Graduation 2023
News & Info for Seniors and their Families 🎓
Graduation Details
Please take a few minutes to read this information. It will provide details about commencement and your remaining weeks as a student at Shepherd Hill Regional High School.
As the Class of 2023 completes its years at Shepherd Hill Regional High School and embarks upon the future, Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. McGrail look forward to working with you as your advisors to ensure that your final weeks will be filled with memories to last a lifetime. Our fondest hope is that each of you joins us at the DCU Center, June 4th, with the Class of 2023. To that end, we remind you to be cognizant of the attendance policy, to complete all assigned work in your courses, and to follow all policies and regulations outlined in the student handbook.
We also remind you that all financial obligations to the class (including but not limited to dues, fundraising monies, etc.) must be fulfilled in order for you to participate in class activities. Financial obligations to the school (including but not limited to bills for books, athletics, music, cafeteria, library, guidance, etc.) must be fulfilled in order to receive a cap and gown and participate in the commencement exercises. Any remaining payments need to be made in cash or with a bank check or money order. Time will pass quickly during your final weeks. Please assist us and your class officers in finalizing senior activities by meeting all deadlines. We wish all of you a lifetime of joy, happiness, and success.
Congratulations to the Class of '23 👩🏽🎓!
Student Email Account Reminder:
Graduating seniors are reminded to transfer any important emails or documents from their school google accounts to a personal account.
Student “dcrsd” google accounts are terminated immediately after graduation. You will lose access to all emails and documents you have stored there.
Banquet—Thursday, June 1 (6-10 p.m.):
This event will be held at Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and is for senior class members only - no guests. It calls for semi-formal attire and includes dinner, a cash soda bar and music for dancing. A police officer will be on duty. Students leaving the building area will not be readmitted.
Senior Class Trip
In addition to the information received this morning regarding Senior Events, we are asking all Senior Parents/Guardians to complete the Parent Field Trip Permission Slip for your student to attend Block Island! It is imperative that you complete these documents prior to the trip on May 31st, 2023 if your student is attending the trip to Block Island.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Senior Advisors, Sarah Armstrong and Jen McGrail.
Thank you!
Graduation Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will be conducted in the gymnasium. Attendance at rehearsals is mandatory if you plan to participate in commencement exercises. Any exception must be approved by the principal. Your completed sign-out sheet indicating that all obligations are fulfilled must be submitted to the main office before leaving school on Tuesday, May 30. Caps, gowns, photo order forms and tickets will be distributed after rehearsal on Thursday, June 1, at 11:00 a.m. If you do not submit the sign-out sheet, you will not receive a cap and gown and as a result, will not be able to participate in graduation exercises.
Eight tickets will be provided to each graduate. Please return any tickets that are not needed. Wheelchair accessible seating will be available with a written request to Mrs. Champagne (Principal’s office) prior to the end of the school day on Friday, May 26. Such requests will be honored for that identified person and one accompanying guest. Individual photos will be available at a reasonable cost for those who complete the Casson-Foster photo order form.
There is a list of rehearsal dates and times listed below.
🎓 Rehearsal Dates and Info 🎓
May 30th, 8:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
June 1st, 8:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. (distribution of caps and gowns)
June 2nd, 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. (Dress rehearsal, bring caps and gowns, dress appropriately - ties, dresses, dress shoes.)
Where: Gymnasium
What to Wear: The rehearsal on June 2nd is a dress rehearsal. Wear the outfit and shoes you will you will be wearing for the graduation ceremony 👡
Do's & Don'ts: Don't be late
🎓 Caps & Gowns 🎓
Where to pick up: Gymnasium, caps and gowns will be distributed at the conclusion of rehearsal.
Seniors' Last (Awards) Assembly—Friday, June 2:
“Senior Walk”—Friday, June 2:
Immediately following the Seniors’ Last Assembly on Friday, June 2, students will board buses and tour each of the 3 schools in the town in which they attended school before Shepherd Hill. As you walk through the halls in your cap and gown, high-fiving younger students, you will have an opportunity to celebrate your achievements, inspire younger students to follow in your footsteps, and impress your former teachers. The buses will return to Shepherd Hill after this brief tour and the remainder of the day will be free.
Graduation—Sunday, June 4 (1:00 p.m. SHARP):
Commencement takes place at 1:00 p.m. sharp at the DCU Center in Worcester, Sunday, June 4. Students are asked to arrive at 10:45 a.m. in proper attire as previously described. A quick rehearsal will take place at that time.
Eight tickets will be provided to each graduate. Please return any tickets that are not needed. Wheelchair accessible seating will be available with a written request to Mrs. Champagne (Principal’s office) prior to the end of the school day on Friday, May 26. Such requests will be honored for that identified person and one accompanying guest. Individual photos will be available at a reasonable cost for those who complete the Casson-Foster photo order form.
Please notify guidance if you do not plan to attend graduation exercises.
Seniors please keep in mind:
First, from your student handbook: “Participation: Students who have not met minimum academic requirements (22.00 credits including all local required courses and state mandated MCAS requirements) by the close of school the Thursday prior to graduation will not be allowed to participate in the graduation exercises. Seniors who have not fulfilled school obligations (i.e., failure to attend scheduled graduation rehearsals, outstanding school debts, failure to serve disciplinary time) may be excluded from graduation exercises by the Principal.” Acts of misconduct involving but not limited to alcohol or a controlled substance during senior activities may result in the exclusion of a student from graduation exercises. Don't be one of these students!
Second, your student handbook also states: "Skip Days—The school does not authorize skip days; no class, group or individual is authorized to take days off from school. Seniors are already authorized an official class day on school time. Any student involved in a skip day will be treated under the truancy rule." Don't do it!
Remember…..Your graduation from high school is a memorable experience. You will reflect on it for many years, as will your parents, relatives and friends. A moment of silly indiscretion can embarrass you and your classmates for a lifetime. Please be good to yourselves!
🎓 Save the Date! 🎓
Class of 2023 Graduation
ALL GRADUATES MUST ARRIVE AT THE DCU CENTER BY 10:45 AM FOR GRADUATION REHEARSAL
Sunday, Jun 4, 2023, 01:00 PM
DCU Center, Foster Street, Worcester, MA, USA
GRADUATION REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
- Attendance at all rehearsals and at the Seniors’ Last Assembly is mandatory if you plan to participate in graduation exercises. Any exceptions to this rule must be cleared with the principal.
- Students who have not completed their sign-out sheets will not be allowed to participate in graduation exercises.
- Graduation, Seniors’ Last Assembly, and Senior Banquet attire is semi-formal. Seniors will dress neatly, in a manner appropriate for the occasion. Inappropriate dress will not be tolerated. No jeans, sneakers, shorts, flip-flops, hats, or t-shirts will be allowed. Ties, collared dress shirts, and dress shoes are mandatory.
- Seniors who have not met minimum academic requirements by the close of school Thursday, June 1st, 2023, will not be allowed to participate in graduation activities.
- Seniors who have not fulfilled school obligations in regard to full payment of all outstanding debts, owed detention time, owed in-house days, etc., may be excluded from graduation exercises.
- Acts of misconduct, involving but not limited to alcohol or a controlled substance during senior activities may result in the exclusion of a student from graduation exercises.
- Seniors who violate other school rules as outlined in the Shepherd Hill Handbook will be disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the handbook and may prohibit a student from participating in senior activities, including graduation.
Final Exam Schedule
Final Exams—May 18-26, 2022
Final exams will be administered during A Block. All seniors are required to attend the full day of school on May 18 and May 19.
On Monday, May 22, students will be allowed to depart at the conclusion of the barbecue.
Beginning on Tuesday, May 23, students who have fulfilled all classroom obligations and who have completed the student form linked below, and whose parents have completed the parent permission form linked below, may leave after their A Block exam.
Arrangements for make-up exams are the responsibility of the student. Make-up exams must be completed by the end of the day on Friday, May 26.
May
AP Exam Schedule
5/1 - AP Chemistry Exam 12 noon5/2 - AP Environmental Science Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/2 - AP Psychology Exam 12 noon
5/3 - AP English Literature and Composition Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/4 - AP Seminar Exam 12 noon
5/4 - AP Statistics Exam 12 noon
5/5 - AP United States History Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/8 - AP Calculus AB Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/8 - AP Calculus BC Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/8 - AP Computer Science Principles Exam 12 noon
5/9 - AP English Language and Comp. Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/9 - AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam 12 noon
5/10 - AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/10 - AP Biology Exam 12 noon
5/11 - AP World History: Modern Exam 8:00 a.m.
5/11 - AP Physics 1: Algebra Based Exam 12 noon
Senior Activities - Important Dates
May
5/18 - Mock Car Crash - 9:00 a.m.
5/19 - Block A - Senior Final Exam
5/19 - Mock Car Crash 9:00 a.m. (Rain Date)
5/20 - Junior-Senior Prom - DCU Center 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
5/22 - Block A - Senior Final Exam
5/22 - Senior Barbeque - Outdoor Basketball Courts 11:06 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
5/23 - Block A - Senior Final Exam
5/24 - Block A - Senior Final Exam
5/25 - Block A - Senior Final Exam
5/25 - 2nd Annual Shepherd Hill Athletics Award Night 6:30 p.m.
5/26 - Block A - Senior Final Exam
5/29 - Memorial Day - No School
5/30 - Graduation Rehearsal - Gymnasium 8:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
5/31 - Senior Class Trip, Block Island, RI - 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
June
6/1 - Senior Banquet - Holy Cross, Worcester, MA 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
6/2 - Class Photo in Caps/Gowns - Cafeteria 8:00 a.m. SHARP
6/2 - Graduation Dress Rehearsal (formal attire required) - Gymnasium 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
6/2 - Seniors' Last Assembly - Gymnasium 9:30 a.m. - 10:55 a.m.
6/2 - Senior Walk - All Schools 11:00 a.m.
Graduation Day
6/4 - 50th Commencement Exercise, DCU Center 1:00 p.m. SHARP
Advice for Seniors!
Call Your Mom – We moms have a tendency to worry when we don’t hear from you. Do us a favor and call or text every few days to help keep our anxiety at a manageable level.
Go to Class/Work – Even When You Don’t Feel Like It –Remember those school mornings when your parents practically had to drag you out of bed, and force you out the door? It’s all on you now, kid.
Be kind –“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” ~Unknown
Be friendly and nice to everyone, from the faculty to the students to the cafeteria staff. If you’re shy, a smile will do until you work up the nerve to say ‘hello’. Equally important, be kind to yourself.
Have Fun, But Make Good Choices – There are a lot of temptations in college that will be new and exciting. Some may be good for you but many won’t be. When in doubt, don’t do it.
Always Wear Shoes in the Shower – Unless you’ll have a bathroom all to yourself, pick up a cheap pair of flip flops and never get into the shower without them. ‘Nuff said.
Buy used text-books – You can save a ton of money, and you can usually re-sell them when you’re finished with them.
Ask for Help – If you need help, ask for it.
And last, but not least,
Thank you!
Thank you for being our future. Thank you for the years of effort that have gotten you to where you are right now. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to becoming all that you will be. It has been an honor and a privilege to walk beside you in your journey to where you stand today.
Follow your dreams. Embrace all of the opportunities and challenges that come to you. And know that your parents are always just a phone call away.
Smore ❤️ Graduation 🎓
Email: alafond@dcrsd.org
Website: www.dcrsd.org
Location: 68 Dudley Oxford Road, Dudley, MA, USA
Phone: 508-943-6700