Graduation Essence Statements

At Carolina Friends School, the graduation service is unlike virtually any other school's.

There is no dignitary who visits the campus to give a speech to the graduates. There is no speech prepared and delivered by a valedictorian. And the presenting of diplomas is usually not accompanied by a handshake, but with hugs, laughter, and sometimes tears shared by the graduate, the Head of School, and the Upper School Head Teacher.

Graduation begins at 10:30 with the graduating class walking down the aisle through a "tunnel of love" created by applauding and high-fiving staff and trustees.

The seniors then stand in front of the crowd and present flowers to their parents and guardians before taking their seats on the stage in front of approximately 500 family members, teachers, students, and guests.

Our Head of School makes a few introductory remarks.

Then we all settle into about 50 minutes of Meeting for Worship with Attention to Graduation. During this time, people may be moved to speak into the silence.

At the end of the silence, the Head of School, assisted by Upper School head Tom Anderson, calls forward graduates to be awarded their diplomas.

We close the service at around noon after which light refreshments are served.

Here is how the graduation program describes the service:

Our graduation occurs within a Meeting for Worship in the manner of Friends. This means that we sit in a spirit of silent waiting, and those who feel led to share a brief message stand to do so. Keeping in mind our graduates and several hundred guests, we ask that messages be directed to the group rather than to individuals. The depth of a Meeting for Worship is greatly enhanced by silence between messages.