PONTIAC - By the end of the ceremony, the superintendent and school board president greeting graduating Pontiac Township High School students can find their pockets full of golf balls or stickers on their suits. | Schools find ways to keep ceremony respectful

"Every year, the class does something goofy," said principal Jon Kilgore. Right before they go on stage and greet administrators, students might slip something into their pockets.

"It's good-natured fun. It's light-hearted," said Kilgore, noting the practice doesn't disrupt the graduation ceremony or lessen the dignity of the event.

Some schools have similar innocent graduation traditions; others can sometimes get out of hand.

But all Pantagraph area school administrators contacted recently by The Pantagraph say they maintain a sense of dignity at the ceremonies that not only celebrate students' achievements, but mark an important milestone in every student's life.

In general, schools have similar rules when it comes to graduation etiquette.

Some examples: No disruptive behavior, such as tossing beach balls, blowing air horns, dancing or non-traditional handshakes; requests that applause and cheers be held to the end; and emphasizing that guest speakers, valedictorians and others deserve the attention of students, their families and friends.

The high school graduation season is well under way in Central Illinois with many ceremonies coming in the next two weeks. So far, schools report graduations have gone smoothly this year - and have in recent years.

That hasn't always been the case.

Two years ago, Galesburg High School received a lot of unwanted attention when administrators denied five students their diplomas because relatives and friends cheered too loudly during the graduation ceremony. It took two weeks before the diplomas were given to the students.

An area school superintendent recalled his "horrible" graduation ceremony at Illinois State University in 1980. The event included all students and was held outdoors on the football field at Hancock Stadium. Donald McHenry, a respected ISU alum who was United Nations ambassador for the U.S. at the time, was guest speaker.

"There was so much noise and so much rudeness, and mayhem, I couldn't hear a word of his speech," said Prairie Central School District Superintendent John Capasso. He said it was "humiliating and embarrassing" that someone who commanded the respect of world leaders was treated so rudely.

Capasso is quick to commend the changes ISU made to graduation ceremonies after that. Now, the ceremonies - held this year on May 8-9 - are indoors and involve individual colleges with smaller numbers of students. They are well-organized and respectful. He also fondly recalled his dignified ISU graduation when he earned his doctorate in 1993.

As superintendent of the Fairbury-based school district and other schools previously, Capasso hasn't had any problem with high school graduation ceremonies. Students have always been respectful, he said.

New graduates also appreciate orderly ceremonies. Alex Caldwell, a senior at LeRoy High School said he really enjoyed his school's ceremony on May 16.

"It seems they honor us very well and show a lot of respect for our accomplishments over the years," he said. Still, there was a little fun. After the ceremony, LeRoy grads let loose with some Silly String. "It lightened it up at the end, after the ceremony was serious," said Caldwell.

As Andrew Verdun can attest, Silly String has been a favorite at graduations for a while.

"At the end of the graduation ceremony everyone pulled the cans out and sprayed Silly String in the air causing an enormous mess," said Verdun, recalling his graduation from Pontiac's high school in 1997. "There was so much Silly String in the air you could hardly see inside the gymnasium."

More than a decade later, Verdun, a former military man who spent 25 months in Iraq and who now works with a private company supporting military intelligence in Kosovo, said he's still somewhat bothered by the fact that others had to clean up the mess.

That's a lesson to be learned, too, said PTHS Superintendent Leo Johnson.

"Something like this could happen at any graduation," said Johnson. "Those pranks are always a possibility. Someone else usually cleans up the mess. Hopefully they (students) feel guilty somewhere along the line."

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Graduation etiquette

- Students are expected to attend a rehearsal (if offered) before graduation.

- Parents and family members are expected to read and follow the graduation letter they receive before graduation that includes a code of conduct for the ceremonies.

- Many schools request that there be no applause or cheering until the ceremony is over.

- The ultimate rudeness is an extended cheer for one student so the next family cannot hear.

- Guest speakers, valedictorians and others have earned quiet attention.

- No inappropriate or disruptive behavior, such as verbal outbursts, dancing, gesturing, or non-traditional handshaking.

- Noisemakers, such as air horns are prohibited.

- Balloons, Silly String, inflatables, fireworks, etc. are prohibited.