Paris, Tenn.–Graduation ceremonies for the Henry County High School Class of 2026 will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, and Principal Michele Webb has issued information for graduates and their families.
A Livestream of the HCHS Graduation Ceremony will be available through HenryCountyNow.com. This information will be posted on our Facebook page as well. A person does not have to have a Facebook page to access our page. It can be found by going to Facebook and finding the page (Henry County High School — Paris, Tennessee).
GRADUATES ON THE DAY OF GRADUATION:
Graduation Practice Schedule:
**8:15 am: Eligible graduates are to arrive on campus and check in at the gym. Regular school attire should be worn. NOTE: In order to walk at graduation, students must attend graduation practice.
**From 8:15 am until approximately 11:30 am, the following activities will take place: Door Prizes (always lots of fun!), Graduation Instructions, Graduation walk-through.
NOTE: DO NOT wear your graduation attire to practice. Do NOT bring your cap and gown to practice. (We don’t want these to be messed up before the graduation ceremony.) Wear typical school-appropriate clothes to practice. It will likely be hot. Plan accordingly.
Arrival for Graduation:
**Graduates are to arrive appropriately dressed except for their caps and gowns. The gown should be carried in on a hanger and the cap in hand. The gown should be pressed/ironed and wrinkle-free upon arrival. Only academic regalia that is provided by the school (see list at bottom) is allowed and should also be pressed if needed. **Full graduation attire information can be found on the Class of 2026 Google Classroom, in parent emails, and in a handout given to seniors. Should you need help securing appropriate clothing, please contact us immediately and we’ll be happy to help.
**Graduates are to park at either TCAT or in the tennis court parking lot closest to Wilson Street. **Graduates are to arrive between 6:15-6:45 p.m.
**Graduates are to enter at the front entrance of the school.
**Upon entrance, graduates are to report to their assigned waiting classroom (to be told at graduation practice).
Graduates During the Ceremony:
**As they cross the stage, graduates will be presented their diploma covers as a picture is taken by The Paris Post-Intelligencer (available for purchase on their website after graduation). Graduates will then exit the stage and return to their seats.
**At the end of the ceremony, graduates will be led to move their tassels at one time and then will be led in the singing of the Alma Mater by the senior Madrigals.
**Graduates will have the opportunity to throw their caps at the end of the Alma Mater. Remaining caps will be collected by school personnel after the ceremony and taken to the school building. Caps can also be picked up at the office the following week.
NOTE: Prior to arrival, graduates should clearly write their name on the inside cardboard part of their caps for easier identification.
**After the ceremony ends, graduates are to return to the building quickly to retrieve their personal belongings and diplomas (in assigned room). They will enter at the E entrance.
**NOTE: No one other than graduates and school personnel will be permitted inside the school building, before or after the ceremony.
GUESTS ON THE DAY OF GRADUATION:
Guest Arrival:
**Guests may arrive no earlier than 5:30 pm.
**To make parking easier, guests should arrive in one vehicle if possible.
**No one will be allowed on campus to place or reserve seats, etc., prior to 3:30 pm. If anyone puts anything down to reserve seats prior to 3:30 pm, it will be removed.
**Entrance gates will be available at the main football ticket booth and behind the stadium.
**Areas available for parking: tennis court parking lot, the “strip” parking lot between the fieldhouse and band building, behind the stadium, the soccer/baseball/softball lot.
**A golf cart shuttle will run from the soccer/tennis court/”strip” parking lots for those who need assistance into the stadium.
Guest Seating:
**Seating will be available on the home and visitor sides of the stadium. Attendees may bring lawn chairs (no pointed bottoms) and sit in perimeter areas that are not blocked off. When claiming seating (whether in bleachers or in chairs), please keep your group as close together as possible to allow room for others.
Guests During the Ceremony:
**Restrooms will be available behind the stadium and at the Wellness Building.
**All guests are to be seated before the ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m.
**To allow for maximum visibility by all, guests are asked to remain at their seats during the ceremony unless going to/from the restroom. Children should not be allowed to roam freely.
**During the ceremony, please be mindful of noise levels so all may enjoy the ceremony and their graduate being recognized. Though held outside, the graduation ceremony is a formal event and should be attended in such a manner. We are excited to celebrate your child’s graduation with you, but everyone wants to hear their graduate’s name called. Please refrain from cheering until a time is given at the end of the ceremony to do so.
**NOTE: In the event of inclement weather, we would be more likely to delay the ceremony (by starting a bit later) rather than move inside. Should the event need to be moved indoors, a limited number of tickets will be given to each eligible graduate.
SPECTATORS AT HOME:
A Live Stream of the HCHS Graduation Ceremony will be available through HenryCountyNow.com. This information will be posted on our Facebook page as well. A person does not have to have a Facebook page to access our page. It can be found by going to Facebook and finding the page (Henry County High School — Paris, Tennessee).
Note: Student Google accounts will expire at the end of May. Students should make sure to download anything they wish to keep.
Photo: Chairs set up for the 2025 graduation. Forever Communications photo.