Commencement Week

Commencement Week 2023

We are looking forward to celebrating the Class of 2023 this May! Commencement and Senior Week activities are outlined below. The Commencement ceremony itself is on Sunday, May 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This year’s celebration will take place on campus. Please join us in congratulating the Class of 2023! 🎉⭐️🎓

Friday, May 19

9:35–10:00 a.m. | Recognition Assembly
Walton Center

Monday, May 22

4:00–5:00 p.m. | Commencement Rental Attire Distribution
Marshall Center Coffeehouse

Tuesday, May 23

3:30–5:30 p.m. | Rehearsal for Senior Assembly
Walton Center

5:30–6:30 p.m. | Rehearsal for Senior Class Photo & College Gear Photo Shoot
South Porch, Main Building (Rain location: South Gym, Fitness and Athletics Center)
*All seniors are required to attend.

6:30–8:00 p.m. | Yearbook Distribution for Seniors
Sunnybanke

Wednesday, May 24

9:00–11:00 a.m. | Seniors Decorate the Dining Room
Dining Room

4:00–6:30 p.m. | Spring Varsity Sports Banquet
South Gym, Fitness and Athletics Center

7:00–10:00 p.m. | Dress Rehearsal for Senior Assembly
Walton Center

Thursday, May 25

Student Schedule:

8:15–9:30 a.m.| Arrangement 2 (shortened)
9:30–10:40 a.m. | Arrangement 3 (shortened)
10:45–11:35 a.m. | All School Meeting for Worship

Rest of the day as scheduled.

Friday, May 26

Student Schedule:

8:15–9:30 a.m. | Arrangement 3
9:35–10:50 a.m. | Arrangement 4
10:55–11:35 a.m. | Senior Assembly (Walton Center)
11:35 a.m. | Rest of day proceeds as usual for all underclassmen. Seniors are dismissed.
5:00 p.m. | Gather on Red Square for Senior Dinner Dance photos (Rain Location: Fitness and Athletics Center) *Parents and Guardians are invited to attend.
6:00 p.m. | Senior Parent and Guardian Reception (MDA Library) *Families of Seniors are invited to attend.
6:00–10:00 p.m. | Senior Dinner Dance at Northampton Country Club
7:00–11:00 p.m. | Planned activities throughout the evening (Deans’ Office)
11:00 p.m. | Check-in for boarders; day students leave campus
11:15 p.m. | Check-in for students attending the Senior Dinner Dance

Saturday, May 27

9:45 a.m. | Rehearsal for Commencement Speakers & Performers (William Penn Outdoor Auditorium; Rain Location: North Gym, FAC)
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Lunch (Dining Room)
12:00–3:00 p.m. | Senior Commencement Rehearsal; seniors required to attend. (Marshall Center; Rain Location: North Gym, FAC)
12:15 p.m. | Daisy Chain Rehearsal (Admission Circle; Rain Location: Hallway outside classrooms, FAC)
4:00 p.m. | Commencement MFW; seniors required to attend. (Meetinghouse) *Families are invited to attend.

Sunday, May 28 - Commencement Ceremony

8:00–9:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast for Seniors (Dining Room; Rain Location: Movement Studio, FAC)
8:45 a.m. | Pinning of Roses (Main Dining Room; Rain Location: Movement Studio, FAC)
9:30 a.m. | Senior Class Photo (South Porch Steps, Main Building; Rain Location: South Gym, FAC)
10:00 a.m. | Seniors line up in walking order for the ceremony. (Marshall Center; Rain Location: South Gym, FAC)
10:20 a.m. | The processional begins at 10:20 a.m. preceded by the traditional daisy chain. (Rain Location: South Gym, FAC)
10:30 a.m. | The ceremony is from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (William Penn Outdoor Auditorium; Rain Location: North Gym, FAC) No tickets required
12:00 p.m. | Outdoor Lunch (Picnic Grove; Rain Location: South Gym, FAC) *Families are invited to attend.
1:00–3:00 p.m. | Tuxedo rental returns (Marshall Center Coffeehouse)
1:00–4:00 p.m. | Seniors must move out of the dorms by 4:00 p.m. on the day of Commencement.

All traffic will enter campus via Farm Drive. Main Drive will be closed. Here is a campus map. Seniors must arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. and report to the Dining Room. Guests arriving separately from students can arrive between 8:00-9:15 a.m. and proceed to the William Penn Auditorium.

Additional Information

Assisted and Handicap Parking Instructions

Directions to the assisted and handicap Commencement parking

Traveling south on Newtown Langhorne Road (Route 413):
Drive past George School (on right) and Newtown Friends School. Turn right at the traffic light onto Pennswood Village Road. Make a right onto Meetinghouse Lane (past Newtown Friends School), then make a left onto Tenant Drive. Staff members will be there to guide families and assist with golf carts.

Traveling north on Newtown Langhorne Road (Route 413):
Turn left at the traffic light onto to Pennswood Village Road. If you see George School’s campus on your left, you have gone too far. Once on Pennswood Village Road, make a right onto Meetinghouse Lane (past Newtown Friends School), then make a left onto Tenant Drive. Staff members will be there to guide families and assist with golf carts.

From the handicap and assisted parking section, golf carts will take visitors directly to the William Penn Outdoor Auditorium for the Commencement exercises. There are no designated or reserved handicap seating areas, so make sure you arrive early to secure desired seats.

Commencement Attire

The George School graduation ceremony tradition is for seniors to be uniform in their attire.

Dresses: Dresses are all-white (not ivory), mid-calf or longer, worn with slips and white shoes.

Jackets and Ties: White dinner jackets, black bow ties, white shirt, black trousers, black shoes and black socks. All jackets and ties should match and therefore all of this type of clothing (except for the black socks) is rented during a campus visit from Rochester Formal Wear and charged under incidental expenses.

All graduation attire must be approved by Barbara Kibler or Maureen West by Monday, April 17.

If students are not properly attired, they will not be permitted to participate in Commencement. If anyone has a question or wants to discuss an alternative to the requirements, please contact Barbara Kibler or Maureen West.

Richard Levin from Rochester Formal Wear will be available outside the Dining Room in Main Lobby on Thursday, February 23 during lunch from 11:35 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. He will measure those who would like to rent tuxedos. They will take orders for the Senior Dinner Dance and Commencement if any student is interested.

Seniors that rented tuxedos should pick up Commencement attire at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22 in Marshall, Coffeehouse. Returns should be made on Sunday, May 28 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. in Marshall, Coffeehouse.

Local Accommodations and Dining

Read about local accommodations and dining here or contact Gayle Kowalewski at 215.579.6502.

Parent/Guardian Events

Parents/Guardians are invited to the below events celebrating the Class of 2023:

Friday, May 26: Senior Dinner Dance photos on Red Square (5:00 p.m., Red Square; Rain Location: FAC)
Friday, May 26: Senior Parent/Guardian Reception (6:00 p.m., MDA Library)
Saturday, May 27: Commencement Meeting for Worship (4:00 p.m., Meetinghouse)
Sunday, May 28: Commencement (10:30 a.m., William Penn Outdoor Auditorium; Rain Location: FAC, North Gym)
Sunday, May 28: Commencement Lunch (12:00 p.m., Picnic Grove; Rain Location: South Gym, FAC)
- All guests are invited to lunch following Commencement

Passports

International students’ passports are kept in the Deans’ Office. Senior students should pick up their passports on Sunday, May 28, before 4:00 p.m.

Post Office and School Store

For your convenience, the George School Store and the George School Post Office will be open on Friday, May 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The store and the post office will be closed on Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29.

Senior Portrait Day

Senior Portrait Day will take place on Friday, March 30, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Student Banking

Students with George School debit accounts need to stop by the Business Office before Friday, May 26 to close out their account. The bank will be closed on the day of Commencement.

Questions?

If you have any questions please see the list below. We look forward to seeing you during this special time.

Class Sponsors: Shari Rossmann and Brittany Mokshefsky
General Information: Gayle Kowalewski – 215.579.6502
Handicapped Parking: Gayle Kowalewski – 215.579.6502
Rental Attire: Deans’ Office – 215.579.6589
Questions on Attire: Barb Kibler – 215.579.6667 and Maureen West – 215.579.6665
School Store: Maddy Roepcke – 215.579.6601