Westlake Graduation: What You Need to Know

Fire up the Pomp and Circumstance, charge those cameras and smartphones and make sure Mom's got plenty of tissues, it's graduation time for the of 2012!

Commencement is at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.

Here's some key information for graduates -- and their families -- to know.

• The Baccalaureate, a non-denominational ceremony for graduates and their families, will be at 7 p.m. May 31 at the Performing Arts Center at the high school. Appropriate dress is required.
• Mandatory commencement practice starts at 8 a.m. June 1 at the high school gym. Breakfast will be served, followed by practice. Anyone who does not attend practice will not be allowed to be in the graduation ceremony.
• Graduates are being bused from Westlake High School to the Wolstein Center, and need to be at the high school gym by 1 p.m. June 2. Graduates who don't take the bus will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.
• Graduates are urged to only bring their cap and gown with them. There is no place to secure valuables at the ceremony.
• There are 623 spots available at the CSU Parking Services' South Garage, which is a pay lot. Family members with handicapped parking permits should park in the access drive on the north side of the Wolstein Center. The drive is accessed from Prospect Avenue. There are 26 parking spaces available there.
• Tickets will be distributed to graduates on June 1 to give out to their family members. The school will not give tickets to anyone other than the graduates or their parents.
• There is a dress code for graduates. No jeans, sneakers, shorts, sweats, sports jerseys, cut-offs, flip-flops or tank tops are allowed, and any graduate not dressed appropriately will not be allowed to participate. Appropriate clothing for girls is a dress or dress pants, and dress shoes or sandals. Appropriate clothing for boys is a dress shirt and tie, dark dress pants and dark dress shoes.
• Family members are asked to refrain from loud noises or other inappropriate behavior during the ceremony, so that all parents can hear their child's name being called.
• Graduates who don't participate in commencement may pick up their diplomas after 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, at the high school principal's office.