Seniors

Graduation Information

CAP & GOWN DISTRIBUTION: Thursday, April 16, 2026, during lunch & after school until 3:45 pm in the Quad 

1. Graduates must purchase a cap and gown from Jostens as a memento.
2. Graduates should have already made arrangements to purchase a cap and gown unit.  If seniors have not, they must contact Jostens at 858-486-2020.
3. Seniors must show a student ID or driver’s license to pick up their caps and gowns.
4. The standard cap/gown is maroon with a maroon/silver tassel.
5. CSF Life Members qualify to wear a white cap/gown. Contact Abby Barrantes or Amy Bailey, abbybarrantes@vistausd.org or amybailey@vistausd.org.
6. IB Diploma Candidates qualify to wear a silver cap/gown.  Contact Melissa Neumann, melissaneumann@vistausd.org.
7. Graduates who qualify to wear approved sashes/cords may do so.
8. If you cannot pick up your cap and gown on April 16th, you can pick it up in the front office from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm after that date.

GRADUATION PRACTICE: Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 1:30-2:30 pm

1. Graduation practice is mandatory.
2. Graduates who fail to attend this practice will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony.  No exceptions!
3. Graduates must arrive in the GYM and check in by 1:30 pm sharp.  Only graduates are allowed at practice -- friends are not allowed to attend. Parking is in the student parking lot.

GRADUATION CEREMONY—SENIOR PROCEDURES: Thursday, June 4, 2026

1. Frontline Arena, 3475 Hero Drive, Oceanside, CA (760) 512-8000
2. All graduates must bring a picture ID (driver’s license or school ID) when they check in.
3. Graduates will follow signs to park in lot B, the dirt lot beyond/west of Frontwave Arena. See the map below for more information. Follow the red arrows to the (X) student entrance. 

4. Graduates will walk from the dirt lot B towards the arena and stay to the right of the arena.
5. Use the restroom along the walkway next to the Frontwave Arena BEFORE entering and going through security. Follow the signs to the restrooms.
6. Graduates will enter from the south side of the arena along Toyon Drive between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm.  Follow the signs. Once graduates have passed through Frontwave security, they cannot leave.
7. If graduates are not in line by the beginning of the processional, they will miss the ceremony.  Graduates must be in the loading dock area no later than 4:30 pm. Graduates will be standing for up to 2 hours prior to the ceremony beginning, so wear comfortable shoes. 
8. Graduates are not allowed to bring cameras, cell phones, or video cameras to the ceremony. Graduates should leave their valuables (including wallets, purses, etc.) with parents or locked in their cars; Frontwave is not responsible for any valuables left in your vehicles. Parents will not be able to hand the graduates anything until after the ceremony. We have no provision for securing valuables and are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Graduates will be screened by Frontwave Security for inappropriate and unacceptable items. Any student with these items will be pulled from the line and may not be able to participate in graduation.  
9. Graduates under the influence of drugs/alcohol will be pulled from the ceremony and sent home.  Rancho Buena Vista reserves the right to conduct an alcohol breathalyzer test upon entrance to the graduation ceremony. 
10. Graduates should “dress up” for the graduation ceremony.  Graduates who are inappropriately dressed will not participate in RBV’s graduation ceremony.  
11. All graduates are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes.  Graduates will be standing for up to 2 hours prior to the ceremony beginning, so wear comfortable shoes.
12. Graduates may wear up to five leis. Flower leis or kukui nut leis only, no candy leis inside the venue. No money or candy leis are allowed before or during the ceremony. Leis need to be worn by graduates when they arrive at the arena for security check-in.

• RBV PTSA will be selling flower leis and kukui nut leis; order information can be found on the flyer at the end of this packet. The deadline is May 15 to order. 
  • Preordered leis will be available for pick up in the loading dock area after graduates go through security. 

GRADUATION CEREMONY: FAMILY PARKING INFORMATION

1. Parking in the Frontwave Arena for guests and disabled parking is first-come, first-served.

GRADUATION CEREMONY & FAMILY/GUEST SEATING AT THE FRONTWAVE ARENA

1. The arena doors will open at 4:30 pm.
2. Limited ADA seating with one family member. First-come, first-served.
3. All graduates are guaranteed 12 total guests to attend the ceremony.
4. Tickets will be distributed through the AXS app. You must download the AXS app, including your family and friends, in order to transfer your tickets to them.
5. Only guests under two years of age may sit on their parents’ laps and do not require a ticket. Children ages 2 and older are required to use one of the 12 tickets allotted to the graduate.

GRADUATION PHOTOS/VIDEO/LIVE STREAMING

1. The graduation ceremony may be live-streamed and can be accessed from the RBV website https://rbv.vistausd.org/
2. Photographs of each graduate receiving his/her/their diploma will be taken during the ceremony and mailed to the graduates from Studio 94.

MISCELLANEOUS GRADUATION REMINDERS FOR PARENTS AND FRIENDS

1. Food, beverages, balloons, air horns, coolers, or airplane messages are NOT allowed in the stadium. Clear-sealed water bottles are permitted.
2. Frontwave Arena concessions will be opened, with no alcohol sales.  
3. All graduates have earned the right to have their names publicly read and heard by their family and friends.  Excessive cheering that drowns out the next student’s name from being heard is strongly discouraged.

RBV Graduation 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions

What day is graduation?  What time does it start?  How long is the graduation ceremony?

Graduation is Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 5:30 pm.  The stadium gates will open at 4:30 pm.  Generally,  the ceremony lasts about 60 minutes.

What can I bring to graduation?  Is it okay to bring bleacher chairs/pads, drinks, or food?

You may bring bleacher chairs/pads and sealed water bottles only.  No other outside food or drink is allowed in Frontwave Arena. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at Frontwave Arena.

What items are prohibited?

Flyover signs, food, balloons, umbrellas, coolers, horns, and other noise-making gadgets are prohibited. 

 How do we get a cap and gown for our graduates to wear at graduation?

Graduates can purchase a cap and gown from Jostens. Contact Jostens at 858-486-2020 if you need to obtain a cap and gown for your student.  

May we order a cap and gown from a company other than Jostens?

No. Jostens is the only company RBV allows at graduation ceremonies.

What if I have a cap and gown from a previous RBV graduate?  Can I use that gown?

Yes, but the cap and gown must be approved by the RBV administration. Please bring it to the office before April 16th  for approval by the Assistant Principal. Colors are silver for IB Diploma Candidates, white for CSF, and maroon for all other graduates. You will need to buy a new tassel if you want one with your graduation year.

How many tickets does each student get?  Can I get more tickets?

Each graduate is allowed only 12 tickets. While the school will not issue any additional tickets, graduates not using all of their tickets may give any extras to their friends.  

What kind of decorative wear (leis, hats, and cords) is appropriate for my student? 

The class of 2026 is allowed to decorate their graduation cap.  In addition, each student may wear a total of FIVE flower lei or kukui nut lei and all earned RBV-approved sashes or cords.

**Please take into consideration the following rules when decorating your graduation cap. Failure to follow these rules will result in the removal of the cap before the ceremony.

Graduation cap decoration restrictions: 

• Cannot contain any advertisement, symbols, abbreviations, initials, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that refer to drugs or controlled substances, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons, or be sexual. 

• Cannot denote an affiliation with gangs or violence, illegal activity, or disruptive behavior that is detrimental to the safety and welfare of other graduates or another person. 

• Cannot be obscene, profane, vulgar, or lewd.  

• Cannot make noise. No bells, horns, or anything that makes noise

• Cannot be three-dimensional. Only the flat, top area of the mortar board may be decorated. Additionally, there may be nothing hanging down from any of the sides of the cap.

 What is appropriate to put on your cap:

• A note to thank a parent, grandparent, teacher, or friend.

• The logo of the university you will be attending after graduation.

• Your graduation year.

• The logo of the branch of the military you will be joining.

graduates, we highly suggest you trace your cap onto cardboard and decorate the cardboard. In case you make a mistake, you can start over with a new piece of cardboard. We will not furnish new caps if you make a mistake. After you decorate it, stick it to your cap with double-sided tape or Velcro stickers.

 ***Administration will reserve the right to disallow anything that is not considered appropriate for our commencement ceremony. ***

What should graduates wear? 

Respectful, but comfortable clothing.  Shorts, t-shirts, or flip-flops are not recommended for this ceremony.  

I have a child under the age of two years old; will he/she need a ticket to get in?

No. Children under two years old can sit on a parent/caretaker’s lap. Those two years of age and older will need a ticket to enter the graduation ceremony.

We have a member of our family in a wheelchair. How will they be seated

Accessible/disabled seating is available at Frontwave Arena. There is limited ADA seating with one family member. First-come, first-served.

Will photographs of each student receiving his/her diploma be taken during the ceremony?

Photographs of each graduate receiving their diploma will be taken during the ceremony and mailed to the graduate from Studio 94. 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES - CLASS OF 2026