Link to Senior Class Timeline

2024 Information

Seniors are encouraged to make appointments with School Counselors to review status for graduation.  Counselors do a review of every senior twice a year: once during the 1st semester and once in late February after second semester.  Senior status letters are mailed home to the address on file for all seniors not on track. A second senior status letter is mailed home to all seniors not on track prior to the end of 2nd semester.

Graduation Information:

Seniors should remember to turn in final transcript requests to Mrs. Haywood, our school registrar, by Friday, May 17th 2024. Her office is located in the guidance department.

Cap and Gown Pick-up is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 5/30. More information to come.  All debts must be paid in full before students can pick up their caps and gowns.  Only the student or relative can pick up the cap and gown.  Caps, tassels, and medallions can be purchased at this time as well. 
 
Graduation Practice will be Friday, 5/31 at 2:00pm at the UF O'Connell Center. Practice is mandatory for students participating in the graduation ceremony.
 
Graduation is scheduled for Saturday, June 1st at 2:00pm.  Seniors need to report to the O'Connell Center by 1:00pm.  Guests can enter at 1pm.  No banners, balloons, or noisemakers are allowed in the building and will be enforced by University of Florida staff. Bags will be searched upon entry as required by their policy.
 
Diplomas can be picked up by the student or relative starting on Monday, June 3rd from the school guidance department between the hours of 8 am - 3 pm.  *During the summer, schools are closed on Fridays. 

*Diplomas use the legal name on the birth certificate.  If you have had a legal name change, you MUST submit the proper paperwork from the courts before January of each year. Students are expected to verify the accuracy of their names on the list prior to graduation. Once students have signed the form to verify accurate spelling, any errors that lead to requests for ordering a corrected diploma will be at the cost of the child/family.

Senior Pictures

Stan Wilkinson, Inc. (SWI) is our photographer for our Senior Portraits.  Seniors should receive a reservation date and time in the mail.  If you do not receive one before school begins, you can contact them at 352-378-8411 or at info.swiphoto.com.  They are located at 3710 NW 51st Street, Suite B in Gainesville, Fl.

Make-up senior portraits will be on Monday, September 11th for any senior that was unable to do them in the summer. This is the final opportunity for senior portraits to be in the yearbook.

Senior cap and gown pictures are tentatively scheduled for Friday, December 8th. They will be taken during the school day in Hollinger Hall.

Graduation Senior Pictures

GradImages is the official photographer for our commencement. Proofs will be sent to your home and via email within three to five days after graduation. Pictures can be ordered online, by phone or by mail. Graduation Images can be contacted at 800-261-2576 or via email www.gradimages.com.

Grad Bash

Date: Tentatively April 13th

Time: Leave school at 4 pm and return the next morning at 4 am

Location: Universal Studios

*All student debts must be paid prior to students purchasing tickets. The school reserves the right to deny permission for the trip based on disciplinary history.

Ticket cost is TBD. Students may purchase tickets during lunch on 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month until all tickets are sold.  Only students classified as seniors at Eastside may purchase a Grad Bash ticket. We have 100 tickets available, 50 students per bus. Once tickets are purchased by the school, there are no refunds for the tickets.

Prom Information

Date: Saturday, May 11th
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00 pm
Location: Valley View, 26001 NW 122nd St. Alachua, FL 

Tickets go on sale in March.  Only classified Juniors and Seniors may purchase prom tickets.  Ticket prices start at $50.00 per ticket and rise $5.00 each week until Prom or sold out, whichever comes first.  Students can bring dates from other schools but they must be under the age of 21 and pre-approved by the school. Students may request a prom guest form from Mr. Coleman.  All parties MUST bring a picture ID for entrance into Prom.

Graduation Speech Tryouts

Date: Thursday, April 25th

Time: 3:00pm

Location: Hollinger Hall

Students interested in trying out for Graduation Speeches must sign up by Thursday, April 11th at 3pm.  The school reserves the right to deny participation based on school records. Once participation is verified, students will have until Monday, April 22nd to submit a copy of their speech to Ms. Currens.  All candidates will receive a rubric indicating speech requirements. Speeches should be all-encompassing of the senior class and Eastside High School.  We encourage you to have an adult listen to your speech prior to try-outs and provide feedback. Speeches do not have to be memorized at the time of tryouts but candidates should be ready to present them to a panel of judges.

Scholarships

Visit the Scholarship Page for more information. *Seniors should be researching scholarship opportunities continuously throughout the school year, starting as early as possible. Scholarship applications shared with the school are emailed to seniors via their school board email, thus it should be checked regularly.

Financial Aid Help

Seniors are given the opportunity to fill out their Bright Futures, State of Florida Financial Aid, and to sign up for the FAFSA Pin via their Social Studies (Major Program)/Foreign Language (IB) classes.

Our school guidance department hosts two Financial Aid Help Sessions in the evenings for seniors and their parents. At that time, we help families complete their FAFSA Form. School counselors and volunteers from college financial aid offices are present to offer support.  It is IMPORTANT to have filed your taxes prior to filling out your FAFSA information. We encourage you to file as early as possible. 

FAFSA--Federal aid that MUST be filed prior to any aid being awarded

The window to apply opens on October 1st of each year.  You should have your previous year's taxes filed as early as possible in order to file your FAFSA.  FAFSA is required for all federal aid including Bright Futures. Please go to Federal Student Aid for the FAFSA application.

Bright Futures Application

Senior Exams for the Spring

Exams are given during the normal class period and cannot be altered.  If seniors stay after exams, they MUST attend their normal class schedule. Senior exams will tentatively be from Tuesday, May 21 - Thursday, May 23.

Final Transcript Requests

Seniors must request a "final transcript" be sent to the school where they plan to enroll after high school. Transcripts are not automatically sent without a request. Transcript request forms must be submitted to Mrs. Haywood, our school registrar.