Commencement 2025

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 fully-decorated cap for vetting during rehearsal practice on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
• CLASS OF 2025  GROUP PHOTO: 9:15 AM. The processional line goes on turf outside Novogratz for Class of 2025 group photo. After the photo, please return to stay in your assigned spot in the during line up. If rain, assemble in the Student Center.
• PROCESSION: Graduates will process in pairs from the Novogratz Gym, through the building, out to the walkway between the baseball and softball fields, to the Steinberg Athletic Complex (football field).
• ATTIRE: Commencement is a formal occasion. Please choose attire that is appropriate for the importance of this milestone event. Avoid denim, flip-flops, shorts, or other overly casual clothes. Please also choose footwear with awareness that you will be walking on turf and standing at length.
• 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.

Faculty

 

• ARRIVAL TIME: 8:30 AM
• ARRIVAL LOCATION: Legacy Gym, 3rd Floor. Breakfast and lining up all happens in the Legacy Gym. Lineup is by order of appointment at Poly, beginning with the longest serving faculty. List will be posted. Robing for those noted below also happens in the Legacy.
• ROBES: The following administration members will wear robes: Interim Head of School, Assistant Head of School, Academics, Head of Lower School, Head of Middle School, Head of Upper School, Head of Arts, Dean of Faculty, Director of DEIB, Faculty Announcer.
• PARKING: Parking on site will be limited to families of graduates and trustees. Street parking is available. We encourage public transportation, carpooling, or rideshares to campus. Details on employee transportation support to come.
• BREAKFAST: Light refreshments will be provided.
• LINE UP: 9:30 AM— Faculty lead the procession led by Michael Junsch ’71, P’94, ’95. Line up according to seniority (list will be posted) to prepare for the 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 (football field).
• RECEPTION: Reception to immediately follow the Commencement Ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. If Commencement moves indoors, the Reception will be canceled.
• DRESS: Apart from those noted above, faculty members will not be robed. Faculty members should dress in professional attire suitable for the solemnity and importance of the ceremony honoring our graduates. (Please refrain from wearing shorts, denim, flip-flops, and similar casual attire.) When planning your footwear, please keep in mind the weather, the walk, and the stairs. 
• RAIN OR SHINE: Dress for the weather! Wear sunscreen if a bright day. Rain may be a factor. Please keep that in mind for headgear and footwear. Ponchos will be available if needed.

Trustees

 

• ARRIVAL TIME: 8:30 AM
• ARRIVAL LOCATION: Legacy Gym will be your base for breakfast, robing, and lining up.
• BREAKFAST: Breakfast will be provided.
• VIP PARKING: Parking placards for on-campus parking will be provided.
• LINE UP: 9:30 AM— Trustees and Board Chair follow faculty.
• 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 (football field).
• DRESS: Robes will be provided for the executive board only. Trustees should dress in professional attire suitable for the solemnity and importance of the ceremony. 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.
• 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 (graduates)

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. Faculty Member (Michael Junsch ’71, P’94, ’95)
• Faculty – assemble in pairs in the Legacy gym to Novogratz lobby
• John Rankin, Board Chair, Trustees, Michal Hershkovitz P’16, ’18, Erika Freeman P’24, ’26, ’28, ’32, Sarah Bates, Daniel Doughty, Francis Yasharian, Ed.L.D. P’36,  Andrea Del Valle P’29, ’33, Emily Gardiner P’24, ’27, Class of 2025 faculty/staff parents assemble in Novogratz lobby (dais seating)
• 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. (football 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 John Rankin, 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 faculty/staff/parents of graduates will line up alphabetically behind the division heads, and follow the group to the dais seating.

Printable Processional Schedule