May 4, 2020
Dear Shady Side Community,
The vast majority of American high schools, colleges, and universities have elected to cancel spring graduation ceremonies altogether or shift these events to a virtual format. We write today to announce our intention to host an in-person, on-campus Senior School Commencement at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 31, provided such a gathering is permissible within state and county guidelines on that date. Based on what we are learning from appropriate authorities, we are cautiously optimistic we will be able to proceed as planned.
Our aim in maintaining this important tradition, even under these extraordinary circumstances, is to ensure our seniors have the opportunity to participate together in a formal ceremony that honors their accomplishments as a class, marks a critical transition in their lives, and formally recognizes their inclusion in an enduring school history dating back to 1883.
This decision is the result of much dialogue, research, and planning. We have considered the guidance of local and national governments and public health organizations, the wishes of the Class of 2020, and data compiled through formal surveying of our senior parents. Through it all, the seniors and their families have exhibited positivity, understanding, patience, care, and a true spirit of collaboration. We want to thank all of you involved in helping us arrive at this decision, one that we believe is in the best interest of our seniors and Shady Side Academy.
While we are committed to designing a Commencement ceremony that maintains the traditions associated with this event, we also want to acknowledge that social distancing guidelines and other risk mitigation strategies will likely require us to reimagine certain elements of the program, possibly including its duration, campus location, maximum attendance, and seating plan. Seniors will adhere to SSA's customary Commencement dress code as outlined in previous communications. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors will not be in attendance. We will share more specific details about Commencement as soon as we are able, and in accordance with governmental recommendations.
The Senior-Faculty Dinner is also a meaningful event each year, and when we met virtually with members of the senior class earlier in April, they expressed a strong desire to be able to experience this tradition. We plan to hold the Senior-Faculty Dinner on campus the evening of Thursday, July 30, and we will conduct a brief graduation rehearsal beforehand. As with Commencement, we will provide more specific information about the Senior-Faculty Dinner soon.
On the morning of Friday, May 29, our original graduation date, we will have an informal on-campus celebration for the Class of 2020. We hope to be able to invite students to drive through a receiving line of faculty members who will celebrate them with greetings and good wishes. We are planning similar drive-through celebrations for our fifth and eighth graders at the Country Day, Junior and Middle School campuses. We are still working out the details so that we can hold these events within the guidelines of public health officials and the governor's office. We will keep families posted as those plans evolve in the upcoming weeks.
Thanks again to the resilient, optimistic Class of 2020 and to all of you who are currently demonstrating care and concern for this remarkable group of students. We look forward to the prospect of showing the seniors our appreciation on both May 29 and July 31.
Glory to Shady Side and the Class of 2020!
Sincerely,
Bart Griffith '93, President
Sophie Lau, Head of Senior School
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