Sunlake High School Class of 2025 Graduation Information

All senior students are invited to attend the annual Senior Breakfast that will be held on May 27, 2025 at The Bethany Center (18150 Bethany Center Dr.  Lutz, FL 33558 from 9AM-12PM. Students will be required to dress in business casual attire. This would include dress pants, dress shirt with tie, socks and dress shoes, specifically closed shoes (no sneakers, sandals, flip flops, etc) for boys. For girls, a dress or skirt and blouse or pant suit. Jeans, shorts, shirts without a collar, tennis shoes, and flip-flops will not be permitted and students will be sent home to change if they come to the event dressed in this manner.

Graduation Practice will be held on Thursday May 29, 2025 from 8:00AM – 10:00AM in the Sunlake High School gym. Attendance is MANDATORY for participation in graduation. Students should not plan on leaving until 10:00AM. Only students who properly checkout and attend graduation practice will be able to participate in the Graduation Ceremony or receive diplomas.  The administrator in charge of graduation (Mr. Elias) MUST review and approve any extenuating circumstances. Students must be dressed according to the Pasco County School District Dress Code. Students will be sent home to change if they are out of dress code and this may jeopardize their participation in graduation. Caps & Gowns are distributed at the completion of graduation practice.

This will take place right after graduation practice, Thursday May 29, 2025, on the football field. Senior students only, during school hours on campus.

The graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, June 6^th at 8:30PM. It will begin promptly at 8:30PM. Seniors are to report at 7:30PM to the University of South Florida Yuengling Center in Tampa in order to line up for the ceremony. Please follow the signs upon entering the University of South Florida Yuengling Center, as they will direct students and guests to the areas in which they should go. Students should enter at the Corral, which is to the left of Gate A or the Gate A Annex. There will be a livestream of the ceremony with the web address on the SLHS and Pasco County Schools website.

Dress Code for Graduates: Dress pants and dress shirt with tie, a dress or skirt and blouse or pantsuit are recommended attire. If wearing pants, wear matching/dark socks with dress shoes. No sneakers, sandals, flip flops, etc. are allowed. We recommend that students not wear high heels, as there will be a lot of walking and stair climbing. No visible “bulky” jewelry, scarves, ribbons, etc. are permitted. Only regalia (cords/sashes) that have been given to you by Sunlake High School can be worn at graduation. If you wear additional items, they will be collected and held until the end of the ceremony and can be picked up when you get your diploma.

Personal Items: Leave purses, cameras, and personal items with a parent or friend in the audience; they may not be taken in during the processional.  Flower leis  or corsages are NOT permitted.

Graduation Gowns: We have ordered all caps and gowns for students. Please carry your cap and gown into the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. We will not have extra gowns on hand so make sure that you bring yours to the ceremony. Gowns are to look like they did when received from the company. Nothing extra may be added to them.

Graduation Cap: The mortarboard (graduation cap) is to be worn flat with the tassel over the right eye.  Once the seniors are declared graduates, the tassel is moved to the left side in unison with the class. Mortarboards may be decorated in a tasteful manner so long as the decorations do not exceed the area of the top and do not hang down the sides. Ms. Spera, Coach Finan, and Mr. Elias are the adults who can approve decorations. We will not have extra caps or tassels on hand. Make sure that you bring yours to the ceremony. Failure to comply with the dress policy may result in the student not participating in the ceremony.

Failure to comply with the dress policy may result in the student not being permitted to participate in the ceremony. Security will do a visual search and wand of all of the graduates and any guests to the University of South Florida Yuengling Center.

Graduation is a momentous occasion not only for the seniors, but also for their parents, families, and friends.  For that reason, the ceremony is to be held with dignity and courtesy to others.  All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for the occasion, which includes walking across the stage.  All participants must comply with the Pasco County Student Code of Conduct. Inappropriate behavior will result in both students and parents/guardians having to meet with the school administration prior to receiving a diploma.

Improper noises and distractions will not be permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, noisemakers such as bullhorns, air horns, whistles, cowbells, and firecrackers, etc. Do NOT bring in beach balls, silly string, or any item that would be deemed inappropriate. We ask that you request family and friends to remain seated throughout the ceremony, except when it is appropriate to stand (during the Pledge of Allegiance, for example), as a courtesy to other graduates and their families and friends. No one, other than graduates and designated guests, is permitted in the seating area for graduates. Graduates will not be allowed to leave the ceremony once on the floor to go to the restroom, please make sure to go prior to lining up.

Anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not receive his/her diploma and/or will be turned over to appropriate law enforcement officials. As this is a School District of Pasco County event, alcohol will not be permitted inside of any of the areas in the University of South Florida Yuengling Center dedicated to the graduation ceremony.

Please be advised that the time of arrival for the graduation ceremony for students (7:30PM) will coincide with early afternoon/evening traffic that is very heavy based on the location of the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. Please plan appropriately when leaving your homes and give yourself more than enough time to arrive without incident. Once students and staff have left for the beginning of the ceremony, the students will not be permitted to enter into the seating area for graduates. This is University of South Florida Yuengling Center ’s security policy and will be strictly enforced. There is a $13.00 charge for parking and will be done by credit card only. There are parking areas throughout the areas around the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. Disabled parking is located at Gate A and Gate D, Parking Lot Area 22F.

• No weapons of any kind, no outside food or beverage, no backpacks or other large bags.
• No balloons or large signs.
• Personal bags must be smaller than 12”x12”x12”. These are subject to search upon entry.
• All cameras are permitted with the exception of professional cameras with larger lenses.

Seating is unlimited in the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. Tickets will not be necessary as a result. No one, other than graduates and designated guests, is permitted on the floor partitioned off on the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. Floor seating is only permitted for invited dignitaries, graduating seniors, band members, faculty and staff, and other invited guests. All of these people will have tickets in order to go to the floor and will be listed on pre-approved lists provided to the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. No one else is permitted on the floor of the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. Those who need handicapped seating would be advised to enter at Gate A, where there are elevators available. There is handicapped seating available throughout the Yuengling Center. There is also reserved seating for the hearing impaired. Upon entering the Yuengling Center, all people in attendance will be searched by security per Yuengling Center policy.

Gigante Productions (813-907-1078) will photograph each senior individually upon receiving his/her diploma and congratulations from the principal, as well as with their diplomas. Purchase of these photographs is optional. Gigante Productions will notify seniors via mail when the pictures are ready and all questions regarding these pictures should go to Gigante Productions. Please make sure that your address is correct with Sunlake High School, as that is the address that we will provide to Gigante Productions. Sunlake High School does not receive any of these pictures or information following graduation.

Diplomas will be distributed by alphabet in the same place you picked up your walking card. Students who have officially checked out will be able to receive their diplomas. Only students meeting the behavioral requirements at graduation will receive a diploma.

After receiving your diploma, please exit the University of South Florida Yuengling Center. We recommend having a pre-arranged meeting place set with your family.