To the Members of the Class of 2022 and Parents/Guardians:
I am sending this message as a reminder of several upcoming events for the Class of 2022.
Final Assessments
Assessments for seniors will be given in Career and Technical Education, Art, Music, and World Languages classes on June 6 and 7. English, Social Studies, Math, and Science, assessments will be given on June 8 and 9. The schedule for these assessments will be posted in classrooms and on the DHHS website.
Obligations and Food Service Balances
In order for seniors to receive graduation tickets and their caps and gowns, all financial obligations must be resolved. This includes such things as lost or damaged texts or Chromebooks, library fines, parking tickets, class dues, and activity fees. If there is a question regarding this, please contact Mrs. Evans in the Main Office at 203.245.6350 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. To check your student's obligations, parents/guardians can log in to Infinite Campus and find this information within the Fees category. Please be advised that diplomas will not be mailed home to seniors with outstanding negative balances on their lunch accounts. If you are not sure of your account balance, visit our District website Food Service Page or go directly to the MyPaymentsPlus website to login to your account. Obligations are due by the end of the school day on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Chromebook Returns
Graduating seniors must return their Chromebooks and chargers to the LMC no later than Tuesday, June 7th. Preferred drop-off times will be Monday, June 6th and Tuesday, June 7th between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Additional staff members will be onsite during these times to assist with Chromebook check in. Please make sure that you leave your device with a staff member – DO NOT leave any equipment in the LMC unattended. If your Chromebook is not properly checked back in, it will be marked as lost and this could impact your ability to collect your cap and gown for graduation.
Senior Yearbook Dedication
All seniors are invited to the Dining and Assembly Hall for the yearbook dedication and distribution at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7. Student superlatives will also be shared via a presentation during this event.
Confirming Pronunciation of Student Names at Graduation
Immediately following the Yearbook distribution, seniors will meet briefly with Mr. Bodner and Mrs. Whitcher to confirm the correct pronunciation of their name for the graduation ceremony. Students can also share how they would like their name read. As the date approaches, seniors will receive an E-Notify from Mrs. Whitcher concerning how they would like their name to be read at graduation.
Cap and Gown Distribution/Graduation Name
Caps, gowns, and tickets for admission to graduation will be distributed at Daniel Hand to those seniors who have no obligations on June 10 between 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Please note, that seniors who have any obligations will not receive their cap and gown or graduation tickets. At this event, students will also meet briefly with Mr. Bodner and Mrs. Whitcher to ensure the correct pronunciation of their name for the graduation ceremony. Students can also share as to how they would like their name read. For example, "Robert" may prefer "Bobby" or a student may wish to have their middle initial or full middle name read aloud during the ceremony.
Senior Brunch
The annual Senior Brunch is scheduled for Monday, June 13 at Woodwinds in Branford from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Seniors will assemble in the DHHS gymnasium at 8:15 a.m. prior to boarding the buses. No students are permitted to drive to this event. Upon arrival back at DHHS, students will report to the Madison Green for graduation rehearsal.
Graduation Rehearsal
Rehearsals are scheduled as follows:
Monday, June 13 Madison Green Approximately 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 14 Madison Green 12:00 p.m.
Both rehearsals are mandatory for all seniors to help ensure a pleasant and meaningful graduation ceremony.
Graduation
Graduation will take place on Tuesday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m. on the lawn of the First Congregational Church. Each student will receive six (6) tickets for seating. These tickets will ensure you have a seat in the gated area. Reserving seats during the afternoon of June 14 is prohibited. Gates will open at 5:15 p.m. Graduates should report to the Green by 5:15 p.m. Special handicapped seating will be available. Please call Mrs. Marino at 203.245.6350 to make accommodations in advance.
In the unfortunate event of thunderstorms, graduation will take place on Wednesday, June 15, at 6:00 p.m. If the weather forecast predicts thunderstorms during the evening on June 14 and during the day on June 15, graduation may take place earlier in the afternoon on Tuesday, June 14. In either case, parents/guardians will be notified by an E-Notify message and an additional notification will be posted on the DHHS website at www.danielhand.org.
Our goal for this special evening is to present our graduates to the Madison community in a ceremony that is both festive and dignified. The expected dress for students participating in this special event includes collared shirts, ties, long pants, dresses, skirts and blouses, or a pants outfit, and appropriate footwear. Students may decorate their mortarboards, but must refrain from vulgar or offensive expressions and from articles that protrude from the surface of the mortarboard. Students' gowns may not be decorated in any way. Students who do not comply with our guidelines may be prohibited from participating in the ceremony.
Toys, noisemakers, silly string (extremely flammable), cigars, and other articles/items, which detract from the ceremony, are prohibited. I ask your assistance in assuring compliance with these guidelines so that the ceremony is enjoyable and memorable for everyone.
Video/Livestream
Our TV production students do an outstanding job in recording, editing, and broadcasting the event on local cable television. The event will be livestreamed on the NFHS network and after the conclusion of the event, broadcasted on local Cable TV. See below for the link to the livestream and feel free to share this link with family and friends.
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/daniel-hand-high-school-madison-ct/evt735ca3c22b
Photographs
Steady Photography will provide professional photography services for each graduate as they receive a diploma. We have found that providing these services for families allows everyone the opportunity to enjoy the event from the audience and minimizes the need to get to the front, which often blocks the view of others. You will be notified by email approximately one week after the ceremony with the unique login information for your graduate. For your information, as a gift from the Class of 2022, all graduates will be receiving a 5 x 7 photograph from the graduation ceremony.
Nite-In-Hand
Nite-In-Hand is organized and run by a dedicated group of parent/guardian volunteers. The start time is 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14. This is a community-sponsored party for the graduates. Only those members of the Class of 2022 who graduate may attend.
Saving Your Google Files Before You Graduate - Complete BEFORE September 1, 2022
Class of 2022 - You've done some great work throughout your academic career in the Madison Public Schools - work you should be proud of and that you may want to take with you when you graduate. Because your Google account will be suspended after you graduate, you will not have access to your files. So, in order to save your work, you have a couple options.
INSTRUCTIONS TO MOVE GOOGLE FILES:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EaHB6wriLS4j5sA7Wk5fTbrwSUw9pH7I5ifFHOyGkkU/edit?usp=sharing
I trust this letter has provided you with helpful information. Mr. Bodner, Mrs. Whitcher, and I look forward to sharing these joyful events with all of you.
Stay healthy,
Mr. Salutari
Principal
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Calendar at a Glance . . .
June 7 Senior obligations due DHHS
June 7 Senior Yearbook Dist. 2:00 p.m. DHHS DAH
June 8, 9 Senior Exams DHHS
June 10 Senior Make-up Exams DHHS
June 10 Cap/Gown Distribution 1:30 p.m. DHHS
June 13 Senior Brunch 9:00 a.m. Woodwinds
June 13 Graduation Rehearsal 11:30 a.m. Church Lawn
June 14 Graduation Rehearsal 12:00 p.m. Church Lawn
June 14 Graduation 5:15 p.m. Madison Green
June 14 Nite-In-Hand 10:00 p.m. DHHS DAH