Graduation Information

Dear Graduating Class of 2026 and Parents/Guardians:

As we prepare for this year’s Commencement ceremony and activities, I want to communicate some important information with all graduating seniors and their families. Our students have worked very hard to reach this crowning moment in their educational careers and we want to make it special. As per the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education policy, all participants in our Commencement ceremony must have completed all graduation requirements prior to participating in Commencement activities. As such, it is our desire that they be given all the recognition they so rightfully deserve. In order to recognize all students during the ceremony, we will ask those attending the Commencement ceremony not to bring air horns, other artificial noise makers, or balloons to the ceremony. This is a formal ceremony, therefore, we have included a Commencement Ceremony etiquette for you to review and share with your guests prior to the ceremony. USD #259 Wichita Public Schools will utilize scanners and security personnel at all graduation ceremonies. Banned items will be confiscated and not returned. The clear bag policy will also be instituted at this event (please see clear bag policy flyer on Wichita North High School website). All spectators must have a ticket to enter the ceremony. Graduates will be given 15 tickets when they return their school items on May 11 or May 12 (checkout day for seniors & early graduates). We want this to be a wonderful day for our graduates so please help us maintain appropriate behavior for this formal ceremony.

Wichita North High School has a long standing tradition of celebrating Commencement in a formal manner. In order to assist in maintaining a dignified ceremony, students will not be permitted to alter their caps or gowns in any manner including, but not limited to, the writing of messages or application of designs on their caps or gowns. Graduates are permitted to only wear the stoles, cords, medals, and pins awarded by North High School and/or Wichita Public Schools. It is our hope, that by following these guidelines, this formal occasion will continue to be an event for all graduating seniors to remember.

In addition, we ask the parents/guardians of seniors, please encourage your students to attend school daily these final days of the 2025-2026 school year. Please discourage, condone, or excuse truancy. We ask students to push themselves to complete all academic requirements to the best of their ability. Remember, this is one of the many imprints that seniors will leave as a student at Wichita North High School and we want it to be a fantastic memory!

Lastly, I want to thank you for the support and cooperation you have given Wichita North High School staff members. It has been a wonderful year and I am looking forward to celebrating the accomplishments of The Class of 2025. It is our hope that Wichita North High School has contributed to the graduates lives in a positive and significant manner.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kristina Murray Principal

Parents, family, and friends of graduates are welcome and encouraged to attend the North High Commencement on May 14th. Attendees must have a ticket to enter – including all small children. 

15 tickets will be given to each graduate to distribute to family and friends. 

Students can request up; to 10 additional tickets by emailing cbartsch@usd259.net with their name, ID number, and names of the people the tickets are for. 

Seating in the arena is on a first come, first served basis. All persons entering Koch Arena will pass through district security. Items such as noise-makers, airhorns, etc. will be confiscated. The goal of the class of 2026 and the entire North High community is to honor each graduate and to continue the tradition of Respect, Integrity, Self-Discipline, and Empowerment that are our core values. 

Please note: While we will do our best to accommodate all requests, we cannot guarantee that additional tickets will be granted.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we celebrate this important milestone!

This activity will begin promptly at 9:00 am, Thursday, May 14th, at Koch Arena and will last approximately two hours. Student attendance at practice is mandatory.

Students should enter the Arena for practice Hillside street side of the building. Do not wear your cap and gown. Do bring the shoes you plan to wear if they have heels. Please sit on the chairs on the floor. 

Commencement Ceremony

Commencement will be held at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 14th at Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State University. Seniors need to arrive no later than 6:00 pm on the evening of May 14th! As per BOE Policy 1421, only those students meeting all graduation requirements (i.e. 23.0 credits) will be allowed to participate in the ceremony. Any senior who fails to meet a requirement will not be allowed to participate. Seniors will be entering the East Multi-purpose entrance doors on the backside of Koch Arena, be scanned, and will report to the “staging area”. Seniors will be reminded at practice of where to enter the arena and the staging area. USD #259 security personnel will start allowing guests to enter the Arena for scanning beginning at 5:30 pm. All guests will need a ticket to enter. Tickets will be given to graduates as they return school items on May 11 and May 12.

Parking

Please park in the Koch Arena parking lot or designated areas. Parking on side streets or in other business parking lots is not recommended. Handicap parking is available near the Arena entrance. We want all of our graduating Seniors, North staff, parents, and guests to be safe.

Commencement Photos

An arrangement has been made for a professional photographer from GradImages to photograph

our students as they cross the stage and then another photo taken as they pose in front of a backdrop. Each graduate will receive a small color proof with an opportunity to order the pictures. Flyers will be distributed to seniors as soon as we have them available. Parents and/ or other guests in the audience will not be allowed on stage, on the floor area, or in the graduates seating area to take photos.

Commencement Program & Livestream Information

Graduates will be given 3 printed Commencement programs for their families. All other guests will be able to access the Commencement program through the QR code on the Commencement ticket or at the Koch Arena entrance. The program will be active beginning May 14th.

Graduates and staff will also receive a program for themselves the night of the ceremony!

Live Stream

Arrangements have been made to have a professional production company, Douglas Event Solutions, be present at the graduation ceremony. A link to a livestream of the ceremony will be provided prior to the ceremony. More details will be provided to graduates when available.

Cap . . .

It is to be worn with the deep part on back of the head and worn level. If cap is correct in size, it should be worn about an inch above the eyebrows. The tassel is worn on the right side front.

No writing of messages, application of designs, etc. on the cap.

Gowns. . .

Gowns will need to be pressed or steamed before they are worn. Please make sure to place something between the garment and the iron before pressing out wrinkles. The gown is very delicate and will burn. Also, rain can cause the color in the gown to stain your clothes so be aware. No writing of message, application of designs, etc. on the gown. ONLY approved

Wichita North High School or district provided cords, stoles, ribbons, etc. may be worn with the gown.

Graduating Students…..

Male students will be asked to remove their cap only during the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. We ask that graduates wear nice attire under the gown (i.e. shoes, pants, dresses or skirts, dress shirt, etc).

Adornments . . .

Honor cords and stoles may be worn as approved by administration. 

No additional decoration or modifications to the approved cap and gown are permitted. 

The only exception is for Indigenous regalia pre-approved by the district per state statute.

Gowns were distributed in March and are yours to keep. Take it out of the shipping package and hang your gown up as soon as you receive it. The gown may need to be pressed before you wear it. Do NOT use a hot iron. Follow the included instructions. 

General Information . . .

We are asking that all students and guests respect the Commencement ceremony as a formal event and dress accordingly. There should be no balloons, air-horns, confetti, silly string, beach balls, noisemakers, etc. brought to the ceremony.

 These will be issued the evening of graduation.

Each year in anticipation of their last day of school, some seniors attend end-of-the-year parties. It is unfortunate that the activities at some of these parties have resulted in a number of students coming to school or a school activity under-the-influence. Please understand that the last days of school are no different with respect to our school expectations, policies, and procedures.

Students who arrive at school or any school sponsored activity under the influence will be

subject to BOE and school policy. No make up of work missed, including tests, will be possible in these instances. We do not want any senior to miss the Commencement ceremony or senior activities. We want everyone to be safe and enjoy the end of the 2025-2026 school year. We know that you would prefer that such situations do not develop, so we ask that our students avoid any activity that could result in the marring of an otherwise fine record.

Commencement Ceremony Etiquette

This is a wonderful formal celebration for our graduates, their families, their friends, and Wichita North High School staff. It is a time of great joy and everyone wants to show how proud they are of the accomplishment. It is sometimes unfortunate that the celebration can be tarnished when a deserving family cannot hear the name of their student being read as they walk across the stage because another family is “drowning out” the name being recited. Therefore, parents and seniors, we ask you to share with family and friends the following:

·         Please do not bring air horns or other loud noisemakers. Also, please no balloons and no large signs as this may block people from viewing the ceremony. We ask that you leave them in the car until after the ceremony. Other banned items include: weapons, alcoholic beverages, knives, drugs, tobacco products, and smoking items. Items will be confiscated at the door.

·         No food or drink will be allowed in the venue; bottled water that is not open is allowed.

·         All graduates and guests will be scanned by BOE security at the entrance.

·         The clear bag policy will be in effect (see the school website for specific information).

·         This is a formal ceremony for our graduates and it is important that they be shown respect for their accomplishments.

·         Please no “silly string” or confetti.

·         Please listen to the program, clap when appropriate, and support the entire graduating Wichita North High School Class of 2025. This is their night to shine.

·         All graduates walking across the stage should maintain appropriate behavior.    This will be reviewed and discussed during rehearsal.

·         Please do not yell or scream after a name is read so that the next name can be heard by family

and friends.

·         We ask that all cell phones, electronic devices, etc. be put on silent during the ceremony so no disruptions occur.

·         Please do not try saving multiple seats or taping off large areas. Guests should arrive early enough to sit in the seats of their choice.

·         GradImages will be taking pictures of the ceremony and each graduate. Photos will be available for ordering from GradImages. Information on ordering will be given to seniors prior to the ceremony.

·         Douglas Event Solutions will be livestreaming the ceremony. Information will be provided when available.

·         Guests will not be permitted on the arena floor during the ceremony.

·         Please remember to keep conversations to a bare minimum during the ceremony. If you have small children and they become unsettled, please take them out of the arena.

·         At the end of the ceremony, graduates will process out of the Arena into the parking lot. Please discuss with your senior where you would like to meet them after the ceremony (i.e. specific place in the parking lot).

Thank you for your assistance in making the Wichita North High School graduation ceremony a respectable event that will formally honor our graduates and send a message that Wichita North High School is a premiere high school!

IMPORTANT NOTICE

All spectators at USD 259 high school graduation ceremonies will be scanned at the entrance. All inappropriate items will be confiscated! Doors and scanning will begin at 5:30 pm.

Senior Finals will be taken on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12. Senior check out will take place on these two days in the library. All computers, books, and school property should be returned by no later than May 12 (seniors last final). All seniors will be expected to be at school for the breakfast, awards ceremony, and other festivities on May 13th.

Finals are mandatory for all seniors. Finals will be given on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12. There are no early finals. No exceptions!

Senior Checkout. Senior checkout happens after the senior’s last final on either May 11 or 12. The student will come to the library to turn in all necessary items and pick up their graduation tickets and commencement booklets.  

On May 11th and 12th, seniors will turn in their computers and charging cords. Seniors must have both their device and charger with them to receive a signature on their checkout form. If a student does not turn in the charging cord or the charger is broken, they will need to pay $30 to the bookkeeper for a replacement charger. The replacement cost of the computer is $616. The replacement fees must be paid by May 12th for the student to be able to participate in the graduation ceremony. If a device has been lost, or is believed to be stolen, the student or parent should come see Mr. Banuelos as soon as possible so it can be reported and handled before the check-in date. All broken devices must be reported to the STS, Mr. Banuelos, by May 8. 

All students who ordered & paid in full for their cap and gown or other senior memorabilia should have received their items by now. If not, please come to the CCC in D102G. For any other issues, please call our Josten’s representative, Brady Ayer, at 316-681-2000.

Students are required to wear a cap and gown in order to participate in the ceremony. Honor cords and stoles may be worn as approved by administration. No additional decoration or modifications to the approved cap and gown are permitted. The only exception is for Indigenous regalia pre-approved by the district per state statute. Gowns were distributed in March and are yours to keep. Take it out of the shipping package and hang your gown up as soon as you receive it. The gown may need to be pressed before you wear it. Do NOT use a hot iron. Follow the included instructions. 

Senior Breakfast Announcement

A school-sponsored Senior Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 9:00 AM in the North High School cafeteria. This event is open to seniors only, and breakfast will be provided free of charge.

Seniors are expected to dress in accordance with Wichita North High School’s dress code. Traditionally, students wear white or red attire, though this is not required. For example, females have often worn white dresses, pants, or skirts, and males have worn red shirts with dress pants.

Students should enter the building through the statue entrance. Entry will begin at 8:45 AM.

Upon completion of the breakfast, students will leave campus.

Student obligations will need to be cleared by Tuesday, May 12th, See the bookkeeper or registrar and double check with each teacher and the librarian, NOW!

Don’t forget to turn in your laptop and charger as well. Any student with an unpaid balance will not be able to participate ion the graduation ceremony. 

All transcripts are to be requested through Xello. You may contact the registrar or CCC office if you are unsure of the process.

🎓 Watch North High School's Class of 2026 Graduation LIVE! 🎥

Can’t attend in person? No worries!

You can watch the Wichita High School North Class of 2026 Graduation live by following the link below:

2026 Video Link

Celebrate this incredible milestone with us—no matter where you are! 🎉

View the North Class of 2026 Commencement Book 🎓

To view the Commencement Book for the Wichita North Class of 2026, please follow the link below:

2026 Commencement Book

Commencement Book will be available on May 14

The Commencement Book includes a full list of North High graduates, along with ceremony details, honors, and recognitions.

Celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 with us!