Seniors

Students should arrive at the Stoffel Dining Commons wearing caps and gowns at 5:30 p.m. to prepare for a class picture. (Note: There is no reception following the ceremony.)

Friday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Required: Verify the Student's Name on the Diploma

Parent Involvement: Please verify that your student's name is correct on their unofficial transcript; this is how it will appear on their diploma. To verify, log into your Veracross Parent Portal, scroll down to the "Student Information" section, and click the "Links" tab next to your student's photo.

As an academic institution, the conference of academic degrees is one of our primary functions. We look forward to honoring our student's academic achievements at this formal ceremony! Below are are few important reminders to help you and your senior(s) prepare for graduation:

• Invitations: ESD has a formal, standard invitation format handled through Jostens. Seniors will order their invitations online through the Jostens website. Invitations are paid for by parents directly to Jostens and are delivered to their home address ahead of time.
• Cap and Gown: Caps and gowns are purchased through Jostens at the same time as invitations are ordered and are meant to be kept by the student, along with any additional stoles provided by the school. Students receive their gowns by mail about one week before graduation.
• Graduation Seating: There are two seating areas for graduation: reserved and open. Each family is given eight tickets to the reserved seating area, which are assigned by lottery near the end of February. Open seating is open to anyone and does not require a ticket.
• Weather Conditions: In the event of bad weather, we will move the ceremony indoors to the Competition Gym. In this case, only people with reserved seating tickets will be allowed inside due to limited seating in the gym; seating in the gym will be first come, first serve. (More information on indoor seating will be sent in March.)
• Prohibited Items: Because of the history of ESD’s graduation exercises, one of the traditions of an ESD graduation is that it is a serious ceremony. Noisemakers, air horns, etc., are out of place and strongly discouraged during the ceremony.
• Handicap Access: Handicap seating will be available for both outside and indoor graduation. An email has been sent out for reserving handicap seating, but for all questions, contact Ruth Burke. 
• Graduation Photos: An official class portrait and individual photographs of each graduate receiving their diploma will be made available to each family by mail after graduation.

• Meet Mr. Augé in the Stoffel Dining Commons at 5:30 p.m. for a graduation rehearsal and group picture.
• Ladies: Wear a dress or skirt and blouse, neutral stockings (if desired), and dark dress shoes with a low heel.
• Gentlemen: Wear khaki pants, a light or white collared shirt, and dress shoes. Gentlemen must be clean-shaven (no facial hair allowed).
•  An informal dinner will be provided for the graduates before the ceremony (sandwiches, drinks, etc.).
• Bring your cap and gown.
• You will receive your stoles (NHS, Cum Laude, Honor Graduates) in advance, please bring them with you.
• The only modifications allowed are college colors and logos on the top of the cap. Do not modify your gown in any way.
• Eat well and drink plenty of water before the service, as it can be very hot on the stage in your robes.
• Graduates who do not adhere to the dress policy or arrive with alcohol on their breath will be sent home with their parents, and they will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.

• January 8: Classes Resume
• January 20: MLK Day (No School)
• January 23: Rally Day (Theme: Winter Wonderland)
• January 30: AP Art Show 1

• February 5: Special Programming Day
• February 7: Quarter 3 Interim Check
• February 8: US Winter Dance (8:00 - 10:00 p.m.)
• February 13-15: Winter SPC
• February 14-17: Winter Break (No School)
• February 26: Conference Day (No School)
• February 27 - March 1: US Winter Musical (7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Bray Performance Hall)

• March 6: Rally Day
• March 17-24: Spring Break (No School)
• March 25: Classes Resume
• March 27: US Film Festival (7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Stoffel Dining Commons)

• April 18-21: Easter Break (No School)
• April 22: Skirts and Shirts (Decoration)
• April 24: Cum Laude Induction Ceremony
• April 25: Last Senior/Fifth Grade Buddy Event
• April 28: Doggy Day (12:15 - 1:15 p.m.)
• April 30: Pass It On (10:00 a.m., All Saints Chapel)

• May 1-3: Spring SPC
• May 5-16: AP Exams
• May 8-9: Final Exams
• May 13: Last Day for Seniors
• May 19: Graduation Rehearsal (9:30 a.m.); US Honors Assembly (10:30 a.m.)
• May 22: Baccalaureate (5:00 p.m.); Class of '25 Dinner (6:00 p.m.)
• May 23: Graduation (7:30 p.m.)

One of ESD’s oldest traditions, Pass It On, was started by Father Swann in the spring of 1976 to symbolize eighth-graders leaving middle school. Each May, the senior class welcomes the rising freshmen into the upper school by passing a light, “the spirit of ESD,” to these students.

• Date: Wednesday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m.
• Location: All Saints Chapel

Parent Involvement: Parents are encouraged to attend the ceremony.

Senior Exams do not have designated days; they will be given during class time starting on May 8.  Seniors can be exempt from exams as long as they meet the following conditions (taken from the Student Handbook): a grade of “B” or above for both quarters, no unexcused absences in the class, no more than seven excused absences in the class, and permission of the instructor. If a senior does not meet these criteria, they must take the exam or apply for an exemption from the Head of Upper School. The exams will be arranged strictly between teacher and student. Exams must be completed by the end of the day, May 9.

This is a casual day for seniors. They are encouraged to wear a T-shirt (or other spirit wear) from the college or university to which they have committed.

• Date: May 13

Seniors will gather for a final class meeting to go over some of the details about graduation and to practice the correct pronunciation of names. This meeting will occur before the Honors Assembly.

• Date: Monday, May 19 at 9:30 a.m.
• Location: Bray Performance Hall

During the Honors Assembly, the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Top 10 students are announced, and the school gives out awards to students of all grade levels.

Seniors should attend, whether or not they receive an award, and should be dressed in full, formal uniforms.

• Date: Monday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m.
• Location: Competition Gym
• Duration: The assembly lasts approximately one and a half hours.

Parent Involvement: All parents are invited to attend (if your child receives an award, you will be notified in advance).

The Baccalaureate ceremony is a full Eucharist service, a relatively new addition to ESD’s end-of-year ceremonies. This ceremony has now become our symbolic “last activity as a senior class” before the students become graduates.  It is the last opportunity for our Head of School to address them as students and welcome them into the alumni category.

Students should arrive 15 minutes early to line up in the Frank Building. Students should be dressed in full, formal uniforms for the last time at this event.

• Date: Thursday, May 22 at 5:00 p.m.
• Location: All Saints Chapel
• Duration: The ceremony lasts approximately one hour.

Parent Involvement: This event is not meant to be a public service but rather an intimate interaction between the school and the student. Because of the limitations of seating in the chapel, we ask that immediate family only attend; faculty do not attend so that we can have more open seats for families.

This tradition-filled evening celebrates community as a final bonding opportunity for the senior class before graduation. Students gather with classmates, parents, faculty, and advisors for dinner and presentations, including the senior video and a speech from the senior-elected faculty member.

Students should wear their full, formal uniform. Parents, guardians, and siblings should wear a coat and a tie to the dinner.

• Date: Thursday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Daryl Johnston Family Dining Commons, Stephen B. Swann Center
• Duration: The ceremony lasts approximately one hour.

Parent Involvement: The senior parents organize this special event to celebrate the seniors before graduation. (Note: Parents are charged for the dinner.)