Commencement 2022

Event Information:

• PUNCH AND PICTURES
  Get your cameras ready! Come join your student(s) on Sunday, May 15, at Conroy House, the home of Head of School Peter Becker and his family, starting at 4:45 p.m. to capture all of those memories before students depart for the prom! The address is: 13 Kirby Road, Washington.
  Families, after students depart, please stay and join us for a brief reception.
• PROM
  This year’s prom will be held on Sunday, May 15, from 6-10 p.m.  Students will be transported by bus from Conroy House to 19 Main in New Milford, Connecticut.
  The Prom Committee is still working on ticket details but will send more information via email in the coming weeks. Ticket sales will be open through May 5.
  If you have any questions regarding this year’s Prom, please contact Kori Rimany.
• FOUR-YEAR SENIOR DINNER
  The Four-Year Senior Dinner celebrates seniors who have spent all four years here with us at The Frederick Gunn School. The dinner will be held at the Head of School’s house, starting at 5 p.m.
• SENIOR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DINNER 
  The Senior Alumni Association Dinner is a celebratory dinner where the graduating class will receive their senior mugs, and be inducted into the Alumni Association. On this special occasion, it is a tradition for seniors to receive letters and notes of congratulations from their families, called “senior letters.” 
• SENIOR LETTERS
  As parents and guardians of graduating seniors, you are invited to write a letter to your graduating student(s)! Please note that this is separate from any yearbook dedications you may have submitted.
  If you'd like to request blank Frederick Gunn School letterhead to handwrite your letter, please contact Alli Fodor in the Alumni & Development Office. Alternatively, you can email your letter to be printed on official letterhead.
  If returning by mail, please send your letter to:
  The Frederick Gunn School
  Attn: Alli Fodor
  99 Green Hill Road
  Washington, CT 06793 
• MOVING OUT

  All graduating students will need to be moved out of the dorms no later than 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 29. Students should plan on moving the majority of their belongings Saturday afternoon, and should just have their commencement clothes and an overnight bag Saturday night. 

• PRIZE NIGHT 
  Prize night will be held Saturday evening May 28 under a tent on Edward Wersebe Memorial Field. After the Prize Night ceremony on Saturday evening, you may take your student off campus, provided that he or she has received approval from the Dean of Students Office in advance. However, you must make certain that your student signs out via REACH and that you return your student to campus in time for the 10:30 p.m. check-in that evening.
• COMMENCEMENT
  Commencement exercises will be held on the morning of May 29 under a tent on Edward Wersebe Memorial Field, where all family members, guests, and all students and faculty will be able to sit together in one location.
  If you need special assistance for tent accessibility or parking, or If you plan to bring more than five guests to Prize Night or Commencement please contact Alli Fodor in our Alumni & Development Office by May 9.  
• PHOTOGRAPHY
  Formal photography will be taken during the weekend, including pictures of each senior receiving their diploma, as well as a formal Senior Class portrait. We will provide families with photo purchasing information soon after the event.
• ACCOMMODATIONS AND DINING
  Parents and friends wishing to stay overnight, who have not yet made reservations, should do so immediately. Options for accommodations and dining are available on our website.
• DRESS CODE
  Below are the dress code guidelines for all graduating students, who are asked to choose one of these two options for Commencement. 
  • Option 1: White dress in a style and length appropriate for a morning graduation ceremony and appropriate footwear for processing in the ceremony. You can view the specific details below.
  • Option 2: Navy blue blazer, pressed khaki chinos or slacks, belt, white dress shirt, alumni tie (provided by the school), and brown shoes.
    *If any of the requirements creates a conflict for religious or cultural reasons, please just let us know and we will coordinate accommodations together.
    Please follow this link for more details on the Commencement Dress Code. 
• Covid-19 policy - Commencement Weekend
  All guests must abide by the school’s Visitor Policy. This Visitor Policy includes a requirement to be vaccinated and communication to the FGS Covid-19 Coordinator if a family member has recently tested positive or is experiencing symptoms. We are maintaining our 10 day isolation policy for students who have tested positive. In the event that a graduating student tests positive in the days leading up to graduation, they will need to follow the school’s 10-day isolation policy, with one exception. If they are in days 6-10 of their isolation, they will be permitted to attend the Prize Night and Commencement ceremonies if masked. In that instance, the student will not be allowed to attend meals or stay in the dorm. Unfortunately, a student will not be able to attend any events if they are in days 1-5 of their isolation.