 

§         12th Grade Roadmap – Start by reviewing this month-by-month planning guide for seniors

 

§         Graduation Requirements – Verify that you will be meeting Morgan Hill Unified School District graduation criteria.

 

§         California College Admission Criteria – Map your classes against requirements from the colleges you will be applying to.

 

·        Final Week of School

o       Final Exams – Last week of school, Monday-Wednesday.  See Senior Final Exam Schedule.  (Note that other students have final exams Tuesday-Thursday.) Monday, periods 5,6; Tuesday Periods 1,2; Wednesday, periods 3,4.  (Tuesday-Friday are early release days.)

o       Check Out Procedures – All books must be turned in.  If you have lost or damaged a book, your teacher must list the title, book number and price on the check-out sheet.  You will also need clearance from the library and ASB.  All fines, books, and materials must be paid for by Thursday of the last week of school.  The check out form must be completed and returned to your counselor during your Check-out and Graduate Clearance.

o       Check-out and Graduate Clearance – Thursday, starting at 8:30 am in the counseling center.  Seniors must have all required signatures on course grades listed on their “Senior Check-Out” sheet.

o       Transcripts - Final transcript requests will be attached to check-out forms. Transcripts are $3 each (cash/money-order only).  The registrar will not be available after mid-June.

 

Community Service & “Outside Points”

 

Live Oak Seniors must meet a Civics “outside points” requirement.  This can be satisfied through a combination of community service and other community involvement or research.  For specifics, go to Outside Points.

 

Create a Resume

 

A resume can be included with college applications, scholarship applications, and job applications.  As you write college or scholarship essays, it will also be useful as a reminder of your accomplishments. Finally, if you are asking community members to write reference letters for you, the resume will provide the writer with a more complete picture of your achievements.   Itemize your leadership, volunteer activities in the school and community, employment history, and additional activities such as clubs and sports.  Click on resume for a sample template.  For more tips specifically on reference letters for college, see below.

 

College Information & Applications

 

§         Haven’t decided on a college yet?  Attend presentations by visiting colleges.  You must have a pass to attend presentations.

 

§         Research colleges and career paths to find the right match for you.  Click on College & Career Information for some useful links.

 

§         Don’t miss application due dates!  Check out the online CSU and online UC applications.  Or review individual college websites for additional dates.

 

§         Allow plenty of time to get reference letters (if required). 

o  Complete this request form to give teachers the additional information they need to write a supportive letter. 

o  Alternately, you may choose to write a cover letter to the individual you are requesting the reference from and attach a resume.  This is a good idea if you have too much information to fit on the request form.  See sample resume format.

o Note that teacher reference letters should reflect the teacher’s insights into you as a student and not rehash your resume.  Go to teacher reference tips for additional suggestions on obtaining a great teacher reference letter.

o Be sure to give plenty of advance notice of your request!

 

College Athletics

 

Student-athletes who are interested in competing athletically at the collegiate level should meet with their counselors as early as possible to discuss NCAA requirements for participation.  For additional information, including details about the college recruiting process, go to College Athletics.

 

Financial Aid for College

 

The most important things you should do are:

 

§         Complete the Live Oak Common Scholarship Application (due the first Friday in December) – this one application makes you eligible for many local scholarships.  Note that you must obtain a teacher recommendation for this, so plan ahead.

 

§         Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the web (no earlier than January of your senior year).

 

§         Review additional scholarship opportunities and deadlines.  (A current list is maintained by the counseling office.)

 

For more information, review the PowerPoint presentation on financial aid.

 

Senior Events  and Perks

 

Don’t miss out on the special events and perks scheduled for your graduating class:

If a specific date is not listed below, see the LO Calendar or check with the ASB Office.

 

Graduation Photos

§         Photo order information

Summer before the start of your senior year

Reserved Senior Parking

Permits for senior spots go on sale the Friday before school starts: 

1-3 pm for reserved spots (first come-first serve) and 3-5 pm for regular spots.  Click here for Live Oak parking fees, forms and rules.

Order Caps and Gowns and optionally announcements, thank you notes, class rings, etc.

§         Cap and gown information

§         Ring order information

November, before Thanksgiving.  Prices go up after December 5th

Pick up detailed order form in the ASB office.

 

Senior Ads

§    Information letter

Parents, put a special ad in the yearbook to recognize your special grad.  Due December 15th.

Senior BBQ (at Snack Shack)

During spring ASB elections

Panoramic Photo (on football field)

During STAR testing

Beach Day (Seacliff Beach)

$20 at ASB office. During STAR testing-

Senior Prom

Mid-May.  Plan ahead if you are ordering a corsage, renting a tuxedo, or renting a limo..

Senior Awards Night

May.  Let the Counseling Office know (in advance) what awards you are receiving, particularly if they are not local awards.  email

Disneyland Trip

$180 at the ASB office.  Week before final exams, Thursday 1 pm – Friday 1 pm.  Students will take a chartered bus to Disneyland (rest stops for food on the way).  They will arrive at the park around 9:30 pm.  From 10 pm to 6 am they will be in the park.  At 6 am, they will board buses and at 6:30 am depart back to LO, arriving at approximately 1 pm on Friday.  Please note that Disneyland Resort has a very specific dress code that must be followed.

Purchase Grad Night Tickets

At the ASB office.  Prices will go up as the date comes closer.  Sell raffle tickets and get your Grad Night ticket FREE!

Order your Yearbook

At the ASB office.  Prices will go up later in the year.

Rent your Cap and Gown (late orders)

Check in the ASB office for deadlines.  Pickup date will be announced the week before graduation.

Memory Slide Show

Put up to 10 photos of your student (various ages) on CD, indicate student name/s and turn it in to the ASB office by mid-May.  Photos will be shown during Grad Night party.

Grad Night Parking

Optionally, pre-reserve a spot for $20 (limited number available).  Come by the Grad Night Garage on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 – 8:00.  Standard parking spaces are available for $5 on graduation day.

Grad Night

Permission Form

Lei Order Form

Safe and sober, all-night on-campus graduation celebration, a Live Oak tradition since 1987.  10 pm – 5 am, following graduation.  Tickets are available in the ASB office.  For details, go to Grad Night.

Volunteers – This is an enormous job, organized and staffed by parent volunteers.  Work sessions and/or meetings are held weekly throughout the year, starting with selection of a theme and culminating with a move into the gym and all-night staffing of various stations for the seniors.  To see what committee positions are available, go to Committee Chair Roles & Responsibilities.

Graduation Ceremony!

Last day of school on the football field.  See below for details, including schedule and clothing guidelines.

 

Graduation Ceremony

 

·        Rehearsals

        Thursday, starting at 10:30 am on the football field.  The student line-up will be posted in the counseling, attendance, and  offices.

        Friday, starting at 9:30 am at the tennis courts.  It is imperative that all graduating seniors be on time and cooperative.  There will be a complete rehearsal of the graduation ceremony.  Students not attending this practice will not participate in the graduation ceremony.

§         Timing - Seniors must report to the tennis courts by 5 pm.  Seniors will line up at the tennis courts by 5:30 pm in their assigned positions to take roll.  Those arriving late will sit in the last row.  At 6 pm sharp, the processional will begin with music.  Graduates will march toward the football field and sit in assigned seats.

§         Attire - Graduates will be checked at 5 pm for appropriate attire and belongings.  Males should wear a dress shirt, tie, shoes and slacks.  Females should wear a dress or slacks and appropriate shoes.  Tennis shoes are not allowed.  Graduates may wear or bring cap and gown.  Bring large bobby pins to help secure your cap.  Tassels should be worn over the right eye and not changed until everyone has received a diploma.  The point of the cap should be in the middle of the forehead.  No baseball caps or other decorations on caps.  No purses and no view obstructing items. 

§         Photographs – A photographer will take pictures of each graduate as he or she is handed a diploma.  Images can be viewed at NW photography or on their website, www.nwphotographyinc.com .

§         Ceremony Seating – Guest seating will be on the football field.  Seating will be on a first come – first serve basis.  Family and guests will enter at the student parking lot on Main Avenue.  Handicapped parking will be available upon request.

§         Senior Expectations – During all senior activities, seniors are expected to act maturely.  This means no beach balls, no cans of plastic string, no noise makers, etc.  In addition, participation in any senior prank will result in your removal from the graduation ceremony.  This type of behavior distracts from the importance of the occasion, leaving family, friends and community with a poor impression of the maturity of the graduates.  Lack of cooperation, use of alcohol or drugs, or any other inappropriate behavior will result in not participating in the graduation ceremony.