Uxbridge High School

Good morning.

 

I am already in receipt of several messages regarding the potential for rain on Saturday. Where we have an outdoor graduation on the field, there are many variables that play into the complicated process of decision-making, with the ideal being that weather would be fine. In the interest of transparency, we are sharing some of the details that go into decisions, in the form of a Q&A. 

 

Q: Is there a rain date?

A: Short answer, no.

 

Q: Why is there no rain date?

A: For some reason, this community has always made a very big deal about the prospect of athletic contests on the weekend of graduation, though schools around the Commonwealth have seniors who, in some cases, have to make decision. This played into why, years ago, graduation was moved to Sunday. We went back to Saturday morning because (a) there was no conflict with athletics, (b) it was easier on families who had people traveling from out of town, (c) it accommodated an easier night for the traditional PSG event, and (d) it provided families with opportunities to get together the weekend of graduation. In some years, the chairs that we use for graduation are picked up on Saturday or Sunday to be used for another rental on Sunday or early in the week.

 

From a more practical level, we cannot move to Sunday because the PSG event is already scheduled for Saturday night, and, as it turns out, the track meet that has been an overwhelming concern is actually scheduled for Friday and Sunday, not Saturday.

 

Q: What happens if it rains?

A: Our position has always been that, unless the conditions are torrential downpour, thunderstorms, or so inclement that the conditions would be prohibitive, that we would be outside. 

 

Q: What happens if we have to move indoors?

A: We would have to set up graduation in the gym. While people have upwards of 15-16 seats in some cases for graduation outdoors, because we have space limitations, we would be limited to 8-9 guests per graduate if we were in the gym. This is not because we don't want to seat everyone in the gym, but because we don't have space. There would be no equitable way to tell people that they have more of a right to additional seats. Overflow seating would be in the auditorium, where the event is simulcast on the screen. We can imagine this causing many issues. We can imagine some people showing up with 15 people anyway. This has happened in the past, and it has never been particularly respectful.

In short, if we are outdoors, we have no attendance. If we are indoors, we have limits.

 

Q: When will a decision be made?

A: We will make a decision before Friday, because setting up graduation takes a good deal of time. We cannot make the decision on Saturday morning.

 

Q: Who makes the decision?

A: We actually have asked the students a few days before graduation at one of the rehearsals, and typically the seniors prefer to be outside. We then look at all the factors, discuss with central administration and class advisors, and communicate the final decision on Thursday or Friday.

 

Q: Can guests bring anything or do anything?

A: Tents are not permitted on the field. Umbrellas are. We also encourage ponchos.

 

Q: If we have to go indoors, how will we determine the nine-seat limit?

A: We will either distribute nine tickets, or have each graduate provide nine names that will be listed at the gymnasium door for check-in.

 

The one thing we have absolutely no control over, when it comes to graduation, is the weather. We will do our best to make a good decision, but be aware that our default will always be to try and be outside.