Class of 2026 Graduation Information

Franklin Pierce High School

Class of 2026

Graduation Day

Saturday, June 6, 2026

10:00 am

Washington State Fair Events Center

Some important dates & upcoming deadlines . . .

January 31. FP Scholarships application window closes -- NOW EXTENDED TO February 20!!!!

January 31. Jostens extended priority deadline for ordering caps & gowns at the lower price

Feb. 2. Distinguished packets available from Ms. Bruinsma

Feb. 20. FP Scholarships application window closes

April 2. Jostens Delivery Day

April 3. 3^rd Quarter ends

April 13. Advisory High School & Beyond Plan Requirements due for all seniors

April 23-24. SBA Testing (3.5-hr late arrival for those not testing)

April 27-28, 30 & May 4. Senior Interviews

May 7. Distinguished packets due by 3 pm

The Senior Graduation PlannerThe Senior Graduation Planner provides an outline of important events and requirements every senior needs to know regarding graduation and what must be accomplished in order to walk across that stage. Click here for a downloadable file or see below for translatable text.

FPHS Senior Planner Class of 2026

Congratulations!

Information & Resources

Caps & Gowns

Cap and gown orders must be placed before December 10 to receive the best pricing; costs will increase after this deadline. To ensure your order is delivered to the school on Jostens Delivery Day (typically in April), you must order before March 15. If you miss the delivery day but have paid in full, your items may be picked up from Ms. Cawthra in the main office. If payment is still due, Jostens will retain your items until full payment is received, at which time they will be mailed to your home address.

Caps and gowns may be ordered quite late, when necessary, but other items, such as announcements may not be available. When ordering late, Jostens will let you know whether your package will be delivered to the school or to your home.

Our Josten’s representative is Rick Morton (253-210-0575), and orders can be placed at www.jostens.com. Rick and his staff are always very happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your orders with them.

Credit Audit / Senior Meeting

All seniors are required to meet with their counselor in the fall to review their graduation status and ensure they are on track for an on-time graduation. During this meeting, you will confirm remaining graduation requirements, discuss their post-secondary plans, identify any additional supports needed, and outline next steps for a successful transition after high school. If you or your parents have questions, please email your counselor:

Jaime Fineman-McKinney (A-E) jfineman-mckinney@fpschools.org

Letysha Plaskett-Rosario (F-L) lplaskett-rosario@fpschools.org

Aly Nelko (M-R) anelko@fpschools.org

JulieAnn Detweiler (S-Z) jdetweiler@fpschools.org

Parents and students are encouraged to monitor current grades and academic progress through Family Access in Qmlativ, available on the district website at www.fpschools.org under the “Families” menu. To receive login instructions, please ensure that a current parent or students email address is on file with our registrar, Ms. Davis (stdavis@fpschools.org | 253-298-3977).

Diplomas

Seniors will be emailed early in 2^nd semester to confirm the spelling and format of their names for their diplomas. This is your chance to ensure that we have your full legal name — including middle names and suffixes — listed and spelled correctly for your diplomas.

At graduation, students receive a diploma cover as they cross the stage. The official diploma) will be available for pickup from the main office beginning at 11 a.m. the Monday following graduation. Students must pick up and sign for their diplomas; we do not mail them out. Anyone picking up a diploma on behalf of a student must also show ID.

Final Grades and Transcripts

Final grades and transcripts are generally available 2-3 weeks after the last day of the school year (June 16). Report cards and final transcripts will be mailed at the end of June or beginning of July. Students who attending a post-secondary program that requires a final transcript will need to complete the online Transcript Request form before the end of July. A link to the transcript request form is available on the FPHS website (Student Services > Counseling Career Center). All transcripts must be requested using this form and not through individual counselors or other forms of communication (phone, email, etc.).

Financial Aid

To be considered for financial aid from post-secondary institutions, students must complete an application for financial aid through https://www.wsac.wa.gov/apply. Applications for the 2025-26 school year opened on October 1, 2025. Ms. Bruinsma, our College & Career Specialist, will host several work sessions to support families in completing these forms. Please check email and the parent newsletter for upcoming dates and times. For guidance on which application to complete, visit https://wsac.wa.gov/WASFAelig.

Fines and Fees

All fines and fees for lost textbooks, supplies, materials, technology (including laptops), etc., must be paid before graduation. The bookkeeper will take payments from parents between 8:00 am and 3 pm (closed for lunch from 1:30-2:30). Checks should be made payable to Franklin Pierce High School. Credit/Debit cards are also accepted.

FPHS Scholarship Application

Each year, Franklin Pierce students earn thousands of dollars in scholarships. Seniors are invited to complete the FPHS Scholarship Application, which highlights academic and extracurricular achievements.

This application is available on the FPHS website under Student Services > Scholarships (select the FPHS Scholarship tab). Applications open November 1, 2025, and close January 31, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered, and late applications will not be accepted. If you have questions, contact Ms. Aimee Bruinsma at abruinsma@fpschools.org.

Grad Parade

Seniors who are on track to graduate and have signed up to participate will travel to our four feeder elementary schools, as well as Ford Middle School, wearing their full graduation regalia to provide encouragement and inspiration to our elementary and middle school students. Our grad parade this year is scheduled for Thursday, June 4^th, from 10:45 – 12:15. Toward the end of the year, you will be asked to sign up for which of the four elementary schools you would like to visit. Any senior can participate in the graduation parade whether or not they attended an elementary school in our district.

Graduation Ceremony

Our 2025 Graduation Ceremony will take place at 10 am on June 6^th at the Washington State Fairgrounds. The formal ceremony lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes. Students are required to wear cap, gown, appropriate clothing and shoes. No ancillary materials (purse, phone, wallet, keys, etc.) are to accompany the graduate.

Graduation Programs

Graduation programs are distributed to graduates and their families at the graduation ceremony. The program is a nice keepsake that includes the order of the ceremony, a list of all members of the senior class, and a list of awards received by the students.

Awards received through the Franklin Pierce Scholarship Application, as well as honor cords and other awards given through FPHS, will automatically be listed in the Graduation Program. Students who receive scholarships outside those awarded through the Franklin Pierce Scholarship Application and wish to have that information included in the program must provide evidence of the award. Due to production deadlines, this information must be received by their counselor thirty days prior to the graduation ceremony.

Graduation Rehearsal

Students will do a walk-through rehearsal for graduation on Friday, June 5^th at 1 pm. At rehearsal, students will be able to choose their walking partners, practice walking across the stage, and make sure their names are pronounced correctly. Rehearsal attendance is mandatory for all students who wish to participate in the commencement exercise. The rehearsal lasts about one hour. Caps & gowns are not required for rehearsal.

Graduation Tickets

Each graduating senior receives six (6) free tickets from Franklin Pierce High School. To pick up their six complimentary tickets, seniors must have completed the senior checkout process and be on the walk list, which is published weekly. Students are required to sign for these tickets, and if these tickets are lost, they cannot be replaced.

Additional graduation tickets will be available for sale at a cost of $7 each. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning the day after Memorial Day — May 26, 2026.

Please help us by reminding friends and family in the audience that respectful behavior is an integral part of a successful ceremony, and that we request all friends and family remain seated during the ceremony.

Handicapped Seating Accommodations

Handicapped seating accommodations are generally handled by the venue; however, you may request handicapped seating accommodations in advance by contacting Ms. Cawthra at 253-298-3805 after Memorial Day. She will add you to the list we give the ushers. Please note: the fair allows only one additional person to sit with the person who requires seating accommodations.

Honor Cords

Honor cords are awarded to graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 and higher. These may be worn at other awards ceremonies, as well as graduation. Please note that students must be passing all their current semester classes to receive their honor cords.

Pictures*

Premium Pix Photography (https://premiumpixphotography.com/) is the official 2026 commencement photographer. They will have two photographers set up below the stage to take a picture of each student as they shake hands with the school board member who awards the diploma. Information about how to view and order these photos will be available when you pick up your diplomas after graduation.

Families will be able to take pictures before and after graduation. During the ceremony, all spectators need to stay seated. Please be considerate of the people behind you who also want to see their own students’ special moments.

*For reasons of safety, security and equity, privately hired photographers will not be permitted on the tarmac or allowed to move about in the grandstand.

Senior Walk List

Beginning Thursday after Spring Break, the Senior Walk List will be posted on the Main Office windows. This list includes all seniors who are currently on track to graduate, meaning they have met graduation pathway requirements and are passing all required courses at that time.

The list will be updated weekly to reflect any changes in student academic progress. The list is fluid; you may be on the list one week and then come off the list the next.

Please note that not being on the Senior Walk List may limit your ability to participate in certain senior activities, including receiving graduation tickets.

Senior Exit Interviews

The senior exit interview is a mandatory graduation requirement. Senior exit interviews this year are scheduled for April 27, 28, 30 and May 4. Students seeking distinguished status and eligibility for the Distinguished Foundation Scholarship may pick up information packets from Ms. Bruinsma’s office, beginning February 2^nd. Completed Distinguished Packets must be returned by 3 pm on May 7.

Students will be notified of their interview times in advance. Please schedule other obligations accordingly. If any conflicts exist, Ms. Bruinsma must be notified immediately (mbruinsma@fpschools.org). A senior interview cannot be scheduled until your advisor confirms all High School and Beyond Plan requirements are complete. Failure to show up for your assigned interview or rescheduling your interview during presentation week will result in ineligibility for a distinguished rating and may disqualify you from walking in the graduation ceremony. All missed deadlines will result in additional reflection assignment(s).

Senior Recognition Night

A formal ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 27^th, at 6:00 pm, to recognize 2026 scholarship recipients and Summa Cum Laude (GPA 3.9 or higher) academic scholars. Students who qualify for this recognition will receive invitations from their counselors and are encouraged to invite family members to join them at the event.

Senior Checkout

Seniors must complete a checkout process to be eligible to walk in the commencement ceremony. To complete a successful checkout, you must (1) be passing all classes required per your graduation plan; (2) have successfully completed all Cardinal Connections and senior interview requirements; and (3) met all Washington State graduation credit and testing requirements on time.

Your last stop will be with your counselor to approve your check-out card and verify your graduation status. You will receive your check-out form in Cardinal Connections.

Some Dates to Remember

Dates to Remember 2025-2026