SENIOR CLASS 2011

September 17, 2010

Dear Senior and Parents:

Your Senior year and, in particular graduation, are special times in your lives. What follows are typical questions Seniors and parents have
regarding Senior year activities, fees, volunteer options, and the answers to those questions.

Question: How much are Senior Dues and what are they used for?
Answer: Senior Dues are $110.00 until April 1, 2011. After that date, $20 late fee will be added for cap and gown orders. The
fee pays for the graduation attire (cap, gown, and tassel), all of which the students keep. In addition, the dues pay for the
diploma, diploma cover, graduation program, the rental costs for graduation (which will be held at the ballroom in the
Gwinnett Center), and other Senior activities (which will occur throughout the 2010-2011 school year).

Question When are Senior Dues collected?

Answer: Senior Dues can be paid on-line at any time at:
http://www.gabalfour.com/
1. Click on Graduation
2. Select GSMST, then go
3. In the upper right hand corner you will see pay senior dues
There is a $4.95 processing fee.
If you prefer to pay by cash or check, Balfour representatives can collect the dues when they are on campus. They are
scheduled to be at GSMST on the following dates:
Monday, November 8, 2010 - lunch
Friday, November 19, 2010 - lunch
Thursday, December 9, 2010 - lunch
Friday, December 10, 2010 - lunch
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 - lunch
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - lunch

Checks should be made out to BALFOUR. You may also drive to the Balfour office in Suwanee to pay for your dues in
person.

Question: Are Senior activities required?

Answer: Participation in the Senior Activities, the Senior Breakfast, the Senior Picnic, Graduation, and all other senior activities is
optional; however, the overwhelming majority of seniors choose to participate in all of these events. We want very much
for each Senior to participate. In order to take part in these activities, all fees must be paid.

Question: Is there anything that is NOT covered by the Graduation Fee?

Answer: The Graduation Fee does not cover the cost of graduation announcements, the yearbook, Senior shirts, or the Prom. The
cost of videos and photos taken at graduation or any other Senior class events are not covered as well.

Question: When will caps and gowns be ordered and delivered?

Answer: The cap and gown is ordered when the Graduation Fee of $110 is paid. All graduates will wear black caps and gowns;
the tassels will vary for graduates and honor graduates. Again, Senior Dues can be paid at any time by going to
http://www.gabalfour.com/.
The caps and gowns will be delivered in April or May, 2011.

Question: When is graduation and how many tickets will we get?

Answer: The Graduation ceremony will be held at the Ballroom in the Gwinnett Center and it is tentatively scheduled for
Thursday, May 26, 2011 in the evening. This date must be approved at the March meeting of the Gwinnett County Board
of Education. In order to march in the Graduation Ceremony, all debts to GSMST must have been cleared. These
include: the Senior Dues, cafeteria charges, media center fines and lost books, lost textbooks from previous semesters, all
laptop fees, and any other material which belongs to GSMST. ALL STUDENTS MUST BE CLEARED
ACADEMICALLY AND FINANCIALLY BEFORE PARTICIPATION IN GRADUATION. A CAP AND
GOWN IN HAND DOES NOT MEAN ELIGIBILITY. Due to the size of the facility, each graduating Senior will
receive approximately 8 tickets for the ceremony. All patrons who attend the ceremony, regardless of age, must have a
ticket. A child may sit on the lap of an adult.
Question: When is Graduation practice?
Answer: GRADUATION PRACTICE: Thursday, May 26th, in the morning. Practice will be held in the GSMST cafeteria.
Graduates will march in and out, practice receiving their diploma, and we will correct pronunciation of names.
GRADUATION PRACTICE IS MANDATORY IF YOU PLAN TO MARCH IN GRADUATION! IF YOU DO
NOT PRACTICE, YOU DO NOT MARCH! More information regarding Graduation will be mailed to you in the
Spring.

Question: When do I order graduation announcements?

Answer: Seniors will have a class meeting with Balfour on Monday, November 8, 2010 to discuss graduation announcements. A
packet that includes a sample order form and the official order form will be given to each senior during this meeting.
Seniors not present for this meeting should see Ms. S. Hughes in room 5.349 to pick one up. The official order form is to
be filled out completely before ordering. Make checks payable to BALFOUR. Balfour will also be here on November
19th, December 9th and December 10th during lunch to accept orders. The deadline for ordering announcements is
February 11, 2011. You can also place you order at www.scholasticimagesinc.com.

NOTE: The actual announcements are not personalized. If you order announcements, you will also need to order name
cards to insert in the announcement in order to personalize your invitation. As with your diploma, you should use your
complete, formal name on cards. Please remember that these are announcements and not invitations. You must order and
pay for these in order to receive them! Graduation announcements will be delivered after Spring Break.

Question: My child is not at GSMST for part of the day (due to attending Internship). How can they find out what
announcements they are missing?
Answer: It is the responsibility of the student to find out what announcements regarding Seniors were made during the day.
General announcements are made at the beginning of 1 st period. They may also see or e-mail any of the senior class
officers (Kirsten Lim, Yoonji Ahn, or Megha Mandal). There will also be announcements placed on the GSMST
website. Students may also see Ms. S. Hughes in room 5.349.

Question: Can Seniors exempt Fall Exams?

Answer: No. Seniors may only exempt exams in the Spring Semester provided they have met the appropriate requirements.

Question: As a parent/guardian of a GSMST Senior, how can I volunteer to work on a committee or lead a committee?
Answer: Please e-mail Ms. S. Hughes at sheila_hughes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. In addition, please respond if it is ok to give your e-
mail to other parents who may want to head a committee.

Question: If I have other questions that were not listed – how can I get the answer?
Answer: Please feel free to e-mail Sheila Hughes at any time during the school year.

2010 -2011 Senior Sponsor

Ms. Sheila Hughes, 5.349 sheila_hughes@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

2010-2011 Senior Class Officers

Kirsten Lim, President kirsten.kirston.poonam@gmail.com

Yoonji Ahn, Vice President yoonjix07xahn@gmail.com

Megha Mandal, Secretary MegaMegha3000@gmail.com