Greenwich High School Reveals Plans For 2020 Graduation

RJ Scofield
·5 min read

GREENWICH, CT — As Greenwich High School students come to the end of a unique and challenging school year, district officials said they are determined to make these last few weeks as special as possible for graduating seniors.

In a letter to parents and guardians last week, Superintendent Toni Jones praised students, as well as staff and families, for the "compassion and tenacity" they have shown since the spread of the coronavirus turned the school year on its head.

She also assured everyone the year will end on a celebratory note despite the unique circumstances at hand. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"All across our district, school principals, PTAs, safety and security teams and many more are working hard to bring memorable and safe year-end school celebrations and graduation ceremonies to our students and their families," Jones said in the letter.

Jones noted that current guidelines for graduation ceremonies in Connecticut require social distancing and prohibit large gatherings. She also said the district was "committed to having our students walk across a stage" for graduation, and Greenwich High School administrators were working to make sure their plans meet these guidelines.

In a letter sent to families Tuesday, Headmaster Ralph Mayo announced this year's high school graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place June 9, with a rain date set for June 10.

"We know that this year has been challenging," Mayo said in the letter, "and we've worked hard with our school and town partners to make graduation 2020 a great event for all of our seniors and their families."

During three separate ceremonies held on that date, the five houses at Greenwich High School will graduate students on two different stages. Stage 1 will be outside the Performing Arts Center's main entrance in back of the school, while Stage 2 will be located in the front circle of the school.

At 9 a.m., Bella House students will graduate on Stage 1 and Cantor House will graduate on Stage 2. Then at noon, Clark House students will walk across Stage 1, while Folsom House students will walk across the second stage.

Finally, Sheldon House students will have their time to shine on Stage 2 at 3 p.m. Students will be assigned to arrive at one of five different times based on the first letter of their last name.

Each house graduation will be livestreamed by Local Live and have its own link, which will be sent out to all graduates and parents, allowing "those near and far" to view the ceremony, Mayo said.

A link will also be available, both over email and on the school's website, for a virtual graduation ceremony scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. later that day. This portion of the graduation will include speeches from various people, as well as music from both the school band and chamber singers.

Graduates will also receive the conferring of diplomas and turn their tassels during this portion of the ceremony.

"We want graduation to be memorable and, most of all, safe for our Class of 2020," Mayo said. "While this event will look different from other years, we still share the same amount of pride and excitement in celebrating our graduating class."

Here is a breakdown provided by school officials regarding receiving caps and gowns and what each student is expected to do during their respective ceremony:

DISTRIBUTION (Friday, June 5)

The school will be distributing caps and gowns, car passes, name cards, time capsule cards and yearbooks (if you ordered one) on this date. Students will receive:

  • Cap, gown and tassel

  • Car Pass – This will be needed the day of graduation and must be placed on the dashboard of your car in order to enter the school parking lot.

  • Name Card – This is used by both the announcer and photographer on the day of graduation. You will need to fill out the card prior to arrival on graduation day.

  • Time Capsule Card - Please complete this card.

  • Yearbook - If you have already ordered one; no yearbooks will be sold on this day.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOUSE THE DAY OF GRADUATION (Tuesday, June 9)

Students and families are asked to make sure they have their car pass and name card with them. The graduate must be sitting on the right side of the car.

ARRIVAL

  • All cars will turn on Hillside Road from East Putnam Avenue and will enter through the South Lot (Black Box Theater).

  • The car pass must be hanging on the rearview mirror of your car for the police and security guards to see throughout the ceremony.

  • You will drive through the South Lot and behind the school to the rear parking lot.

  • Once in the rear parking lot, please follow the signs for your assigned stage.

  • Do not turn off your car once in the parking lot.

GRADUATION TIME

  • Once you arrive at the "graduate unloading zone," the graduate will exit the car and wait in the designated area until it is time to walk across the stage.

  • When it is time for your graduate to walk across the stage, your car will be right in front of the stage.

  • Guests must remain in the car at all times.

  • The graduate will then walk to the photo area to have a picture taken by a professional photographer. Please do not take your own pictures during this time.

  • Once the picture is taken, the graduate will return to the car and you will exit the school.

EXIT

All cars will turn left out of the school parking lot and proceed to Fairfield Road.

SAFETY REMINDERS

  • Guests must remain in their cars at all times.

  • No one may sit out the window, sit on the roof of the car, or have their head out of the sunroof.

  • No one may sit in the back of a pick-up truck.

PER THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE

  • Face masks are required for all graduates but not their guests who are in the car.

  • Guests must remain in the car at all times.

AUTOMOBILES

Please arrive in your personal car; limousines, buses, trailers, etc. are prohibited.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Please remain in your car while your child is walking across the stage. There will be a professional photographer to photograph each graduate. These photos will be available for purchase online from USA FOTO.

Further information regarding graduation, including times of arrival based on last name, can be found here.

This article originally appeared on the Greenwich Patch