Senior Celebration Day - Friday, May 16th, 2025

Senior Yearbook Signing:

Seniors will have the opportunity to pick up their yearbooks during Senior Celebration from 12:30 - 2:30 and then participate in a senior class yearbook signing from 12:30 - 3:20. If a senior cannot pick up their yearbook they are welcome to stop by the CTE center between 8:00-4 on 5/23. 

Black Gold and Beyond: Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend this.

Black Gold and Beyond will take place on May 16th at 11:00am in the PVHS Auditorium.  This time is intended to celebrate all of your accomplishments this year and also your plans for the future.  Scholarships and awards will be presented from various internal and external stakeholders.  Only seniors that are eligible to graduate will be allowed into Black Gold and Beyond.  Entrance into all senior activities will require that the student has a proper wristband and is on the walk list for graduation. Parents are encouraged to attend this event.

Senior Picnic:

After Black, Gold & Beyond, the PVHS Administration & Staff are providing lunch for the Senior Picnic. There will be food and beverages for students while relaxing and enjoying your last day with teachers and staff.  Only seniors that are eligible to graduate will be allowed into the Senior Picnic starting in the Small Gym.  Entrance into all senior activities will require that the student has a proper wristband and is on the walk list for graduation.

Moving Up Ceremony:

Our Moving Up ceremony is Friday, May 16th in the main gym. You will need to arrive at 2:30pm to meet in the main gym prior to the ceremony so we can complete a couple of items prior to the event.  This ceremony is a very special time for our staff and students to say goodbye and make the symbolic move from high school to the world.  Only seniors who have met all graduation requirements will be permitted to participate in the Moving Up Assembly.  Only PVHS students and staff will be allowed in the main gym.  At the end of the ceremony, seniors will exit through the main doors of PVHS from The Commons. We encourage parents to gather outside the main entrance so parents and family can greet their seniors as they exit through the main doors just as they entered as freshmen four years ago.

Senior Car Parade:

On Friday, May 16th, Seniors will assemble on the east side of Prairie View Middle School at 6:45pm to line up and, at 7:00pm will drive west on  Thunderhawk Place (120th Avenue) to  Peoria St. and go north (right) to Thunderhawk Way and drive around the backside of the school to the front parking lot where the parade ends. Cars in the parade must be driven by or contain seniors from Prairie View High School. We encourage family and friends to line up in front of PVHS along 120th to celebrate their students as they drive past. Seniors will then gather in the parking lot by PV and the G-Wing until they are invited into Senior Sunset.

Senior Sunset, Fireworks & Movie:

Senior Sunset is scheduled for Friday, May 16th  Sunset will take place at 8:12 PM that evening.  We ask that all seniors arrive in the stadium by 8:00 PM.  Due to the set up for the Sunset Fireworks we need all seniors to remain in the west stands.  The stadium will be open until 9:00pm for pictures and memories.

Seniors will receive caps and gowns on Monday, May 19th as the last step of the check-out process, which is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Once all of the following obligations have been met, students will meet with their counselors and get their cap and gown.  We encourage you to complete as many of these items as possible prior to May 19th to expedite the checkout process:

• All Chromebooks must be brought to PVHS during checkout so the 27J software licenses can be removed. Then the senior will get the Chromebook back to keep. If the Chromebook is not brought to Check Out, the senior will be charged $250 which must be paid prior to receiving the cap & gown. 
• All lockers cleaned out completely (if applicable)
• All books turned in and fees for lost items paid 
• All library books turned in and fines paid
• All athletic and other equipment turned in to coaches and other teachers
• All fees and fines paid for this year and previous years.  Fees and fines may be paid any time before or during Senior Check Out in the main office or online at: https://ic.sd27j.org/campus/portal/brighton.jsp
• Fees and fines are payable by cash or credit card. No checks will be accepted.

Caps:

• The caps, gowns and tassels are delivered in plastic bags
• Caps should be placed on your head so that the mortarboard is level.  The front is marked so you’ll know how to position it on your head. Bobby pins may be helpful in securing your mortarboard.  Here is a helpful video to see how it should look when you are wearing your cap.
• Graduates with longer hair may wish to experiment with the hairdos that will work with the mortarboard.  You may find that the mortarboard is most secure when hair is worn down.
• Decorating expectations are explained below under Stoles/Sashes/Honor Cords
• Do not remove the caps until you are invited to toss them at the end of the ceremony. 

Gowns:

• Gowns need a light amount of pressing on a low setting. Please be sure to do this so that you look your best at the ceremony and in your photographs.
• Plan to put your gown on after you have checked in for the ceremony.
• The cap, gown and tassel are yours to keep.

Tassel:

• The tassel is to be worn over the right temple.  It is appropriate to wear only one tassel unless you earn a Triple Threat Award, then you may wear two.
• Tassels should never be pinned or sewn; they should be permitted to hang naturally.
• Each senior changes the tassel to the left side when directed to do so at the appropriate time during the graduation ceremony.

Shoes:

• Appropriate dress shoes must be worn.  
• When choosing shoes, remember that you will be walking into the CU Event Center from our staging area to your seats and to the stage for your diploma.  Narrow heels or stilettos will most likely not be the best choice of footwear.

Stoles/Sashes/Honor Cords:

There has been a change to expectations of dress this year at graduation related to a House Bill that was passed last year. Here is the information you need to know:

• House Bill - Click here for House Bill 24-1323
• CASB/27J Language

Graduating students are expected to wear the attire customarily worn for the graduation ceremony at their school, with the specific exceptions outlined below. 

A student may adorn the cap, gown, or stole customarily worn at their school with traditional objects of tribal regalia and/or objects of cultural or religious significance. Adornments are something worn in addition to, but not replacing, graduation attire, and are not limited to decorating graduation caps. Tribal regalia or objects of cultural or religious significance means formal attire used in recognized practices and traditions of a certain group of people. 

Adornments cannot include any alphabetical letters other than the student’s name or numerals other than the graduating class (e.g. Class of 2022). Other written statements, phrases, or slogans are not permitted.  

Students will be required to request permission to wear an adornment in advance, and the district reserves the right to prohibit any adornments that are obscene, defamatory, fraudulent, profane, threatening, inappropriate, or disruptive or violate the dress code in any other manner. 

If it is determined that the adornment would cause a substantial disruption based on reliable evidence, the student’s request may be denied. Students who wear adornments that have not been approved may be required to remove the adornment if the adornment is substantially disruptive.

What to wear under the gown:

• Your “Sunday best” – (or what you might wear when attending a wedding). No shorts or casual clothes.
• For men – button down shirts, dark slacks, dress shoes & socks.  Ties are encouraged. No t-shirts.
• For women – dresses, dress slacks and dress sandals or shoes.  

Keep in mind this is a dignified, classy affair.  Anything that distracts from the ceremony will be confiscated (beach balls, air horns, silly string, etc.) and the person responisble for the distraction, either student or guest, will be removed from the premises.  Please share this information with family and friends who will be in the audience.

• Park in the closest parking lot available at the CU Event Center (see map)
• Leave as many of your personal items in your car as you possibly can
• Graduates line up at 5:45 pm outside the CU Auxiliary Gym to begin check-in. Graduates Only
• Carry nothing but your name card to the event center floor – no cameras, cell phones, purses, water bottles, etc.
• Enter at the North Dock Door of the Event Center (see map)
• During the ceremony you will be presented with an empty diploma cover.  Diplomas may be picked up in the CU Auxiliary Gym following the graduation ceremony.

• Arrive at the event center no earlier than 6:00 p.m. The doors will not open until 6:00 p.m.
• Family and guests are strongly encouraged to carpool!!!
• All guests must enter at patron entrances at the Northwest location of the CU Event Center.
• Please find seating in the CU Event Center as you arrive.  Our seniors and staff will be busy preparing for the ceremony.  We will need to focus on this task without distraction.

Entrance:

All guests may enter at the Northwest, West and Southwest entrances of the CU Event Center along Regent Drive. All entrances are equipped with metal detectors for the safety of guests. CU Clear Bag Policy will be enforced so plan accordingly. Proceed into the event center and sit on the side that is nearest your graduate in the ceremony (they will be able to provide you this information the day before the ceremony). There is plenty of seating but we ask that families are respectful and refrain from saving whole rows and sections of seats.

Parking:

The University of Colorado and the CU Event Center offer a wide selection of parking lots for event guest parking.  Please review the CU Event Center parking map to identify all lots available for parking.  Click to view Parking Map

ADA    parking is located in Lot 440 and requires the proper ADA vehicle placard for vehicles using this lot.  Also ADA parking is available along Regent Drive.

Wheelchair Accessible Entrance and Seating:

Guests who require ADA and wheelchair access will be able to enter the CU Event Center through the street level northwest doors along Regent Drive.  Guests that require ADA seating have the choice to be in the concourse area on the 3^rd floor of the CU Event Center or on the event center floor along the first row of the arena seats (guests must be able to move from their wheelchair to the seats).  CU and PVHS Staff will be there to support any guest with seating.

The CU Event Center complies with all TSA & Homeland Security prohibited item lists.  In addition, prohibited items include: metal water bottles, non-factory sealed beverages or filled liquid container including thermoses; hard sided coolers of any size or style; alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs (including medical marijuana); glass bottles or cans; umbrellas of any size; firearms or weapons of any type; designated artificial noise makers such as whistles or air horns; laser pointers; signs; banners; balloons, fat heads or flags on sticks (regardless of length); professional grade video camera equipment (i.e. telephoto lenses, tripods, or monopods); any type of hard or inflatable balls; skateboards; or skates; fireworks; animals (with the exception of service animals); and other item(s) deemed  dangerous or unacceptable by authorized personnel.  Click here for more details about prohibited items.  

1. Students will process together into the auditorium while Pomp & Circumstance plays. Students will stand in their row until it is filled, then sit simultaneously when signaled by line leader.
2. Top 15 students will be in the front row and will receive their diplomas first.
3. There will be two speakers at graduation selected by the graduating class: Keynote Speaker & Student Representative Speaker. The Keynote speaker will be a teacher selected by the senior class. This presentation will be 3-5 minutes in length and is designed to either reflect on the high school experience or inspire students for their futures. 
4. The Student Representative Speaker will be offered to the Valedictorian first. This student may choose to speak or may choose to pass. If the speech is passed, then the speaker will be a senior who auditions to do the presentation and will be selected by members of the graduating class (50%) and admin/senior class sponsor (50%). This speech is designed to reflect on the class experience during high school (not the individual speaker’s experiences) and should be approximately 3 minutes in length.  
5. The choir, including seniors, will sing the National Anthem.
6. The band, including seniors, will play Celebration, a song that was written for Prairie View for the graduation ceremony.
7. Students who have chosen to serve in the military after graduation will be asked to stand and be recognized during the ceremony.
8. Students who are first generation to graduate from high school will be asked to stand and be recognized during the ceremony.
9. Students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy award will be asked to stand and be recognized during the ceremony.
10. Students will be called to walk to the stage, will have an individual picture taken, and receive their empty diploma cover, then return to their seats. 
11. Students will process out of the ceremony together while their class song plays.
12. Students will go back to the Auxiliary Gym and get in the appropriate line to receive their actual diploma.

The University of Colorado Police Department along with the Boulder Police Department will be assisting with traffic as guests leave the ceremony and parking areas.  We ask that graduates and their families exercise patience while leaving.  We are expecting a large crowd and it will take time to have all of our guests leave the area.  We expect that you represent the PVHS Core Values and be kind and respectful to all of the event staff and police as you leave to celebrate your graduation.  Refer to the CU Event Center Parking Map to find the best route to exit and get back home.