Class of 2021 Update May 2
Graduation and Senior Event
Westlake High School
#OperationA
#OneWestake
Email: adamsji@fultonschools.org
Website: https://www.fultonschools.org/westlakehs
Location: 2400 Union Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone: 470.254.6400
Westlake AP Testing Administration May 3 - May 17
Hello Westlake Advanced Placement Families,
Thank you for participating in the FCS Spring Testing Notice Survey! Below is the building-wide period rotation during the AP administration. The testing schedule below is only for those AP students who will be testing face-to-face at Westlake during the administration window 1.
Families can verify which testing window they selected through viewing their student’s MY AP
account. As a reminder, several of the bus routes have been consolidated due to the low transportation numbers this school year. To verify your student's bus route information, we are asking that at least 48 hours before you intend for your student to begin using the school bus for transportation. Below is the link to find bus stop information. Please put in street number and name only (leave off Rd, way, or Ave) and then put in the student's grade to search. Next click on Westlake High School to see the bus route.
Graduation Updates
A big shot out to the Class of 2021 Student Government Association (SGA) for organizing and hosting the Senior Commitment Day. Saturday, May 1st, the Class of 2021 Student Government Association (SGA) organized 2021 Commitment Day which allowed seniors to come to Westlake with their families to view the Senior Hall of Fame and make a public commitment to a college by signing their College’s Yard Sign. Over 450 graduates signed up and attended the event. This SGA has orchestrated two very successful events: Movie Night and 2021 Commitment Day, making the Class of 2021 SGA one of the most effective SGAs of Westlake High School.
All South Fulton High Schools will graduate at Wolf Creek Amphitheater. Westlake High School's Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony will be Sunday, May 23, 2021, from 10:00, am - 12:30 pm (time change from 9:00 am to 10:00 am was made by the venue).
Why are we still at 2 tickets?
Westlake is still in talks with the City of South Fulton Parks and Recreation Department to see if there will be an increase in total graduation attendee capacity permitted by Wolf Creek Amphitheater that will allow Westlake to offer an additional ticket to graduates. The total capacity will need to exceed 2100 attendees for Westlake to offer an additional ticket. If 457 seniors that attended the Commitment Day Event received 3 tickets, our graduate and guest attendees will be 1828 excluding faculty, staff, and graduation officials plus early graduates, 5th-year senior graduates, and 3-year graduates. Under the current capacity restrictions Westlake will only issue 2 tickets per graduate.
Each graduate will receive and sign for two tickets during the May 19, 2021 graduation practice. Graduates and graduation ticket holders will equal 1500 attendees. Graduation attendee capacity will be reached with Westlake's faculty, staff, and other graduation officials.
If the new Covid-19 guidelines recently outlined by Governor Kemp cause Wolf Creek Amphitheater to increase the graduation attendee capacity, Westlake High School will increase the number of graduation tickets per graduate.
Important Senior Close-out Event and Dates
Final Exam Schedule
Thursday, May 6th Final Exams: 1B (8:20 am - 9:50 am) & 2B (9:55 am - 11:30 am)
Friday, May 7th Final Exams: 1A (8:20 am - 9:50 am) & 2A (9:55 am - 11:30 am)
Monday, May 10th Final Exams: 3B (8:20 am (9:50 am) & 4B (9:55 am - 11:30 am)
Tuesday, May 11th Final Exams: 3A (8:20 am - 9:50 am)& 4A (9:55 am - 11:30 am)
Seniors Last Day of School
Tuesday, May 11, 2021, will be the last day of school for the graduating Class of 2021 to report for classes at Westlake High School. Seniors will report back to Westlake High School the following Tuesday, May 18th for graduation practice from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm.
Senior Clearance for Graduation
Senior Clearance must be completed by Monday, May 17, 2021, to participate in the graduation ceremony. Seniors must meet all Fulton County Schools graduation requirements to be eligible for graduation. Seniors in good standing for graduation must return all textbooks, devices, and uniforms to Westlake High School and pay any outstanding student fees including but not limited to: athletic fees, performing art fees, lost materials, and/or damaged electronic devices by May 17th. Fees that occurred at other Fulton County schools (elementary, middle, and/or other high schools) must be paid prior to a Senior being cleared to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Student Services will continue to reach out to families with Seniors that are in danger of not graduating to explain final options.
Graduation Practice Times and Dates
Tuesday, May 18, from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm at Westlake High School (seniors may ride the school bus to Westlake, but must arrange transportation to leave campus at 12:30 pm). Arrival time is 9:00 am - 9:40 am. Continental breakfast for graduates will be provided. Viewing of Class of 2021 Reflections film will take place during graduation practice.
Wednesday, May 19, from 8:00 am - 10:00 am at Wolf Creek Amphitheater. Transportation will not be provided by FCS or Westlake High School. The arrival time is from 7:00 am - 7:45 am. Time will be carved out of this practice for graduates to sign and receive graduation tickets. No tickets will be distributed before this date.
Graduation Day Transportation to and from Wolf Creek Amphitheater from Westlake High School
Wolf Creek Amphitheater requires that schools with a 10:00 am graduation to transport all graduates, faculty, and staff to and from the venue via Fulton County School Bus. Westlake will adhere to the arrival and departure policy outlined by the Wolf Creek Amphitheater administration and provide bus transportation to and from Wolf Creek Amphitheater for graduates, faculty, and staff from Westlake High School.
Sunday, May 23, 2021 graduate arrival time at Westlake High School is 7:00 am. Upon arrival, graduates will receive their bus number and assigned seat in accordance with the FCS bus guidelines. Boarding of buses will begin at 7:30 am and depart promptly at 7:50 am. Continental breakfast for graduates will be provided at Wolf Creek Amphitheater.
Wolf Creek Amphitheater will not allow graduates to enter the venue, that does not arrive in the venue on a Fulton County School bus. Please plan to have your graduate to Westlake on time to prevent the disappointment of your graduate not being able to enter the venue until general admission time, which requires the use of a graduation ticket.
Graduates that drive will park in Westlake's student parking lot near the Westlake auditorium beginning at 6:50 am. Graduate car riders that will need to be dropped off and picked up from Westlake will be issued a Graduate Pick-Up Pass during drop-off, permitting 1 vehicle to come on campus after graduation for graduate pickup. The Graduate Pick-Up Pass must be visible in the vehicle's front window to be permitted by Fulton County Schools Police to enter Westlake's campus. Any vehicle without a Graduate Pick-Up Pass will be prohibited from entering Westlake's campus by Fulton Schools police during and after the graduation ceremony.
At the conclusion of the graduation ceremony, the graduation procession will flow to the bus pick-up location to board the buses and return to Westlake High School for graduates to pick up their diplomas. The rationale of the venue's requirement for graduates, faculty, and staff to arrive and depart via school bus is to provide a reasonable amount of time for the Wolf Creek Amphitheater staff to properly clean, sanitize, and prepare the venue for our sister school Langston Hughes High School's graduation ceremony at 6:00 pm. Langston Hughes graduation committee will need to gain access to the venue beginning at 1:00 pm to begin set up. Please plan your post-graduation activities accordingly and do not work against these guidelines to ensure that we meet the venue's requirements and most importantly, do not negatively impact the graduation ceremony of Langston Hughes High School.
Graduation Attire
Gentlemen
White button-down collard shirt (short or long sleeve)
Black pants
Black tie or bow tie (tie tieing assistance will be provided)
Black shoes
Black socks
Ladies
Solid black dress, skirt suit, or pantsuit
Black shoes (pumps, wedges, pumps, spool heels, loafers, kitten heels, Mary Janes/Doll shoes, ballerinas, brogues, etc.)
Prohibited shoe types Gentlemen and Ladies
Tennis shoes, sneakers, sandals, slides, flip flops, crocks, etc
Required Uniform regalia
Cap (cannot be decorated), graduation gown, Westlake hood/stole, and tassel (secured to cap).
Permitted individual regalia
Honor hood/stole and cords that are recognized in the graduation program.
Optional Regalia
#RobinsonStrong medallion (provided to all graduates with cap and gown). Highly recommended.
If a student needs a replacement required graduation regalia item due to the item being lost, damaged, or out of compliance the cost of the regalia item(s) will be billed to the student's account and must be paid before the student's final transcript is released.
Graduation Video Package
BlackLight Productions will be providing technical support for this year's graduation and will provide a LiveStream of the graduation ceremony in 4k. BlackLight Productions will offer for sale an edited DVD version of Westlake's graduation ceremony for $20 (2 for $30/3 for $50) to parents, friends, and family of the graduates. To purchase a DVD or a multiple DVD package and to learn more about the production process visit: https://www.blacklightproductions.com/dvd.html. BlackLight Productions will provide the Live Stream link the week of graduation.
Graduation Ceremony Attendees (ticket holders only)
Wolf Creek Amphitheater will open the Merk Road entrance gate at 8:30 am to begin receiving ticket holder guests. Tickets will be checked as vehicles enter through the Merk Road entrance. City of South Fulton Police and Fulton County Schools will only allow vehicles to enter the Merk Road entrance gate that has an equal amount of passengers (including the driver) and ticket holders (i.e. a vehicle with 4 passengers must present 4 tickets to gain entrance through the gates or face being forced to leave the premises with all passengers). Tickets will be scanned and torn at the amphitheater entrance.
Permitted items by Wolf Creek Amphitheater
A clear bag that is non-tinted, mesh bag, clutch purse (subject to search), low standing chairs that do not obstruct the view of other attendees, and blankets.
Strictly Prohibited items by Wold Creek Amphitheater
Noisemakers of any kind, signs, banners, balloons, umbrellas, and coolers.
A more comprehensive list of permitted and prohibited items is forthcoming from Wolf Creek Amphitheater that will be emailed to Seniors and families.
Beginning at 9:30 am
Attendees will be able to view the Class of 2021 Reflections Film on the jumbotrons. Please ensure that your graduate's childhood picture and a family congratulatory message are provided to Mr. Moore by May 7 by completing the following form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mLHcDGmBcEu6n9p-O6cAwl8cjgIkqkhMhFAINZwlO-RUQjE3TEJHUVRMODMwOUtPTzFIVzlIVlIwTC4u. This is a hard deadline due to the timeline of production.
Seating
The grass seating area will be painted in a checkerboard pattern to mark designated seating areas for every group of ticket holders, which will properly social distance up to 1000 attendees. Attendees are permitted to use low-standing seating and/or blankets. There will be a limited amount of fixed permanent seating for elderly and/or handicap attendees. Access to the permanent seating will be granted by ushers and security.
Post Graduation Ceremony
The graduate, faculty, and staff procession will end at the bus pickup location, graduation participants will board the buses and immediately leave the venue. Attendees are asked to follow the directions of the Wolf Creek Amphitheater and clear the Amphitheater and parking lot. Diploma distribution will take place at Westlake High School. Diplomas will be alpha sorted by the last name to expedite diploma distribution.
