4-30-2023 8:24pm

Important information for BAHS graduation

John Dobberstein Editor

BAPS photo

Source: Broken Arrow Public Schools

Broken Arrow High School’s senior class will celebrate their graduation at the BOK Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23. Project Graduation will take place at Broken Arrow High School after the ceremony.

The following is important information about the 2023 BAHS graduation for Broken Arrow students, parents and patrons.

Rehearsal

All graduating seniors will attend a rehearsal at the BOK Center during the school day on May 23. Graduates who attend Broken Arrow Options Academy will be bused from their site directly to the BOK Center. All other seniors should report to Tiger Fieldhouse at 8:30 a.m. on May 23. Students will receive instructions, along with a wristband that will serve as their admission to the graduation ceremony and to Project Graduation. Buses will depart for the BOK Center at 10 a.m. and will return at 1:30 p.m. Graduates will be released for the remainder of the day and should make plans to return to the BOK Center by 5:30 p.m. for the graduation ceremony.

Ceremony Information

Doors will open at 5 p.m.
Seating is first come, first served. Guests are asked to be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. for a 7 p.m. start time.
Graduates should report to their designated area at the BOK Center no later than 5:30 p.m.
Items that could be considered a distraction to the graduation ceremony such as inflatables or noise makers are not allowed inside the BOK Center.
There will be a security check of bags and personal belongings as patrons enter. (Read information about BOK's bag policy)
Cameras are permitted.
Those not able to attend the ceremony can view the event live online via ArrowVision.tv or thedistrict’s YouTube channel.
Anyone taking the BA Expressway into downtown should expect significant delays that will be even worse during peak travel times.
Because there is not dedicated parking for the BOK Center and there may be several events taking place on the evening of graduation, we encourage attendees to allow ample time to park and arrive for graduation.
There are several parking facilities located near the BOK Center. Most of these facilities will charge a fee for parking which is generally around $8 for the entire evening. Also, after 5 p.m., all on-street metered parking is free. Visit BOK Center FAQ's web page for general parking questions.

Appropriate Dress for Graduates

Graduates should bring all parts of their graduation attire (stole, honor stoles, etc.) including their mortarboard WITHOUT decorations and their tassel on May 23. Graduates must follow the school dress code underneath their graduation gown.

Graduates may only wear hoods, stoles, cords, pins or medals that were earned while they were a student at Broken Arrow and were presented to them by a recognized curricular club or organization at Broken Arrow, Tulsa Technology Center, Tulsa Community College, other higher education school, or Broken Arrow Public Schools.

Pre-Approved Stoles/Cords

National Honor Society Stole - light blue with “NHS” on front
Top 10% - Long Gold Stole
Top 3% - Long White Stole
Tulsa Tech National Honor Society – Purple and silver stole issued by Tulsa Tech
Tiger Challenge - Black & Gold mixed cord (will be one cord with both colors)

Per BAPS secondary handbook, special circumstances such as cultural clothing must be approved by a principal. Any student graduate at any Broken Arrow High School campus who wishes to represent their tribal, religious or ethnic heritage during the ceremony must follow the below approval process.

Complete and submit this application (one of the items is a picture of the requested regalia)
If requesting to wear Native American regalia, the Indian Education Coordinator, will schedule time to meet with students. The Indian Education Coordinator will inform the student in writing of approval status.
If requesting to wear something OTHER than Native American regalia, the high school principal will schedule a time to meet with students to discuss the request.
Site principal will inform the student in writing of approval status.

Please refer to the Graduation Regalia Standards and Regulations for more information.

How to Wear Graduation Regalia

Wear your mortarboard (cap) so the point is in the front, about one inch above the eyebrows. It should be level and not slanted, and your tassel should be placed on the right side.
Gold BA Stole should be worn so that the BA is in the center of your chest. The seams should be atop your shoulders on both sides. It should hang evenly in the back. This should be put on first before any other stoles or cords.
National Honor Society Stole (light blue) should be worn on top of your Gold BA stole.
Academic Honor Stoles (Top 3% and 10%) should be worn with the two sides parallel to each other and both sides should fall evenly down the outside of your gown. These should be worn on top of your NHS Stole, or if you have no NHS stole, they should be worn on top of your BA Gold Stole.
Tiger Challenge and Technical Honor Society stole should be worn on top of all of the above.
Honor Cords should fall evenly on both sides down the outside of your gown. Pin the cord in place with a safety pin in the back at right below the neckline to ensure that it doesn’t slip or fall off.

Post Ceremony Graduation

Project Graduation will be held after the graduation ceremony on May 23 at Broken Arrow High School. Students must participate in the graduation ceremony and be wearing their graduation wristband to attend. They will be excused from school on Wednesday, May 24. Admission will take place from 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the gym lobby, and students will be released at 2 a.m. Food and activities will be provided.

If you have questions or experience any issues, please contact Christian Welborn at cwelborn@baschools.org.