Class of 2011 Graduation

We are all very proud of the DHS Class of 2011 and excited about celebrating their achievements. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Main Office at the high school, 203.655.3981. Graduation is Friday, June 17 at 5:00 p.m. on the Darien High School Stadium Field (weather permitting).

Graduating seniors should arrive by 4:00 p.m. and report to the South Gym for robing and final preparations.

2011 Final Exams

End of Year Schedule: Please note the earliest dismissal on an 8 a.m. exam is 9:30 a.m. and on a 10:30 a.m. exam is 12 noon.

• Friday, June 10: Exam 8 Exam 7
• Monday, June 13: Exam 6 Exam 5
• Tuesday, June 14: Exam 4 Exam 3
• Wednesday, June 15: Exam 2 Exam 1
• Thursday, June 16: Exam Make-up day and Graduation Rehearsal
• Friday, June 17: Last Day of School, Graduation Rehearsal, and Graduation

Graduation Rehearsals

Graduation rehearsals will be held in the Auditorium on:

• June 16th at 12:45 p.m.
• June 17th at 10:00 a.m.

The Graduation Ceremony Expectations Agreement will be reviewed in detail at the first graduation rehearsal. Each graduating senior will sign a copy of the agreement when they pick up their cap and gown. A copy of this agreement will be mailed home in the graduation letter to parents so everyone can be aware of our expectations regarding behavior and dress at graduation.

Caps And Gowns

Seniors (and parents) RELAX! Everyone ordered a cap and gown. You may remember responding to the email from Mrs. Ricci (or remember when she hunted you down?) We have a cap and and gown for every graduating senior.

Payment for the cap and gown is $20.00, cash or check made out to Darien High School

Payment for the cap and gown will be collected at the MANDATORY Cap and Gown distribution in the Main Office on Thursday, June 16. The cap and gown is not returned, it is kept by the graduating senior as a souvenir of graduation. To pick up your cap and gown report to the DHS Main Office during the following times:

• 8:30 -- 9:30: Last names beginning with the letters A-G
• 9:30 -- 10:30: Last names beginning with the letters H-N
• 10:30 – 11:30: Last names beginning with the letters O-Z

All School Obligations Must be Paid Before Graduation! 

Graduating seniors will not receive caps and gowns until all school obligations are met and they are cleared from the Destiny/Blue List. Students should return all books, athletic equipment, and pay all library and cafeteria fees before coming to the Main Office. 

• Log on to your Destiny Account to check your status. 
• Need Help? Destiny Directions PDF

Balances on Cafeteria Accounts

If you are graduating or not returning next year, a refund can be mailed to your home with a letter from a parent written to the Director of Food Services at the BOE: Debbie Bossie, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT 06820.

2011 Graduation Ceremony

No tickets are needed if the ceremony is held on the stadium field and seating is unlimited.

Graduating seniors should arrive by 4:00 p.m. and report to the South Gym for robing and final preparations.
Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and seats are first-come, first-served.  Please do not enter before that time to hold seats.  All seats on the field and bleachers have excellent viewing as the stage is elevated for all to see.   There will be over 1600 folding chair seats on the field, as well as the entire home bleachers available for seating.

There will be no water sales at graduation; guests should bring a cold water bottle to the ceremony as it can get warm in the stadium on a sunny June afternoon.  Graduating seniors will be provided with a cold water bottle at their seats.

The graduation ceremony should be joyful, yet dignified.  Loud or lengthy demonstrations of exuberance for one graduate may distract from the attention that the next graduate deserves.  Spectators are asked to exercise restraint during the ceremony.  Please do not hang any banners or posters in the stadium before the graduation ceremony. Any unofficial materials will be removed.

A professional photographer will be at the ceremony and will make photos available for sale online a few days after graduation. Logon information will be posted on the DHS website when it is available.

Graduating seniors will not be allowed to carry anything onto the stadium field. This includes water bottles, cell phones, cameras, purses, etc. Students should leave these objects with the families before the ceremony or they can leave them unsupervised in the gym. PLEASE take note of this rule!  Water will be provided to each student at their seats for the ceremony.

Please be advised that walking on the Stadium Field will be difficult in high heels. Please keep your safety in mind when choosing footwear for the graduation ceremony. Any type of spike heel should be avoided. All students should refer to the ceremony agreement for graduation attire guidelines.

It is anticipated that the ceremony will take one hour and 45 minutes from start to finish.

Diplomas

In a departure from past practice, graduates will receive their diplomas on stage during the ceremony. 

2011 Graduation Ceremony Expectations

Graduation from high school is an event that comes once in a lifetime. The Class of 2011 deserves a graduation ceremony that will be dignified and memorable, as do parents, relatives and friends. It is expected that you will act in a mature manner during the graduation ceremony. Any behavior which draws attention to you or detracts from the dignity of the ceremony will result in your exclusion from the ceremony.

GRADUATION EXPECTATIONS for the CLASS OF 2011

1. You will not be under the influence of alcohol or other illegal substances. You will be removed from the graduation ceremony if you are found to be under the influence of either.
2. You will be removed and excluded from the remainder of the ceremony if your behavior is disruptive in any manner.
3. You will dress in a manner appropriate for a ceremonial occasion (collared shirt and tie and long trousers for boys; nice dress or slacks for girls). No shorts. No sneakers or flip-flops. (High-heeled or spike heeled shoes are difficult to walk in on the stadium turf field and should be avoided.) You will be required to change if your clothing or footwear are not appropriate for the occasion. Do not jeopardize your participation by not adhering to the dress code.
4. You will not decorate your cap and gown in any manner before the ceremony.
5. You will not carry anything into the graduation ceremony. Anything you bring to the South Gym for robing will be left behind until after the ceremony (this includes purses, cell phones, cameras, flowers, etc.)..

Each graduating senior will sign a copy of the 2011 Graduation Ceremony Expectations Agreement when they collect their cap and gown. A copy of this agreement will be mailed home with the graduation letter to parents so everyone will be aware of our expectations regarding behavior and dress at graduation.

Unsettled Weather

If the weather is unsettled, graduation will be held indoors in the DHS Auditorium, and seating will be by rain ticket only. Any decision to move the ceremony indoors will be made by 12:00 noon and will be final. Check the Main DHS website for the official notice after 12:00 noon on graduation day.

Each graduating senior will receive two (2) rain tickets by postal mail to their address of record about a week before graduation. Please safeguard these tickets as you would any important document, they are not replaceable if lost. 

If the ceremony is moved indoors, doors to the Auditorium will open at 4:00 p.m. and seats are first-come, first-served.  Admission to each level of the Auditorium will be limited to the number of seats available on that level, so it will not be possible to save or hold seats for late arriving guests.  Those who wish to sit together should enter the Auditorium together.  Once a level is full it will be closed to further entry.   

Because of the size of the graduating class, most of the bottom level of the Auditorium will be used to accommodate the class.  As such, once the ceremony begins we will request that all attendees in the Auditorium remain in their seats for the duration of the ceremony.  A professional photographer will make photographs available for sale online a few days after the ceremony.

Regardless of the weather the graduation ceremony will be broadcast live in the air conditioned Main Gymnasium with ample overflow seating available, no rain tickets required. 

Even if the ceremony is scheduled to be held outdoors, please instruct your guests to bring the rain tickets along “just in case” any unforeseen event forces the ceremony indoors.

Graduate Reception

There will be a reception for all graduates, their families and guests in the Main Cafeteria immediately following the ceremony.

Traffic and Parking for Graduation

Traffic and parking for graduation will be controlled by the Darien Police Department.  All traffic must enter via Noroton Avenue, as High School Lane and Nutmeg Lane will be closed.  Parking is always very tight so please budget extra time and carpool if possible. 

Handicapped parking will be located in the lower parking lot near the stadium field.  Let a traffic officer know if you need to park there and you will be directed accordingly.

Senior Graduation Party

SPONSORED BY THE DHS PARENTS ASSOCIATION
WEED BEACH THURSDAY, JUNE 16th 2:00p.m -5:00p.m.

Invitations and flyers with information about the Senior Beach Picnic have been mailed home to each graduating senior. The ticket price is $40 and the picnic is for DHS graduating seniors ONLY. NO GUESTS.

• Senior Beach Party Permission Slip (PDF)

Plans include a DJ, barbeque catered by Super Duper Weenie, volleyball, dunk tank for staff and other surprises!

We hope parents will consider making a small donation to the event as a reasonable ticket price cannot cover all costs. Donation checks may be sent to: Jo-Ann Sawitsky, 67 Hecker Avenue, Darien, CT 06820 no later than June 10th

The DHSPA hopes all graduates will attend If parents would like to volunteer to help the day of, please go to www.mysignup.com/class_of_2011