Graduation
The 60th Commencement from James B. Conant High School will be held at the NOW Arena located at 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. Parking is free and there are a number of ADA spots for those with special needs. Refer to this parking map for details. All guests will require a ticket upon admission. Each graduate will be given 8 tickets at the commencement rehearsal. All guests will be checked by security at the main entrance of the arena.
Graduates must report to their designated location, provided at rehearsal, promptly at 6:30 p.m. Graduates who arrive late will not be allowed to march in graduation.
The commencement ceremony will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. Only students who have fulfilled District 211 graduation requirements, or who are within 2 ¼ credits of the requirements, may march in the commencement ceremony.
The NOW Arena will not allow signs, balloons and/or noise makers to be brought into the arena. Flowers can be purchased at the venue.
The graduates who have purchased their caps and gowns and may keep them. If an emergency arises, replacement stoles, caps, and tassels are available at a cost of $10 each.
Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for the formality of the event. The stairs to the stage are steep and we encourage students to consider this when selecting shoes to wear. Students are not to bring corsages, purses, and/or flowers to the ceremony as there is no space for storage of those items. Any student needing support to obtain clothes or shoes for the ceremony is welcome to meet with their counselor or any administrator for assistance.
A professional photographer from VIP will take photos of students both prior to crossing the stage and as they receive their diplomas. Information regarding accessing photos and pricing will be sent prior to graduation.
The commencement ceremony lasts just over one hour. The distribution of diplomas absorbs most of the program time. In order for each student to be recognized and for their name to be heard, we ask for your cooperation by not applauding or recognizing individual graduates. We solicit your thoughtful consideration and will honor the class as a whole after all diplomas have been distributed. Any guest who disrupts the ceremony will be removed by the Hoffman Estates Police.
