Graduation Information
Dear Wootton Students, Staff, and Community,
Today’s announcement is an exciting one. As I shared earlier this month, details regarding the date, time, and location of the Class of 2023 Commencement ceremony are to be shared this morning.
Here is what you need to know:
Date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Time: 10:00AM
Where: DAR Constitution Hall
A good deal of time and discussion went into identifying where to hold graduation. I want to acknowledge that for some, this announcement will bring excitement and, yet, for others this message will be disappointing. I believe you deserve to know a couple of points that were strongly considered in making this choice.
Graduation Survey - Earlier in the year, we surveyed students and caregivers to evaluate where you believe commencement should be held. The data do not clearly indicate one location over the other. Of the valid responses that were reviewed, 37% chose DAR, 32% chose Wootton stadium.
Cost Consideration - The cost of holding a stadium graduation is much greater than the cost of DAR. On average, a stadium graduation adds $20,000 of additional costs to the budget. The team at Wootton do not feel it is in the best interest of students to add this level of additional costs to the graduation budget.
Please order your cap and gown and graduation tickets by Thursday, January 26, 2023, using this link.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXUd4ETZT6182VHOy6LCRklovuKsQmlRLGExnA3Lcrk_OG9Q/viewform
Senior fees include the cost of the cap, gown, stole and tassel, and graduation related expenses. Senior fees can be paid at a later date and DO NOT need to be paid at the time of completing this form.
Graduation season will be here before we know it. As a reminder, May 31st will be a day in which school will not be in normal operation to allow staff to attend this event. As I stated at the graduation parent meeting at Back-to-School Night, remember to enjoy this next semester. It will fly by. Don’t forget to make memories as you will remember them for a lifetime.
Have a great day,
Douglas Nelson, principal
Questions? Please contact Mrs. Christy Rice, Graduation Coordinator, at Christina_M_Rice@mcpsmd.org