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March 11, 2019Dear Parents/Guardians and Members of the Class of 2019:Sidwell Friends School has a long tradition of marking Commencement in a simple, meaningful ceremony on the lawn behind Zartman House. This year’s ceremony, our 131st, will take place on Sunday, June 9, at 1:00 p.m. The information below provides an overview of the day’s events, as well as the preparations leading up to it. I will send you two additional letters with more details later this spring. Attire. Commencement is a formal, family affair. Graduating students should wear tasteful and appropriate clothing, such as a suit, coat and tie, or dress.Student Arrival Time. On graduation day, seniors must arrive on campus by 10:00 a.m. and report to the Dining Room. To save space in the parking garage for family and friends, students should be dropped off. More details about parking and other accommodations will be provided later this spring.Inclement Weather. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Athletic Center. Like the outdoor ceremony, there is no assigned seating, but the inclement weather tickets distributed with student stationery will be required for the first phase of entry into the Athletic Center.Stationery. Seniors will receive graduation stationery during their final advisory on April 29. The stationery package includes seven invitations, 20 announcements, 27 name cards, and six inclement weather tickets. Seniors who have not completed their community service requirements will not receive their stationery until they have turned in the proper forms. Guests. Class members may invite as many guests as they would like to the ceremony. Although there is no assigned seating, seats in the garden behind Zartman House are limited; guests may claim up to six seats on a first come, first serve basis. Standing space in the garden is unlimited. Photography and Videography. The School engages professional photographers for the entire day. They take four group photos before the ceremony: the class photo, children of alumni with their alumni parents, Quaker students, and Lifers. The photographers also take individual shots of the graduates as they proceed to their seats and again when they receive their diplomas. Professional videographers film the ceremony; due to the intimate setting, no other filming is permitted. Photos may be downloaded or purchased from the School website after the ceremony; the video is made available as a free download.Senior Events. In the days before graduation, seniors participate in a variety of events. The Alumni Office will host a celebration for students. A Meeting for Worship for seniors, parents, and faculty will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 2, in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room, followed by a reception in the lobby. Graduation Rehearsals. Rehearsals will be held on Monday, June 3, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 5, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Seniors should plan to meet in the courtyard outside the Arts Center each day of rehearsal. Due to the importance of these rehearsals, attendance on both days is mandatory. Please be sure that you do not schedule any appointments that would conflict with these rehearsals.Next month, I will send an updated schedule of the end-of-the-year celebrations. If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to contact me by email or phone.Sincerely,Crystal MatthewsUpper School Graduation Coordinator Assistant to the Dean of Students matthewsc@sidwell.edu202-537-8160
Sidwell Friends School 3825 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016
(202) 537-8100 www.sidwell.edu
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