2012 Graduation Information for the Community

Cabarrus County Schools will conduct the graduation ceremonies for Central Cabarrus High, Concord High, Cox Mill High, Hickory Ridge High, Jay M. Robinson High, Mt. Pleasant High, Northwest Cabarrus High and the Performance Learning Center at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center.

The GPS information for the Arena is 4551 Old Airport Road, Concord NC 28025  and the telephone number for the Arena is 704-920-3976.  As we prepare for the ceremonies, we want to keep our graduates, families, staff and community informed of the specifics. As we prepare for the ceremonies, we want to keep our graduates, families, staff and community informed of the specifics. The graduation schedules and practice times are provided below:

WHEN SHOULD THE GRADUATES AND GUESTS ARRIVE?  Graduates should arrive at the Cabarrus Arena one hour prior to the respective scheduled graduation ceremony time and follow the instructions for travel and parking as posted at the Arena.  The doors for the front entrance of the Arena will be opened for parents and guests one hour prior to the respective scheduled graduation ceremony.  Once the ceremony begins, only one door at the front of the Arena will remain open and will be monitored throughout the entire time.  Parents and guests should also follow the requested routes of travel and signage posted at the Arena for their designated parking areas.  Guests should plan to arrive in plenty of time to park, walk the distance of the parking lot and go through security scanning.  It is important that each ceremony begin on time and we do not want parents and guests to miss this memorable event.  Instructions will be reviewed with the graduating classes at their respective schools.  If graduates drive themselves, there will be a designated area close to the drop-off point for parking of graduate cars only.  If graduates ride with parents, they should be dropped off at the designated point and parents should proceed to the designated parking areas for their appropriate school according to the posted signage.

WHERE SHOULD GUESTS PARK?  A plan has been devised to alleviate congestive areas for a smooth traffic flow for all ceremonies being conducted.  Guests should follow the signage posted and the directions provided by the law enforcement officials who will be directing traffic.

WILL THERE BE SECURITY CHECKS AS HAS BEEN THE PROCEDURE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS?  Yes.  Everyone attending the graduation ceremonies will go through metal detection.  Using the metal detection devices from each of our high schools will allow our staff to assist our guests in an efficient and prompt manner.

WHO WILL BE DIRECTING THE TRAFFIC IN THE PARKING LOTS?  The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Department and the City of Concord Police Department will provide coverage for traffic control and security measures for the graduation commencement ceremonies for all of our schools.  Staff members from our high schools and staff members from the Cabarrus Arena will also provide assistance in the parking lots.

WHAT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS SHOULD BE USED TO ENTER THE CABARRUS ARENA TO FACILITATE TRAFFIC FLOW?   The Cabarrus Arena and Events center is located at 4751 NC Highway 49 in Concord (corner of Old Airport Road and Highway 49).  The entrance to the Arena is located on Old Airport Road.  Law enforcement officers will be located on Highway 49 and on Old Airport Road to assist with the traffic flow.  Directions may be obtained from your high school or the Cabarrus Arena (704-920-3976).

HOW WILL THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES BE INDIVIDUALIZED AND SPECIAL SINCE THEY ARE AT ONE LOCATION? It is our intent and commitment to make Graduations 2012 a memorable occasion for our students, parents and the community.  With the use of advanced technology, families and friends will be entertained until the beginning of the ceremony with special presentations prepared by the staff at each of the respective schools.  When each graduate receives his/her diploma, a camera will capture the picture and display it on large screens on each side of the stage so that everyone can see close up the moment of celebration with the diploma being handed to the graduate.  Please know that a great deal of time and effort has been put into making this a memorable experience for you.  Bands and/or choruses will participate in the ceremonies.  The stage will be set to carry out the colors of the school.  Guests will not be permitted to bring horns, flowers, balloons or any object considered to be a weapon inside the Arena.

HOW MANY CAN ATTEND?  The Cabarrus Arena will seat 5,100 people.  The layout of the Arena provides excellent seating for not only seeing the event but also for hearing what is happening.  Members of the ROTC Units from Central Cabarrus High, Mt. Pleasant High, Jay M. Robinson High, Northwest High and the Fire Academy at Concord High will offer assistance in ushering guests to their seats.  Seating is available on the upper deck, as well as on the floor behind the designated seats for the graduates.

APPRECIATION AND CONGRATULATIONS:  Our congratulations are extended to our students for the successful completion of the requirements for their diplomas.  This has been a journey in life that will lay the foundation for their futures.  Our appreciation is extended to our K-12 staff for their commitment to education.  Our appreciation is extended to the staff at the Cabarrus Arena for their services to ensure that all of our graduation ceremonies are memorable events for our graduates and their families.  We are grateful for the assistance that the ROTC units and the Fire Academy will provide at the ceremonies.  Our high school principals and staffs have worked diligently to provide a memorable experience for everyone.  We want to thank our law enforcement officers for their assistance with security and parking details.  We look forward to sharing the joy of this momentous occasion with you.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE:  Guests attending graduation ceremonies who may need special assistance should notify the school principal at least twenty-four hours prior to the graduation ceremony.  Provisions will be made for the hearing impaired with advance notice.  Provisions will be made for those needing assistance with interpretation into Spanish.  There will be a table in the front lobby with headsets for this purpose.  A layout of the Arena is posted on the website to assist with designated seating for the special needs of our guests.

WHAT IF I'M NOT ABLE TO ATTEND A GRADUATION CEREMONY?  The graduation ceremonies will be available as a Live Video Stream via the internet for those who are unable to attend the ceremonies.

How to watch via our Live Video Stream: Each of our 2012 high school graduations will be available online via a live streaming video feed hosted by HighSchoolCube.org. To watch, click CCS 2012 Graduation Video Page , locate the high school you want to watch, then click the link: " Watch Live Video Feed " next to that high school at the start date and time indicated.

Watching A Recorded Graduation Ceremony Online:  A recording for each high school's graduation exercise will be available for on demand viewing at the conclusion of that school's live feed. To view a recording of a 2012 high school graduation ceremony, visit the CCS Graduation Video Page , locate the pre-recorded high school graduation you want to watch, then click the link: " Watch Recorded Video " next to the high school graduation you want to watch.

Watch Graduation Ceremonies on TimeWarner Cable Channel 21: You can also view recordings of the 2012 graduation ceremonies on the CCS Education Channel (Time Warner Cable Channel 21) on 10 consecutive Saturdays beginning June 23 and continuing through August 25 (June 23, June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28, August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25).

Channel 21 Schedule Format: Each graduation video will begin immediately after the prior video has concluded and will air using the schedule listed below.

* Please Note: The final schedule of times will appear below as well as on Cable Channel 21 prior to Saturday, June 23.  The length of time for each graduation ceremony varies and the timing logistics cannot be established until all graduation ceremonies have concluded. (To Be Determined- TBD * )

CHARGE TO OUR GRADUATES:

" Two roads diverged in the woods, and I- I took the one less traveled by.

and that has made all the difference."_________ --Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken