Announcements

Parkdale High School

Information for Graduating Seniors and Their Families

PROM

• • Saturday, May 17, 2025 at The Hotel at UMD, 7777 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
    • Time: 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
  • All guests must arrive no later than 9 p.m. - NO ADMISSION AFTER 9PM!
  • A valid ID is required for admission.
  • Pre-arrange transportation home no later than 11:00 p.m.

PROM TICKETS

• Tickets are $100 per person.
• Tickets will be sold March 18 - May 9th on MySchoolBucks OR with cash/money order in room 225 (McDonald) or 231 (McGowan)
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Guests who do not attend Parkdale must submit a permission slip for approval prior to purchasing a ticket. Please pick up the form in the front office starting on Tuesday, April 22. All guests must be at least in the 9th grade and under 21 years of age to attend. ID will be required for admittance. This form is due by May 5, 2025.

PROM ATTIRE

• The attire is formal.
• Tuxedos or suits are required and must include a jacket.
• No jeans or torn clothing allowed.
• Dress back may not be lower than the elbow when arms are down by the sides of the body.
• Dress may not be not low cut in the front.
• Dress may not have cut-outs exposing the body. Covering a cutout with fabric will not suffice unless the fabric is opaque and permanently sewn into the dress.
• Dress may not show private parts of the body.

Dress slits must be no higher than mid-thigh.  

GRADUATION PARTICIPATION/BEHAVIOR

Participation in the graduation ceremony is not a right, but a privilege. Students must meet all high school graduation requirements as stated in the AP 5161.3 . If a student has not been certified to graduate and has not successfully completed all requirements, they can not participate in the graduation ceremony. A student cannot participate in the graduation ceremony if he/she has not fulfilled their financial obligations. Please be sure to verify all obligations prior to graduation rehearsal. The school has the right to withhold the diploma until a later date should there be any inappropriate behavior during the graduation ceremony.

CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES

• All seniors must participate in a mandatory check-out. This final process is to make sure that all school issued items are returned, all graduation requirements are met, there are no financial obligations and the professional school counselor gives the final clearance for graduation.
• Students' last names ending in (A-J) will report to the small gym at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27.
• Students' last names ending in (K-Z) will report to the small gym at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27.
• Please only report at your designated time.
• Failure to participate can forfeit participation in graduation.

GRADUATION REHEARSAL

• Mandatory Graduation rehearsal will be on Wednesday, May 28 & Thursday, May 29, 2025
• Rehearsal is from 7:45 to 1:00. All graduates must report to the Big Gym at 7:45 a.m.
• Immediately following rehearsal on Thursday, each graduate will receive their cap/gown packages and tickets .
• We WILL NOT distribute cap/gowns/tickets early for any reason.
• We suggest you do not schedule work or any other appointments during this time.
• No Senior may participate in the graduation ceremony unless he or she has participated in BOTH rehearsals.

GRADUATION DRESS CODE

• Solid, dark-colored, full-length pants.
• Solid colored shirts (especially if they are visible beyond the graduation regalia).
• Dress and skirt length should not exceed beyond the regalia, but longer lengths are understood for religious or medical reasons.
• In general, colored patterns should not be visible through the regalia.
• Shoes should also be dark and solid in color, as well as comfortable and safe for walking

(e.g. safe heel height). No boots, sneakers, slippers, flip flops, slides, crocs, sweat pants and other athletic attire.

There should be no decorations or other items affixed to your cap or gown before or during the ceremony.

Graduates are not permitted to bring flowers, purses, bags, keys, cameras or other items onto the arena floor. Cell phone use is prohibited on the arena floor or stage.

HONOR GRADUATES CORDS/STOLES/MEDALS

• Honor graduates are identified by school chartered honor societies only.
• Students who qualify will receive cords, stoles or medals from their organization sponsor and wear them at graduation. These cords, stoles and medals recognize excellence and high academic achievement. All organizations will adhere to national guidelines and county graduation cords, stoles and medals requirements.
• Students may only wear cords, stoles and medals provided by their Parkdale HS chartered honor society sponsor.
• The National Honor Society of High School Scholars is not a PGCPS chartered organization.
• Athletic and non-academic stoles, cords and medals are not permitted.
• No pins are permitted on the stole or gown.
• Graduates are allowed to only wear 5 cords, 1 stole (provided in your package) and 1 medal.

GRADUATION CEREMONY

• Graduation is Monday, June 2 at 9 a.m. at the University of Maryland Xfinity Center.
• Graduates should report at 7:30 a.m. The time allotted for the ceremony is 1.5 hours.
• Live Streaming will be available. ( The link will be provided prior to the ceremony.)

GRADUATION TICKETS

• Graduation tickets will be distributed after the mandatory rehearsal on Thursday, May 29.
• Each graduate receives 6 tickets. Failure to attend rehearsal will forfeit your tickets.
• Anyone 2 years or older requires a ticket for admittance.
• Tickets have no monetary value and should not be sold.

DIRECTIONS to GRADUATION

FROM BALTIMORE AND POINTS NORTH

• Take I-95 South to Washington, D.C.'s Capital Beltway (I-495 West).
• Take Exit 27 and then follow signs to Exit 25 (U.S. 1 South toward College Park).
• Proceed approximately one mile south on Route 1; take the exit for 193 West (University Boulevard). ●

At the first light, turn left onto Paint Branch Drive.

FROM VIRGINIA AND POINTS SOUTH

• Take I-95 North to Washington, D.C.'s Capital Beltway (I-495).
• Continue north on I-95/I-495 toward Baltimore.
• Take Exit 25 (U.S. 1 South toward College Park).
• Proceed approximately one mile south on Route 1; take the exit for 193 West (University Boulevard). ●

At the first light, turn left onto Paint Branch Drive.

• The XFINITY Center will be on your right.

GENERAL PARKING

All graduates should enter the Xfinity Center through Gate D. Parking is only permitted in lots 9b, 9c, 11b, 11c, TTG, and the Paint Branch visitor lot.

GUESTS REQUIRING ADA SEATING

Park in the Terrapin Trail Garage~ Enter through Gate E, on the 2nd level is available for the elderly, disabled no special permit is required. Accessible seating is available at the top of sections 120/121.

BAG SEARCH

Everyone who enters the arena is subject to a bag search and wanding. Bags larger than 8x11x12 are prohibited.

DECORUM

We wish the ceremony to be dignified and respectful. Students may not decorate their caps or gowns. Balloons, inflatable items, and noise -makers are strictly prohibited by both graduates and guests.

DIPLOMA PICK UP AFTER GRADUATION

Graduates should pick up their diploma in the tunnel within 30 minutes of the recessional. Graduates will not be permitted to re-enter the arena once they exit to pick up their diploma. All graduates should meet their parents in the parking area.

The school has the right to withhold the diploma until a later date should a student engage in any inappropriate behavior during the ceremony.

Graduates who have chosen not to participate in the graduation ceremony may pick up their diplomas in the Guidance Office after June 3.

GRADUATION PICTURES

Pictures will be taken of the graduates by Lifetouch during the ceremony. Information on how to access photos is forthcoming.

**** Graduation details are subject to change.****

Greeting Parents and all Stakeholders:

Welcome to the wonderful month of April! As Spring brings with it a change in weather and landscaping, we would like to share a change in our dismissal policy procedure.

Parkdale is designated as an early school, which means we begin and dismiss prior to many other schools.  It is imperative that our buses leave on time and in an expeditious manner as the same buses leaving Parkdale must also pick-up students from other schools. Consequently, if the buses are late leaving Parkdale the drivers can not make up for that delay and subsequently all other schools’ dismissal will be late because of Parkdale.

We have been experiencing increased traffic congestion around our school during drop-off and pick-up times. To ensure the safety of our students and improve traffic flow, we are implementing a change to our traffic pattern effective April 1, 2025.

We will stop all movement of personal vehicles between 2:05 pm and 2:25pm. This will ensure the safety of our students as they board their buses. We ask that you be mindful of not blocking the buses as they enter school property.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we implement these adjustments. Hopefully, you can  understand how and why we must make our students’ safety our priority. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.