Graduation

Byron High School will host its 2027 Graduation Ceremony for this year's seniors on

Friday, May 28, 2027 at 7pm in the BHS Scheels Gymnasium.

Caps/Gowns

Byron High School partners with Jostens as our vendor for cap/gown (graduation) orders.

The Senior Informational Meeting with Jostens to order caps/gowns will be held on October 7, 2026 during Advisory. All students (including PSEO) are encouraged to attend to receive this ordering information. If students are unable to attend, informational packets will be available for pick up at the high school office.

Students are welcome to reuse/borrow older siblings or friends' caps/gowns to wear for the ceremony. Students would still need to order a new tassel.

Graduation caps, gowns and tassels will be distributed during our Decision Day, which will be May 7 during all lunch shifts. Students who are not available during these times should send an email to k aren.wetzstein@byron.k12.mn.us granting a friend/sibling permission to pick up your graduation items on their behalf or can stop in the counseling office after that date to pick up.

Graduation Ceremony

Graduation Honors

Magna Cum Laude:

A student who maintains a "weighted" cumulative grade point average of 3.83 or higher at the end of their senior year will be recognized at graduation as graduating magna cum laude.

Students graduating magna cum laude will have the option of wearing a stole at graduation, which signifies this option. More information will be sent to these students about stoles in May.

Cum Laude:

Students who maintain a "weighted" cumulative grade point average of at least 3.33 but less than 3.83 will be recognized as graduating cum laude. Students' names will be listed in the program noting this achievement.

Honors Diploma:

Students who complete the requirements to earn an Honors Diploma will also have an option to wear an Honors cord. Honors cord ordering will become available in May.

*The Magna Cum Laude stole and Honors Cord are the only district-approved stoles/cords allowed to be worn at graduation.

Graduation Clap Out & Practice

Graduation Clap Out (8am) & Practice (9:15am) are on Wednesday, May 26, 2027.

GRADUATION CLAP-OUT (8am)

All seniors are encouraged to participate in Clap Out. Seniors will clap out at the high school first before boarding the buses at 8:00am to walk through the High School, Community Education, Primary, Intermediate and Middle School buildings in their caps and gowns (leave tassels at home so they don't get lost!) while their younger peers and teachers cheer them on and recognize them for their accomplishments.

GRADUATION PRACTICE (9:15am)

Seniors will then return to the high school for Graduation Practice beginning at 9:15am. Practice should last about one hour. Those not wishing to participate in Clap Out should be at the high school and ready for graduation practice by 8:50am SHARP! Attendance at graduation practice is MANDATORY if participating in the graduation ceremony. Clap Out is optional, but highly recommended.

Graduation Speaker

Seniors interested in speaking at the Graduation Ceremony must be eligible and apply following the directions below. Only one senior will be selected to speak at graduation.

Eligibility

Graduating students interested in delivering the student commencement address must meet these criteria:

Be in good academic standing and eligible for graduation
Be in good attendance and behavior standing
Turn in the speaker application by April 1, 2027
Turn in 2 letters of recommendation by April 1, 2027
Commit to attend and participate in the May 28, 2027 commencement ceremony, *including graduation practice on May 26 at 9:15am.

Click here for the application/guidelines.

Senior Class Themes

Senior Class Trip

Every year we look forward to hosting our annual Senior Class Trip. This year it will be held on Friday, May 21, 2027 (Seniors Last Day). Seniors must have ALL academic work completed by the end of the day on Thursday, May 20th to be able to attend the trip. Any student who does not meet this deadline will forfeit their opportunity and cost to attend the trip. These students will be expected to report to the high school on the Flex Friday, May 21st to complete all final work.

Senior Decision Day

Seniors, we want to celebrate YOU! On Friday, May 7, during all lunch shifts, we'll be celebrating all that seniors have accomplished so far and where you will be headed after graduation. We encourage seniors to wear their post high school gear-tshirt/sweatshirt of your future college, school/military colors, job/apprenticeship program colors, hat, uniform, etc. We will have stations for you to visit, cookiesfor you to enjoy, music, fun and more!

Senior Emails & Google Drive

Senior Final Transcripts

In order to verify that you have met college admission enrollment requirements, you must have your final high school transcript, including date of graduation, submitted to the Office of Admissions after graduation.

Therefore, any senior who plans to attend college in the fall must log on to Parchment and order their final BHS transcript no later than May 28, 2027.

If college credit was earned through SMSU concurrent enrollment classes, RCTC or other colleges, you must request that the transcript from the college where the credit was earned be sent to your college to count as transfer credit. Make sure ALL college grades are on your college transcript before making college transcript requests.

Please note: SMSU has the option to "hold for grades" when requesting transcripts, but the request is only good for 30 days, so if the transcript is requested more than 30 days before grades are finalized, it will be canceled and you will not be informed. Thus, waiting until all grades are posted on your SMSU transcript is the best course of action.

The Parchment link and directions to order college transcripts are available on the Counseling Office web page, Counseling Office-Transcripts. Any questions regarding transcripts or scholarships are handled through the counseling office. The direct number is 507-624-0354.

All graduates will receive a copy of their final transcript in their graduation envelope for their records. Infinite Campus will be discontinued for graduates on July 1. Thereafter, transcript requests must be completed through Parchment. Student email and Google accounts will also be terminated by June 30. Graduates are strongly encouraged to transfer any Google drive documents and emails to their private accounts.

Senior Scholarship & Awards Night

Byron High School will be holding its annual Senior Scholarship & Awards Night Program on Wednesday, May 12, 2027 at 6pm at the high school. Seniors being awarded Academic and Military awards, along with local and non-local scholarships will be honored at this event. All students and families are welcome to attend.

Students who are receiving non-local scholarships and who wish to be recognized for their accomplishments during the awards ceremony and included in the graduation program, need to bring in proof of the award/scholarship (award/scholarship certificate, letter from the college/university/organization/military, etc). These outside award/scholarship verifications must be submitted to the high school counseling office no later than Friday, April 30, 2027, in order for programs to be printed.

RSVP notices will be given to students who are being awarded local scholarships, so that they know to be present. Please note that some of our local donors have stated that students must be present at the awards/scholarship program in order to receive the financial gift. If there are extenuating circumstances and you cannot attend the awards ceremony, please notify the counseling office by Wednesday, May 5, 2027 to allow us to notify the donor.

Any student who is given an RSVP needs to return the form and plan on attending the program or understand that the scholarship could be given to another applicant.

Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to a very special evening of celebrations.

Senior Yearbook Pictures

Hello Seniors! Please take a minute to fill out this FORM regarding your photo submissions for the 2026-2027 yearbook.

**You will also have a choice between your senior quote, a bucket list item or your favorite BHS memory.

Byron High School Senior Class Photo Guidelines:
Senior class photos will be used in the school yearbook and newspaper. Seniors typically get a variety of senior photos. There are expectations, however, on the photo submitted for the yearbook. These photos will be visible for years to come and should be classy and appropriate.

A typical senior class yearbook photo will include:
● Portrait style picture that is ideally waist level
● A clear view of the student’s face (the student is the main focus of the photo)
● Appropriate dress and attire
● No props
● Vertical jpg formatted photos

--Submit this FORM by Friday, April 9th--

Also, submit your baby pictures HERE by 3/19!

**Class of 2027 Senior Year Calendar**
DATE	EVENT
Sept 9/10, 2026	Senior Advisory Meetings with BHS Counselors. Slideshow presentation
Sept 21, 2026	Senior Individual Meetings begin. Students sign up in Counseling Office.
Oct 1, 2026	FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Application opens for students planning to attend technical, 2 year, or 4 year colleges
Oct 7, 2026	Senior Jostens Meeting during Advisory. Seniors receive graduation order info.
Oct 7, 2026	Financial Aid Meeting with UM-Rochester Financial Aid Representatives at 6pm in the PAC
Jan 13, 2027	Senior Advisory Meetings with BHS Counselors about local scholarship applications
Jan 14, 2027	Local Scholarship Application window OPENS - 8AM
Feb 12, 2027	Local Scholarship Application window CLOSES - 3PM
Apr 1, 2027	Senior Graduation Speaker Application deadline
Apr	Senior pictures for the yearbook are due to Mrs. Bordelon; Fill out google form
Apr 14, 2027	Senior meeting during Advisory to review upcoming events for graduation (PAC)
Apr 30, 2027	Deadline to turn in non-local scholarships to the Counseling Office for recognition for the Senior Scholarship & Awards Night
May 7, 2027	Senior Decision Day! We are celebrating seniors and their plans today during all three lunches in the MPR. Seniors will also pick up their graduation cap/gown.
May 12, 2027	Senior Scholarship & Awards Night; 6pm in the BHS Auditorium
May 21, 2027	Senior Class Trip
May 21, 2027	Seniors Last Day of School
May 26, 2027	Senior Clap Out at 8am (optional but highly recommended to participate)
May 26, 2027	Graduation Practice at 9:15am (Mandatory)
May 28, 2027	Graduation Ceremony; 7pm in the BHS Scheels Gymnasium

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