Welcome to James S. Rickards High School Senior Site

Rising 12th graders for the JSRHS Class of 2025, your Senior Year has begun!  Stay connected by constantly monitoring FOCUS, CANVAS, RHS website, and the REMIND group that has been set up just for you!

As we embark on your final chapter of high school, here are a few suggestions to ensure a successful senior year:

• Join the Class of 2025 Remind https://www.remind.com/join/rhsgrad25 or text 81010 with the message @rhsgrad25, to receive updates and stay connected.
• Take your senior pictures to secure your spot in the 2025 yearbook. Be on the lookout for mail from SWI.
• Make an appointment with your guidance counselor to ensure that you are on track to graduate.
• You MUST have a 2.0 GPA, 18 or 24 credits, pass the FSA and Algebra I EOC (receive a concordant score on the ACT/SAT) to graduate.
• You MUST have an overall unweighted GPA of 3.0 by the end of 1st semester to graduate with honors and be featured in the Tallahassee Democrat.
• Don't procrastinate. If you're having difficulty in your classes, speak with your teacher ASAP, to receive remediation.
• STUDY HARD and FINISH STRONG.

• COMMUNICATION

We will communicate important senior information using the following outlets – Remind App (see below), FOCUS, Senior Assemblies, Senior Website, and during morning and afternoon announcements. Seniors and their parents should both be on FOCUS and the Remind App, so important announcements are not missed.

To sign up for Remind, send the following text message @rhsgrad25 to 81010.

(Standard text message rates apply)

• DATES TO REMEMBER

Access the Senior Dates to Remember here 

• OBLIGATIONS

All obligations: senior fees, textbooks, lab fees, and Chromebooks must be turned in/paid for by Friday, May 16, 2025, to ensure issuance of diplomas.

• SENIOR FEES

Senior Fee is $120: Covers Graduation ceremony/rehearsal, Convocation, Senior Picnic, Senior Brunch, Graduation Expenses, Senior T-Shirt, and additional unforeseen charges, etc.)

Payment Dates: 1st (Sept. 30), 2nd (Oct. 31), 3rd (Dec. 2), 4th (Jan. 31)

Senior fees MUST be paid before paying for the senior trip.

Senior fees can be paid via money order, cash, or by check, made out to Rickards High School. After the deadline, we will only be accepting cash or money orders.

Cap & Gown Fee $42.50 + tax: 

• Visit www.herffjones.com to order your cap and gown along with other Class of 2025 paraphernalia.

GRADUATION

• GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Graduation is a privilege, not a right. To participate in graduation activities, seniors MUST meet all statutory, school board and school requirements.

Students should know their requirements and regularly monitor their progress toward earning a diploma. School counselors are available to assist students with planning for college and career readiness. Students can view an up-to-date report on their progress toward meeting graduation requirements in FOCUS.

• 24-25 GRADUATION TESTING REQUIREMENTS

Access the 24-25 Graduation Testing Requirements here.

• GRADUATION RECOGNITION

To be recognized as an honor graduate, students MUST have an unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher by the end of the 7th-semester report card (1st semester of their 12th grade year). Additionally, students may be recognized by the following organizations:

• AVID
• IB
• National Honor Society
• Health Academy

• GRADUATION ATTIRE

Dark-colored dress (hem shorter than gown), dark pants with a white or light-colored dress shirt and dark tie.

Black dress shoes/dress socks: If heels are worn-straps or covered heel is strongly encouraged. (NO mules, flip-flops, slides, sandals, or sneakers).

You MAY only wear the honor chords and stoles approved by the senior sponsors and Rickards Administration (AVID, IB, Honor Society, Health Academy).

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT DECORATE YOUR CAP or GOWN!

• Diploma Name Forms:

Diploma Name Forms are due this Friday, September 13, 2024, by 3 pm. Please email the completed form to satchellk@leonschools.net. Forms must be in PDF format. All other formats will be returned.

• Senior Parent Night:

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 @ 6 PM, Cafeteria

• 2025 Senior Trip  

The Senior Trip is being finalized and the details are listed below. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Hankerson at hankersone@leonschools.net. Thanks. 

Payment: Cash or Money Order (NO CHECKS) GoFan Deposit Link https://gofan.co/event/1721616?schoolId=FL11637 

Date: April 3-5, 2025 

Transportation $175 NON_REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT 

Lodging $60 

Grad Bash - Universal/Islands of Adventure $128 

Volcano Bay $32 

Andrettis Entertainment Center $45 includes a one-hour game card, one laser tag, 2 hours of bowling 

Golden Corral $20 

• Senior Fees

Your third installment of senior fees is due on December 2, 2024. 

• Cap & Gown

If you have not yet ordered your cap and gown, please do so by December 20, 2024, to avoid the $20 late fee.

Website: www.herffjones.com