Senior activities in full swing
By Sandy Walker
Albany High School seniors will be very busy during the next three weeks, with several activities planned during the time leading up to graduation.
Pictures should have already been turned in to class parent Tisha Wilkins for the senior slide show, including one baby picture, one elementary or junior high photo, and one senior picture from each senior.
“If for some reason they have not yet been turned in, they need to be given to me as soon as possible,” said Wilkins.
One baby picture per senior should also be delivered to The Albany News for the annual graduation section.
Tuesday, May 11
Pictures and bio information from each of the seniors needs to be turned in to The Albany News by Tuesday, May 11.
Monday, May 17
All seniors and the six junior ushers need to return their Project Graduation contract forms to the school office by Monday, May 17 in order to attend the all-night party. The contracts are available from the high school office and must be signed by both the student and their parent.
Friday, May 21
Caps and gowns will be delivered to the seniors.
Gowns will need to be removed from their bags and hung up and possibly steamed to remove wrinkles.
All National Honor Society and Future Farmers of America sashes, blood donation cords, and valedictorian and salutatorian collars will be loaned from the high school and given to the graduates before the Baccalaureate and Graduation ceremonies.
Saturday, May 22
The future graduates will meet up at the high school gym parking lot at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 22 to ride a bus to the Progressive Dinner.
The Fiesta meal will begin with appetizers including chips and dip at the first stop.
The second stop will be for the main course, and the third and final stop for the meal is for dessert and opening of the time capsules.
The time capsules were made when the local seniors were in the fourth grade and have been sealed since that time.
Parents of students who were not here in fourth grade can make a time capsule for their senior.
A capsule can be made using a Pringles can filled with notes from family, pictures, and childhood toys or objects.
Although parents are welcome to come to all the stops on the Progressive Dinner, typically all of the parents try and come to the capsule openings, according to Wilkins.
Wilkins said that invitations to the dinner will go out in the mail by the beginning of next week.
Graduation Week
The Baccalaureate service, combined this year with the First Baptist Church’s Senior Bible presentation, will be held on Sunday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the AHS auditorium.
Seniors should gather in the business ag room, which is Room 12 in the main hallway of the high school building, by 5:45 p.m. Group photos will be taken in the main gym prior to Baccalaureate.
After the service, a Coke float reception hosted by First Baptist Church will be held in the cafeteria, located in the junior high building.
Graduation Day
At 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 28, graduation practice is scheduled in the Albany High School gymnasium. Pictures will be taken at that time.
Students should bring their caps, gowns, and tassels to the practice. Stoles will be passed out before the pictures.
Graduation will be Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium.
A reception honoring the graduates will be held at the Whitney Theatre following the ceremony.
The reception is organized by the senior parents. The junior ushers, usherettes, and their parents serve and clean up afterwards, according to Wilkins.
Project Graduation
Project Graduation kicks off with all 2021 graduates and the junior class ushers and usherettes checking in at The Feed Store by 10:30 p.m. on Friday, May 28.
The senior class voted to stay in town for Project Graduation, and activities will take place at various Albany locations.
“The participants will need to bring a swimsuit and a towel,” said Wilkins. “We’ll be giving away different door prizes throughout the night, and finish up at the Feed Store at 5:30 a.m.”
