This page contains information important to seniors during their final year of high school It will be updated throughout the year.
Important Upcoming Dates
Posted March 5th, 2026
As we move into April and approach the many culminating events for seniors, we want to communicate important information to you. We want to honor the Class of 2026 in the best way, and this letter includes important dates and information about how we plan to do that.
April
April 18th – Prom
- 4:00 PM Grand March, Ashton Hill Farm (803 Vernon Valley RD Cedar Rapids, IA 52403)
- 7:00-10:00 PM Prom, Ashton Hill Farm (Tickets are $15 and need to be purchased online in Bound.)
- 11:00 PM – 2:30 AM Post Prom, AirFX (1100 N 18th Ave Hiawatha, IA 52233)
May
- 3rd – Senior Recognition Ceremony
- 1:00 PM, JHS East Gymnasium, Seniors arrive at 12:30 PM
- 4th – Senior Assembly
- 7:30 AM, Seniors report, location TBD
- 7:50 AM, Assembly begins
- 8th – All Edgenuity classes must be completed for seniors.
- 20th – Final Day of Classes for Seniors
- Last day to turn in CPR requirements for graduation
- 21st – All Senior financial obligations need to be settled
- 22nd – Rehearsal, seniors will be able to fill out their final transcript requests
- 1:30 PM – Commencement Rehearsal (cap & gown not worn), Alliant Energy Powerhouse
- 22nd – Commencement
- 6:00 PM, Doors open to public
- 6:30 PM, Seniors arrive
- 7:00 PM, Commencement begins
June
- Mid June – Final transcripts mailed to the college or location you specify during the graduation practice
Academic Progress Toward Graduation
- Midterm grades will be completed on April 6. Parents have a progress report included if their student currently has a D or F in any class. Please check your student’s most recent progress report and current grades in Infinite Campus. If teachers and counselors are contacting you, make sure you open all email, US mail, voicemail, etc. Additionally, contact your student’s teachers if you sense a problem or are unclear about their grade. Progress reports are emailed weekly during the term. You may also call your child’s counselor. In general, counsel your student against any letdown in effort or achievement during these last weeks. Attendance in every class is critical!
- CPR is required for graduation. If you have not met your CPR requirement for graduation, contact your counselor immediately.
- Seniors must pass their required class to participate in the ceremony and graduate. At minimum, it should be the goal of seniors to make sure they’re passing all classes by the end of April. All required classes must have passing grades by their last day of class on Wednesday, May 20. Seniors that have not met graduation requirements may remain at school until Wednesday, June 3 to earn their 2026 diploma, but they will not participate in the graduation ceremony.
Senior Recognition
Senior Recognition is Sunday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m. in the East Gym. Many members of the class will be honored with awards and/or scholarships that evening. An invitation will be sent via email to the parent/guardian of each senior being honored. A list of all students being recognized will also be posted on the Main Office window.
Senior Assembly
Senior Assembly is Monday, May 4th at 7:50 a.m. in the East Gym. Seniors are to arrive at 7:30 am with their cap, gown, and any medals that they received at Senior Recognition.
Senior Prom
Senior class representatives, Jefferson faculty, and the PTSA are excited to announce that Senior Prom is Saturday, April 18, 2025. To attend prom, all Jefferson students must meet the All School Eligibility requirements. All Jefferson students and their guests must be in good standing at Jefferson or their school. Please see the attached sheet that explains the all school eligibility requirements. On Monday, April 13, 2026 students will be able to check their eligibility status. There is an appeal process, and the students can access the appeal form via the all school eligibility spreadsheet. They can obtain more information from the main office, if they have any further questions.
Jefferson seniors are allowed to bring one guest and they must be a Jefferson student or a student outside of Jefferson who is 19 or younger. The only exception will be 20 year olds that are previous Jefferson graduates, who graduated in good standing. All guests who are not Jefferson students must be approved by the administration team by Thursday, April 9. If you are bringing a guest who is not a Jefferson student, you must plan to fill out the google form. Student IDs for Jefferson students must be presented at the door. Non-Jefferson students must present a Driver’s License or other form of ID at the door. Students should arrange for transportation at the conclusion of each event, all venues should be cleared within 15 minutes. The overview of the evening is listed below:
Grand March – – Ashton Hill Farm
3:30 pm – Students arrive and line-up
3:30 pm – Doors are open for family members.
4:00 pm – The event begins and the venue doors will be closed for the Grand March presentation – students are announced in front of the crowd in order of their arrival time. Doors close and students will no longer be admitted to be announced. Students must arrange transportation and be off the property within 15 minutes of the event ending.Â
OPEN time (5:00-7:00 pm) for seniors to accommodate Dinner Plans, Family Photos, etc.
Prom Dance – – Ashton Hill Farm
7:00-10:00 pm – Dance – Students must arrange transportation home within 15 minutes of the event ending. Read Photography will be at the dance to take formal pictures for those interested.
Post-Prom – – AirFX (1100 N 18th Ave, Hiawatha, IA 52233)
10:45 pm – The doors open.
11:00 pm – 2:00 am – Jumping is available
2:30 am – The event ends – Students must arrange for transportation home within 15 minutes of the event ending.
Preparing for Graduation
Caps and gowns, in addition to any invitations and announcements that were ordered, will be distributed as soon as they arrive as they are being shipped in the middle of April. They will be handed out in advisory on April 24, 2026. If you have NOT ordered your cap and gown, you must order online at www.highschool.herffjones.com or contact the Herff Jones office at 319-239-3487.
Seniors last scheduled day of class is Wednesday, May 20. All of the usual attendance requirements are in effect until this day. Please help us assure that seniors are in class each scheduled day. After May 22nd, seniors may stop in to pay a fee or return a book, for example, but they are not to be in the building to visit teachers or to see their friends who are still in school.
Graduation Ceremony
Rehearsal for the graduation ceremony will be held in the Alliant Energy Powerhouse, formerly known as US Cellular Center, on Friday, May 22 at 1:30 pm. Seniors do NOT need to wear their cap and gown. THIS PRACTICE EVENT IS REQUIRED.
Commencement is at 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 22 in the Alliant Energy Powerhouse. The doors open at 6:00 p.m. and seniors must arrive by 6:30 p.m.
Clothing, including shoes, worn under graduation gowns must be dressy. Generally speaking this means women should wear skirts/slacks and blouses or dresses and men should wear a nice shirt with dress pants. Denim jeans and athletic shoes are too casual and should not be worn. Graduates must climb stairs to reach and depart the stage so wear appropriate shoes. Corsages should not be worn and purses, cell phones, and cameras must be left with parents or friends prior to the ceremony. Graduates will not carry anything during the ceremony until they are handed their diploma cover on stage. Graduates cannot decorate their cap or gown. Graduates will keep their cap and gown after the ceremony.
Seniors will be given their diplomas after the ceremony. More specific directions on picking up one’s diploma will be provided at graduation rehearsal.
The graduation ceremony is a formal educational event, and graduates have always conducted themselves in a responsible, adult manner. We want this tradition to continue. Please join us in discouraging any activities that would reflect negatively on our graduates and Jefferson High School. No noise makers are to be used as the names are being read; families of those students would not be able to hear the name being called.
Family and friends will not be allowed on the event floor before, during, or after the ceremony. A professional photographer will take individual pictures of graduates after they cross the stage. Read Photography will send a letter with the details about purchasing pictures. Also, the commencement ceremony will be televised live on KCRG 9.2 if you want to record it.
Official Transcripts
15. Students who have already applied to a post-high school training program, college, or university have probably requested a preliminary transcript. After all of the graduates’ records are completed, the final transcript will be sent as needed upon request of the graduate. Seniors will be able to request final transcripts at graduation rehearsal on May 22nd. Admission applications usually will NOT be finalized until this transcript has been received.
Settling Financial Obligations
16. All financial obligations with the school must be settled with the bookkeeper by Thursday, May 21. Failure to complete all such obligations will result in the account being referred to a collection agency. In order to avoid this problem, make arrangements with the bookkeeper immediately at 319-558-2435 option 8, if you cannot settle the obligation by Thursday, May 21. Money owed to the athletic or music departments, parking tickets, textbooks, library books and fines, and other fees for which your child is responsible—for this and all previous years at Jefferson High school–must be paid by May 21. An updated financial statement for your child will be mailed the first part of May. Other financial obligations can occur after the above date such as unreturned books, tickets, etc.
Making Good Decisions
Finally, we offer a note of caution about potentially dangerous activities that may occur at the end of the year. Unfortunately, students are likely to be confronted with very difficult decisions in these next several weeks. There will be parties at hotels, in parks, or at homes where there is no adult supervision. Some of these gatherings may include the use of alcohol or other controlled substances. Making responsible decisions in these situations will be challenging for every young person involved. The school has zero responsibility for such proceedings, of course, but our faculty members want the best possible end-of-year experience for the members of the Class of 2026. We know that making such decisions is not new to these students—they have been facing similar challenges throughout high school. However, the prom and graduation seasons are unique for many reasons. We do not want car accidents, arrests, suspensions, or other upsetting occurrences to spoil the last weeks of a four-year experience at Jefferson. Therefore, we hope you will talk openly as a family about how you wish to respond to the many possibilities your student may encounter. Make practical decisions in advance that are consistent with your family’s values. We urge care, caution, and communication throughout the prom and graduation season.
Thank you for your continued support of Jefferson High School. Working with your children has been an absolute honor for our faculty and staff. This class has experienced tremendous success and we realize the critical roles that parents and guardians play in those achievements. For that we offer our appreciation and congratulations.
Recap of Important Senior Dates
| Saturday, April 18 – Prom, 7:00-11:00 PM |
| Sunday, May 3 – Senior Recognition, 1:00 PM |
| Monday, May 4 – Senior Assembly, 7:30 report time |
| Wednesday, May 20 – Final Day of Classes for Seniors |
| Wednesday, May 20 – Last day to turn in CPR Graduation Requirement |
| Thursday, May 21 – Financial obligations settled |
| Thursday, May 22 – Rehearsal (cap and gown NOT worn) |
| Thursday, May 22 – Commencement, 6:30 PM arrive |
| Friday, June 19 (approximately) – Final transcripts mailed |