Commencement 2023
THANK YOU! Photos and video links will be sent in the last week of June.
Poly Prep’s 166th Commencement Ceremony
Celebrating the Class of 2023
Friday, June 16 at 10:00 AM
Steinberg Athletic Complex, Dyker Heights Campus
An email with the links to the professional photos and video will be sent to the Class of 2023 graduates and families in the last week of June.
Graduates, Families, Faculty, Staff, and Trustees
See below for more details on what you need to know, schedules, and more.
Graduates
- ARRIVAL TIME: 8:00 AM
- ARRIVAL LOCATION: Novogratz Gym, 3rd Floor. Breakfast, robing, lining up all happens in the Novogratz.
- CAPS: Caps may be decorated. If you decide to do this, you MUST bring your cap for vetting during rehearsal practice on Tuesday, June 13.
- CLASS OF 2023 GROUP PHOTO: 9:15 AM. Assemble on turf outside Novogratz for class of 2023 photo. If rain, assemble in Student Center.
- PROCESSION: Graduates will process from the Novogratz gym, through the building, out to the walkway between the baseball and softball fields, to the Steinberg Athletic Complex.
- RECEPTION: Reception to immediately follow the Commencement Ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. If Commencement moves indoors, the Reception will be canceled.
- RAIN: Rain may be a factor. Please keep that in mind for headgear and footwear. Poly will provide ponchos for you to wear over your gowns in the event of rain.
Families
- DROP OFF GRADUATES: 8:00 AM
- PARKING: Angled parking along 7th Avenue as directed by Security team.
- ENTER: 8:45 AM through pedestrian gate by Steinberg Athletic Complex (football field). Look for balloons marking entrance.
- RECEPTION: Reception to immediately follow the Commencement Ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. If Commencement moves indoors, the Reception will be canceled.
- HANDICAPPED ACCESS: If handicapped access or other assistance is needed, please contact Amy Schlansky ’83, P’22 by 4:00 PM on June 15.
- RAIN OR SHINE: Dress for the weather! Ponchos will be available for all guests if/as needed.
- PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO: A professional photographer and videographer will be capturing this important day. We ask that everyone remain seated once Commencement begins. Photos will be made available to families.
- LIVESTREAM: Families and friends may stream the event remotely. Link will be live shortly before ceremony begins.
NOTE: In case of thunderstorms, we will move the event indoors to the Chapel; each family will be allowed 4 ticketed guests. Tickets will be available for pickup. We are keeping a close eye on the weather and will send detailed updates if the ceremony is moving indoors.
Faculty
- ARRIVAL TIME: 8:00 AM
- ARRIVAL LOCATION: Legacy Gym, 3rd Floor. Breakfast, robing, lining up all happens in the Legacy Gym.
- BREAKFAST: Breakfast will be provided.
- ROBES: Please pick up your robe.
- ROBING: There will be staff on hand to help you with your robes, but the process takes some time, so please help us by arriving on time.
- PARKING: Park at the front of the campus — the 92nd Street gate will be open.
- LINE UP: 9:30 AM—Line up according to seniority (list will be posted) to prepare for procession
- PROCESSION: You’ll process from the Legacy Gym, through the Novogratz building, out to the walkway between the baseball and softball fields, to the Steinberg Athletic Complex field.
- RECEPTION: Reception to immediately follow the Commencement Ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. If Commencement moves indoors, the Reception will be canceled.
- DRESS: When planning your footwear, please keep in mind the weather, the walk, and the stairs.
- RAIN OR SHINE: Dress for the weather! Rain may be a factor. Please keep that in mind for headgear and footwear. Ponchos will be available if needed.
- RETURN ROBES/REGALIA: Return your regalia after the ceremony. Please return your robe and hood to your tagged hanger in the Legacy Gym before heading out.
Staff
- WELCOME: Staff in attendance are invited to join our families in the general seating area as well as at the reception following the ceremony.
- PARKING: Park at the front of the campus — the 92nd Street gate will be open.
- RECEPTION: Reception to immediately follow the Commencement Ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. If Commencement moves indoors, the Reception will be canceled.
Trustees
- ARRIVAL TIME: 8:00 AM
- ARRIVAL LOCATION: Novogratz Gym, 1st Floor. The Squash courts will be your base for breakfast, robing, and lining up.
- BREAKFAST: Breakfast will be provided.
- ROBING: Please pick up your gown. There will be staff on hand to help you with your robes, but the process takes some time, so please help us by arriving on time.
- VIP PARKING: Parking placards will be provided.
- LINE UP: 9:30 AM—Trustees lead the procession following Senior Master and Board Chair
- PROCESSION: You’ll process from the Squash courts, through the Novogratz building, out to the walkway between the baseball and softball fields, to the Steinberg Athletic Complex field.
- DRESS: When planning your footwear, please keep in mind the weather, the walk, and the stairs.
- RAIN OR SHINE: Dress for the weather! Rain may be a factor. Please keep that in mind for headgear and footwear. Ponchos will be available if needed.
- RETURN ROBES/REGALIA: Return your regalia after the ceremony. Please return your robe and hood to your tagged hanger in the Squash courts before heading out.
- RECEPTION: Reception to immediately follow the Commencement Ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. If Commencement moves indoors, the Reception will be canceled.
Processional Schedule
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Arrival and breakfast
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM Robe up
9:15 AM – 9:40 AM Formation of processional line, head of the line at the connecting door to the Novogratz building, in order of appointment. Lists will be posted to aid in lining up.
Procession lineup order/locations:
- Sr. Master (Chief Marshal – Michael Junsch ’71, P’94, ’95)
- Board Chair, Trustees, Audrius Barzdukas P’20, Michal Hershkovitz P’16, ’18, Division Heads, Erika Freeman P’24, ’26, ’28, ’32, Richard Corso, Michael Robinson, Class of 2023 faculty/staff parents assemble in Novogratz lobby (dais seating)
- Faculty – assemble in pairs in the Legacy gym to Novogratz lobby
- Students – assemble in Novogratz Gym (supervised by deans)
9:40 AM Procession begins – Through the Novogratz lobby, out to and through the walkway between the baseball and softball fields to the Steinberg Athletic Complex field.
Procession is by pairs. Faculty seating flanks the left and right sides of the dais, facing out to the graduates. At the field, you’ll go up the center aisle and split, with those on the left going to the left section and those on the right to the right section of seats
Faculty/Staff/Trustee parents with grads are invited to join Audrius, trustees, and administrators onstage to step forward at the appropriate time to hand off their graduate’s diploma. In terms of lineup, you and other fac/staff graduate parents will line up alphabetically behind the division heads, at the head of the faculty, and follow the group to the dais seating.
