Senior Yearend Events
To the Members of the Class of 2023 and Parents/Guardians:
The majority of the content of this letter was sent in May. I am resending this
content to ensure all members of the Class of 2023 and their families have this
information prior to next week.
Senior Picnic/Field Day
There will be a Senior Picnic on Janssen Field on June 12, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be pizza trucks with pizza, salads, cannoli's and gelato! This event will include an opportunity to enjoy one last lunch and field day experience with members of your senior class! Please know only seniors who are taking make-up exams the morning of June 12th will be allowed in the building. Lastly, be reminded that all school rules and expectations apply to this event.
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 12 at 1:00 p.m. in the Dinning and Assembly Hall. 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 Tuesday, 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. Please note that due to a family event at Polson, seniors must park in the back parking lot by the tiger door for this event.
Senior Awards Night
The annual awards and scholarships presentation will be held on Wednesday, June 14 in the Dining and Assembly Hall. Class of 2023 students, parents/guardians, and families are invited to attend. We are in the process of notifying the students, and their parents/guardians who will be receiving awards and/or scholarships at this event. The event begins at 6:00 p.m.
Graduation Rehearsal
Rehearsals are scheduled as follows:
Thursday, June 15 Madison Green 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.*
Friday, June 16 Madison Green 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.*
Both rehearsals are mandatory for all seniors to ensure a pleasant and meaningful graduation ceremony. End times for these rehearsals are approximate.* Hats, sunblock, and water are suggested during these rehearsals due to the potential for warm and/or humid weather conditions.
Graduation
Graduation will take place on Friday, June 16 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. (If you are not planning to use all six (6) tickets, please return any extra tickets to the Main Office by Thursday, June 15.) Reserving seats during the afternoon of June 16 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 Saturday, June 17, at 10:00 a.m. If the weather forecast predicts thunderstorms during the evening on June 16 and during the day on June 17, graduation may take place earlier in the afternoon on Friday, June 16. 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.
