Graduation Links and Information

Download: 2025 Graduation Information.docx

C.E. Byrd High School 2025 Graduation Information and Special Instructions

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Time: 7:00 P.M. (6:00 P.M. arrival time for graduates)
Location: Shreveport Convention Center

Financial Obligations: In order to participate in graduation, all fees and debts must be paid in full. See a bookkeeper if you have any questions…this is your responsibility—take care of it NOW!
Join the C.E. Byrd High School Alumni Association:
1. Annual dues are $50.00, and covers the first 5 years after a senior graduates. Our fiscal year runs from August to August. The dues are used to pay for mailings, postage, two issues of Alumni Highlife, landscaping, or anything else the Alumni are responsible for.
2. Lifetime dues are $500.00. These funds are invested for future use and only the interest can be used for current spending.
  You can learn more or join the alumni association at byrdhighalumni.org.
3. Even if you do not join the alumni association, please click here and submit your contact information so they can e-mail you with information.
Dress: The clothes you wear should not detract from the dignity of the commencement exercises. Proper clothes must be worn. You should be empty-handed for graduation (no purses, cell phones, flowers, etc.)
1. Ladies—dresses should not extend below the graduation gown. Dark shoes look the best. Do NOT remove your cap during the National Anthem. Wedges or flats are best.
2. Gentlemen— Wear dark colored slacks and a white or light-colored shirt with a tie. Remove your cap during the National Anthem, the invocation, and the benediction only.
Cap and Gown: Must be purchased from Jostens.com or borrowed from Class of 2023-24 graduate only. For best appearance, hang your gown on a hanger overnight and steam it if needed. You may put your cap and gown on once you arrive at the convention center. Caps should be worn SQUARELY on the head—flat with the deep point in the back. The tassel on the cap should be worn suspended over the right front of the cap. DO NOT change the tassel position until told to do so during the ceremony. These are breakable…so be careful, or you’ll be “tassel-less”! Please pay attention to your tassel. The top of the hat also breaks. No decorations allowed on your caps. If you wear a decorated cap, it will be confiscated and you will be given a new cap to wear (as long as they are available- if we run out, you will not have a cap to wear during the ceremony). You will also be placed on the debt list for the cost of the cap and will not receive your diploma after the ceremony.
You may only wear stoles, cords, and medals received from Byrd. Any other stoles, flowers, etc. will be confiscated and will have to be picked up from the school the following day.
Photographs/Video: A professional photographer will take a picture of each graduate after they’ve received their diploma. No one other than the authorized individuals will be allowed by the stage before, during, or after the ceremony. The ceremony will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/c/CaddoParishPublicSchools. The photos will be e-mailed or available online at gradphotonetwork.com. Make sure your e-mail address is up to date.
*All ceremonies will be archived on the Caddo YouTube account.
*Only authorized individuals will be allowed in the Convention Center before, during, and after the ceremony.
Parking and Assembly: Report to the Convention Center before 6:00 P.M. with your cap and gown. You should be in the holding area at 6:00 to line up, not showing up to park! Parking will be free. Faculty members and signs will direct you to the line-up area and your place in the line. Only graduates and faculty members will be allowed in the line-up area.
Processional: At 6:45 P.M., lines will move into place, and promptly at 7:00 P.M. graduates will march in and remain standing until AFTER the National Anthem and the invocation. There will be guides to help you remember where to go and what to do. Remember…fill in all seats…no empty seats…even if that means you aren’t sitting in the same seat as before you crossed the stage. Pay close attention to the NHS Usher. They will guide you to where you’re supposed to be. You’ll have a program on your chair so you will know what is going on. Don’t do anything silly to draw attention to yourself. This isn’t the time to be rowdy.
Diplomas: NHS will direct each row to rise and come forward to the stage. You will be stopped and your name will be checked by the counselor and/or faculty marshal before you cross the stage. Move onto the stage as your name is called…you will receive an empty diploma cover from the principal. You will pause and take a picture with the principal and a diploma cover. After you get through that line, march off stage. Pause to have your individual picture taken and follow the path back to your seat (pay attention to the path!) and remain standing until the entire row is in place. You will all be seated together. After all graduates receive their “diplomas,” a special ceremony will instruct you when to move your tassel from the right side to the left side of your cap.
Recessional: Remain standing for the Alma Mater and the benediction. You need to stay at your seat for the Alma Mater and the benediction. After the benediction, the recessional will begin. Remain in line and follow the National Honor Society guides/faculty marshals where tables will be located and your diploma will be given to you…stay in alphabetical order! If there is a problem with your diploma, wait until all graduates have received their diplomas and a counselor will assist you.
Diploma Covers—DO NOT BRING YOUR DIPLOMA COVER TO GRADUATION You’ll be handed a prop one on stage. You must return the diploma cover (it’s not yours) BEFORE you get your diploma. There will be a check point where you will place it in a box, and then you will retrieve your diploma. DO NOT LEAVE WITH THE SCHOOL DIPLOMA COVER
Reminders: Commencement, the solemn but joyful climax and recognition of the graduate’s years of study, is an important and meaningful occasion to the school and its faculty, staff, and students.
1. Guests and participants are to avoid moving around and having unnecessary conversation after the ceremony has started.
2. Wait to applaud until AFTER ALL GRADUATES have been called.
3. No banners, posters, balloons, airhorns, etc. Everyone entering the convention center will be wanded and bags/purses searched.
4. Graduates are expected to conduct themselves according to school policy…students with unacceptable behavior will not be awarded a diploma at the graduation ceremony.
5. Don’t bring your diploma cover to graduation…we’ll have one for you to borrow.
6. Conclusion: The graduation ceremony will begin promptly at 7:00 P.M. The activities should be over no later than 9:00 P.M.

Please inform your family members and guests about acceptable behavior, prohibited items, and arrival times.

C.E. Byrd High School

The City of Byrd

C.E. Byrd High School 2025 Graduation Information and Special Instructions

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