DUXBURY HIGH SCHOOL
130 ST. GEORGE STREET
DUXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS 02332
TELEPHONE (781) 934-7650 FAX (781) 934-7617
PRINCIPAL
ANDREW G. STEPHENS
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
JAMES M. DONOVAN
MARC J. TALBOT
March 28, 2014
Dear Senior Parent(s)/Guardians and Senior*:
Graduation is just around the corner! In addition to the Commencement Exercises, there are a host of other senior activities
that fill our schedule between now and June 7. The ceremony will begin at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 7, 2014 and will be
held on Train Field. I hope the information that follows will help your planning for graduation.
High school graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is also a very public event. It is both a culmination and a
celebration of the many accomplishments of the Class of 2014. It is as much for the parents and family members as it is for the
graduating seniors. Please help us in making this event a dignified send-off for the Class of 2014.
This class of graduating seniors has already demonstrated in so many ways their outstanding leadership and contributions to
this school and the community. We look forward to a safe and productive end to the school year and a dignified and respectful
week of senior activities in June.
*Seniors must be in good academic standing and in compliance with all expectations as outlined in the student
handbook. They also must resolve all obligations before receiving a cap and gown.
JUNIOR PROM
The annual Junior Prom will be held at the DHS gymnasium on Saturday, May 17. Students will begin arriving at 6:00pm and
the event concludes at 10:30pm. This is a formal event and appropriate dress is required. Prom tickets will be sold at all
lunches from May 1-9.
As previously announced, we will be conducting a parent presentation before the prom. The date for this is April 29, 2014 at
6:30pm in the PAC. The presentation consists of two people from the Speakers for Hope program: Kerry White and Steve
Sweeney, who will discuss their experiences with peer pressure and choices that impacted their lives. Following the
presentation, parents will be able to sign the prom expectations sheet that is required in order for students to purchase tickets.
For parents who cannot attend, we will run an alternate date (TBA) so you can sign the prom expectations sheet.
If you have a conflict, please contact your child’s Assistant Principal at 781-934-7650.
SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT
Senior Awards Night is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4th at 7:00pm in the PAC and is the final academic recognition of
graduating seniors. During the ceremony, academic awards and financial scholarships/awards will be presented to various
members of the Class of 2014. This is an open community event and all are invited. The PTO is hosting a reception
immediately following the awards in the PAC. Please join us to salute our most accomplished seniors.
Student Dress: Appropriate and acceptable attire for Senior Awards night and Graduation includes (for young men) dress
shirts, long pants and dress shoes; (for young women) dresses/skirts/dress pants and dress shoes. Basically, seniors should wear
to graduation what they would wear to a semi-formal occasion. This is a voluntary event and therefore subject to our dress
code.
BACCALAUREATE
Baccalaureate is under the direction of the Duxbury Interfaith Council. It will be held on Thursday, June 5th, 7:00pm at First
Parish Church. This is a voluntary event. Participants must attend the first rehearsal on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00pm (OR
Saturday, May 31 at 9:00am) and the dress rehearsal Monday, June 2 at 7:00pm at First Parish Church. Any senior who wishes
to participate in the Baccalaureate must email his/her submission or any questions to duxburybaccalaureate@yahoo.com.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 26. All submissions must include the name and copy of the material the senior
wishes to perform and a clear idea of what he/she requires for his/her performance (e.g., platform space for a large instrument,
a music stand, CD player, etc.).
GRADUATION
Graduation is the culminating event of senior activities and will be held this year at Train Field. Parents and relatives will
need to park in the DHS parking lot and walk over to the field. For Seniors, the graduation practice will be held on Friday,
May 30 at 9:55am, directly following the final senior exam. The meeting place for graduation practice is the high school
auditorium and attendance is mandatory! Students who do not attend rehearsal may not participate in Graduation. A
cookout and yearbook signing will immediately follow the rehearsal.
Caps and Gowns: On Wednesday, June 4, caps and gowns and rain tickets will be distributed in the Student Lounge and
Breadboard from 8:30 – 10:00am. Students must fulfill their obligations before they receive caps and gowns (e.g., return
books, gym locks, athletic equipment, etc.). Obligations will be posted on June 3. Along with the cap and gown will be
instructions for graduation, parking passes for graduates, four rain tickets and a record of immunizations. This may be the
only record you have of these immunizations and may be needed in the future.
Arch Bearers: One of the traditions of graduation involves the arches held by the younger brothers and sisters of the
graduates. If you have a younger son or daughter in grades 7-11 who would be interested in holding one of the arches, please
email Mrs. Connolly in the DHS Main Office by Monday, May 19 (cconnolly@duxbury.k12.ma.us). Arch Bearers will be
asked to attend the graduation rehearsal that will be held during the school day on May 30. Students who are in the high school
orchestra or band, unfortunately, cannot hold an arch because they are playing at this time.
PTO: The PTO takes on many tasks each year in making this day special for all of us. The breakfast, helping set up, the arch
bearers, the flowers, bunting and bows decorating the platform, the senior packets, and caps and gowns are all done by
members of the PTO whom we thank for their thoughtfulness and generosity. We appreciate their efforts!
GRADUATION DAY
Rain Date Information: The decision whether to hold the Graduation Ceremony outdoors or in the Performing Arts Center
must be made by 8:30am, Saturday, June 7 in order to have everything set-up properly for the 1:00pm start. Once the
decision is made, it is final. In the event Graduation must be moved inside, each person needs to present his/her rain ticket for
entry into the P.A.C. Four rain tickets are distributed to seniors on June 4 and are located inside their cap & gown
packet. Please note that overflow guests can view the indoor ceremony via live remote in the Alden School cafeteria. If you
do not need all for tickets, we would appreciate it if you would return the extra tickets to the main office. Using those extra
tickets, we will try to accommodate any family needing an extra ticket. Last minute graduation information may be obtained
by listening to radio station WATD 95.9 FM on the morning of June 7, or through the Duxbury High School Connect Ed
System.
Student Arrival: On the day of Graduation, seniors should arrive at the Alden School by no later than 11:30am. The PTO
will provide a continental breakfast for the graduates at 11:30am in Alden Room 104. Parking for seniors and staff will be
available in the DMS parking lot.
Parking: Parking for parents and guests will be at Duxbury High School. Seating for Graduation is on a first- come first-serve
basis. There is no reserving of seating ahead of time. We appreciate your cooperation with this request.
Photo Information: For the convenience of all parents, a professional photographer will be photographing each graduate as
they receive their diploma. You will receive their information via mail. Except for the participants in the program who will all
be in the front row, students will receive their diplomas in alphabetical order.
Smoking: Appropriate and acceptable behavior is polite attentiveness at all times. Please remember that the use of tobacco
products on school grounds is illegal and will not be tolerated. This includes the smoking of a celebratory cigar. Please
ask your graduate to refrain from celebrating until graduation exercises are concluded and they have left school grounds.
Graduation is a formal, voluntary event, staged as much for parents and grandparents as for the graduates. We ask parents to
support the faculty in our efforts to make graduation a more memorable and impressive occasion by discussing the appropriate
dress and behavioral expectations with your son or daughter. We look forward to seeing you on June 7!
Sincerely,
Andrew Stephens -- Principal
SENIOR WEEK SCHEDULE
CLASS OF 2014
Saturday, May 17 @ 6:00 pm
Junior Prom Arrival
Friday, May 22
Reading Day for periods 6 and 7
Monday, May 23
Reading Day for periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
May 27, 28, 29 & 30
Senior Exams (all early dismissals)
Schedule located back side of this page
Friday, May 30 @ 9:55am SHARP
MANDATORY Graduation Rehearsal
DHS Auditorium
Wednesday, June 4, 8:30-10:00am
Caps & Gowns Distributed
Student Lounge and Breadboard
Wednesday, June 4 @ 7:00pm
Senior Awards Night
Performing Arts Center
Thursday, June 5 @ 7:00pm
Baccalaureate (Interfaith Council)
First Parish Church
Saturday, June 7 @ 11:30am
Continental Brunch (Sponsored by PTO)
Alden room 104
Saturday, June 7 @ 1:00pm
Graduation
TRAIN FIELD (PAC if inclement weather)
*Parent parking available in the DHS parking lot