Info for Darien High School's 2013 Graduation on Thursday

• "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."

• "There may not be 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."

• "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."

• "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. Once a level is full it will be closed to further entry."

• Students will get two tickets for auditorium seating, if necessary, and officials suggest that those tickets be brought to the event, even if the weather is fine, in case of any last-minute change to the auditorium.

Here are some highlights addressed specifically to students:

"By signing this document, you agree to the following:"

• "You will not be under the influence of alcohol or any other illegal substances. You will be removed from the graduation ceremony if you are found to be under the influence of either.

• "You will be removed and excluded from the remainder of the ceremony if your behavior is disruptive in any manner. 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.

• "You will not decorate your cap and gown in any manner before the ceremony.

• "You will not carry anything with you 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.)."

Here's the full text of the announcement:

[Paragraph organization has been changed. Information particularly for students is at the top; information for others is toward the bottom.]

CLASS OF 2013 GRADUATION THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 5PM DHS STADIUM FIELD (WEATHER PERMITTING)

We are all very proud of the DHS Class of 2013 and excited about celebrating their achievements. Graduation is Thursday, June 20 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.

END OF YEAR SCHEDULE

Exam Schedule:

The earliest dismissal on an 8:00 a.m. exam is 9:30 a.m. and on a 10:30 a.m. exam is 12:00.

Thursday, June 13: 8:00: Exam 8 – 10:30: Exam 7

Friday, June 14: 8:00: Exam 6 – 10:30: Exam 5

Monday, June 17: 8:00: Exam 4 – 10:30: Exam 3

Tuesday, June 18: 8:00: Exam 2 – 10:30: Exam 1

Wednesday, June 19: Exam Make-up day and Graduation Rehearsal

Thursday, June 20: Last Day of School, Graduation Rehearsal, and Graduation

CAP AND GOWN DISTRIBUTION

Everyone ordered a cap and gown at a homeroom in February. Payment for the cap and gown is $20, cash or check made out to Darien High School on MANDATORY pickup day Wednesday, June 19.

Payment for the cap and gown will be collected at the MANDATORY Cap and Gown distribution in the Main Office on Wednesday, June 19.

The cap and gown 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 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.

GRADUATION REHEARSALS

Graduation rehearsals will be held in the Auditorium on:

June 19 at 12:45 p.m.

June 20 at 10:00 a.m. The Graduation Ceremony Expectations Agreement will be reviewed at the first graduation rehearsal. Each graduating senior will sign a copy of the agreement when they pick up their cap and gown on June 19.

A copy of this agreement will be mailed home in the graduation letter to parents so all are aware of our expectations regarding behavior and dress at graduation.

GRADUATION CEREMONY EXPECTATIONS

Graduation from high school is an event that comes once in a lifetime. The Class of 2013 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.

By signing this document, you agree to the following:

You will not be under the influence of alcohol or any other illegal substances. You will be removed from the graduation ceremony if you are found to be under the influence of either.

You will be removed and excluded from the remainder of the ceremony if your behavior is disruptive in any manner.

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.

You will not decorate your cap and gown in any manner before the ceremony.

You will not carry anything with you 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.).

2013 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 may not be 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. Access the photos at: events.lifetouch.com/darienhsdarienct

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.

UNSETTLED WEATHER – RAIN PLAN

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. Once a level is full it will be closed to further entry.

Because of the size of the graduating class, most of the lower 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.

GRADUATION RECEPTION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CEREMONY

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

TRAFFIC AND PARKING

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.