AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY...

Like all things GWCS, graduation is extremely personal, authentic, and necessitates the involvement of all students, parents, and faculty striving for unity of purpose. We celebrate our graduates -- they're definitely the stars f the day, and we celebrate the culture and community that got them to their seat on the stage. It's a beautiful thing.

If you haven't been to a GWCS graduation, I urge you to go. It's better than a TED Talk, an X-Men movie, and Nicholas Sparks novel rolled into one. No spoilers here, but a glimpse of what you can expect:

location:

GWCS graduation is held at the beautiful historical landmark George Washington National Masonic Memorial. No, not named after our beloved founders, but the setting sets the scene for the magnitude of the occasion.

HALL OF MEMORIES:

Upon arrival to graduation, guests are encouraged to walk the "hall of memories" where they are delighted with visual representation of the paths of each graduate and glimpses of special moments leading up to this day.

AWARDS:

During our ceremony we acknowledge and celebrate two'Students of the Year' and two of our 'Most Valuable Contributors' to the community. Community School. Get it? The announcement of these awards is a surprise at graduation and the excitement and emotion is palpable.

FOUNDERS:

And as for the "G" and the "W", you'll hear from them too. Rather than hiring a commencement speaker, you'll get to hear a very special message from our founders. Mr. Goldie will make you laugh and Ms. Warden will make you cry. (Insider tip: Mr. Goldie always begins his speech with a lie... he won't be brief!)

Quotes & Quilts:

Like the ever-awkward blind folded Halloween doughnut match, the Heritage Feast, or Event Night, Senior Quilts are uniquely "GW" GWCS tradition. Ms. Warden handpicks the fabric, parent volunteers gather for Saturday quilting bees at the school, and students and staff write heartfelt messages on them. Underclassmen present the quilts to the seniors during the graduation ceremony. The quilts serve as a "snuggable" momento that provides warmth, comfort, and reminiscence of "home".

Senior Speeches:

Last and certainly not least, our graduating seniors: You'll definitely be hearing a speech from our valedictorian, but you won't necessarily know who he or she is. That's because you'll hear from each of our seniors. They've each left an indelible mark on our community, and, we know that each of them have something to say that's worth hearing.

Diplomas:

The grand finale of the graduation ceremony... the awarding of the diplomas. Mr. Goldie and Ms. Warden congratulate each senior with handshakes that melt into hugs - big hugs - as they award the diplomas.

Reception:

We're not done yet! Following the ceremony, there is an exhilarated exodus to the Grand Hall for photos, food, laughter and more hugs.

All of this is made possible, every year thanks to our...

Volunteers:

It takes a village to create a GWCS graduation. Parents make life-long friends with their fellow committee members, and every non-graduate student is put to work setting up, participating in the ceremony and tearing down. Volunteers can be dag-on proud of their accomplishment at the end of the day, knowing what a special day they've helped to create for the graduates and their families.