Some History About Our Ceremony
Peer Laudations
Rather than focus on the school or any individual’s performance, we celebrate each graduate during the ceremony. Fellow schoolmates write and deliver short speeches (“laudations”) for their peers, which range from remarkably artistic films and songs, to hilarious inside jokes, to sincere expressions of affection – with a tinge of the maudlin from time to time.
The Book
Our graduates receive two gifts that symbolize important ideas we hope they will hold on to as they venture off to new adventures. The first is a blank book, which serves as an encouragement to make a recording of all of their new experiences. We hope we have instilled in students the urge to further their learning in a variety of ways, including travel and reflection.
The Flower
Inspired by the children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf, the second send off gift our graduates receive is a flower. This flower holds a dual meaning. First, it reminds our graduates to remember to take time to smell the flowers and reflect. It also symbolizes our school values of conservation and ecology, care for the environment, and appreciation of nature.
Decorated Caps
We have not always used traditional graduation attire for our ceremonies, but we now have a standing tradition of specially decorated caps catered to each graduate. The seniors do not decorate their own caps, their peers do. It’s a fun way to acknowledge each graduate’s individuality and it also gives their friends an amusing way to celebrate their passage.
Some of Our Past Graduation Ceremonies
