As graduation day quickly approaches for seniors, the anticipation for cap and gown distribution was high. Students had to follow specific guidelines in order to receive their permit to pick up their cap and gown. The permit requirements expected from a student were no outstanding book payments, a 2.00 GPA and above or have a C- and above in the gradebook. If a student failed the standards on the permit, then they had to get signatures from teachers to allow them to get their cap and gown.
Senior Giorgio Del Furia said he agrees with certain requirements needed for the cap and gown permit, but that overdue book payments shouldn’t be required. He said mistakes happen, and it shouldn’t result in students not receiving their cap and gown.
“Most of the requirements make sense for pickup, except the book requirement for overdue books,” Del Furia said. “This shouldn’t be a requirement since most teachers might forget or misplace a book and become a problem for the student during graduation.”
Senior Dicey Munoz said she disagrees on the permit requirement for cap and gown pickup. She said although she has passing grades, some do not qualify for her to receive her cap and gown. According to her, she reached out to her teachers for signatures so she could get her cap and gown on time.
“I do not agree with the requirements. The permit required a C- and above, but I had Ds, which are still a passing grade,” Munoz said. “I should have been able to pick up my cap and gown early. I’m still waiting for my cap and gown because I need signatures.”
Administrative Assistant II Judy Minarich said the front desk staff tries to manage their open hours to better fit the schedule of students. According to her, for students with online school or PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options), she is able to stay at school longer, so they have a wider time frame to pick up their caps and gowns.
“We have a large group of kiddos who have not picked up their cap and gown for various reasons. Some have online or PSEO (classes), or whatever, so we try to extend our hours,” Minarich said. “That’s why they started including me in the pickup because then the hours weren’t as limited, and that’s how I got involved with helping the students.”
According to Munoz, it has been easy to get communication about the cap and gown pickup. She said Park’s administration has held many meetings with the seniors, so missing information was not a problem.
“The principal and assistant principal hold too many senior meetings and too many senior emails, so it’s kind of hard not to get informed and involved in many of the meetings,” Munoz said.
Minarich said she’s participated in the cap and gown handout for a few years. She said she’s noticed students tend to wait until the last minute, and she wants students to work quickly and get requirements completed in a timely manner.
“I’ve been here for almost three years, going around and helping with graduation. There has always been (a need for) more help (organizing cap and gown distribution), and that’s where I came in,” Minarich said. “It’s just having to get the kids to move quicker at doing all their things (involved in permit requirements), turning in their items, otherwise they just drag their feet.”
According to Del Furia, senior counselor Heidi Cosgrove was super helpful towards him and his classmates in getting their caps and gowns. According to him, acquiring his graduation garments was an efficient and uncomplicated process.
“It’s been really easy getting the information needed for getting my cap and gown. Ms. Cosgrove was a big help, and she made the process easy for me and my friends. Most of us had our requirements, but the ones that didn’t were helped by Ms. Corgrove and (getting a permit became an easier) process for them,” Del Furia said.
