Hathaway Brown
Dear Parents and Members of the Class of 2020,
 
We know that many of you have been anxiously awaiting news about graduation and we’ve been working hard to find new and innovative ways to celebrate this amazing class of strong and determined seniors. Even a May snowstorm couldn’t stop this group from showing up for your Senior PORCHtraits this week. You inspire us and you make us abundantly proud. 
 
While you’re a strong and resilient force to be reckoned with, we know we have to be extremely cautious and prudent in the ways that we mark the exciting occasion of your graduation from HB. While we won’t be able to host the typical ceremony, we have developed a plan that will allow us to welcome each of you to campus in person to receive your diploma. 
 
So that we may do this as safely and responsibly as possible, we have worked with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to enact a number of very specific protocols that will enable this in-person aspect of our celebration to occur. We’re pleased to announce that each of our graduates of the Class of 2020 will be recognized with a special moment and diploma photograph opportunity in our Courtyard. 
 
To accommodate everyone, the diploma presentation will take place over three days: Sunday, May 24, Monday, May 25, and Tuesday, May 26, between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Families will sign up for one ten-minute time slot via the Google Appointment Calendar linked here. These slots will likely fill up quickly, so we encourage you to think about several different times that might work for your family during this timeframe. Please note: Diplomas and other materials will be mailed to graduates who cannot or would prefer not to attend. 
 
So that we may safely confer these diplomas, all those who sign up to take part must agree to the follow these strict guidelines established by the Board of Health:
  • We invite no more than six family members to join the graduate in this personalized ceremony, as the health department has limited the number of people in attendance to 10. (Remember, this includes two school administrators and a professional photographer who will be onsite to capture the proceedings as well.)
  • We will follow the recommended two-meter physical distancing throughout the presentation ceremony.
  • Because of safety precautions, we ask that all individuals will wear masks or face coverings. School administrators will also be wearing disposable gloves.
  • We have asked officers from the Shaker Heights Police Department and HB security to help us process families as safely as possible.
  • We ask that our graduates and their families park in the Sherbrooke Road parking lot behind the Carol and John Butler Aquatics Center. Security personnel will give further directions upon your arrival. For safety reasons, we ask that you remain in your car until the family ahead of you in line has finished. 
  • In the event of rain, we will email you directions and the presentation ceremony will take place just inside the entrance of the Anne Cutter Coburn Reception Room. 
For those who would prefer to have their diplomas mailed to their homes, we will ship those with an expected arrival date of  Friday, May 29, which is the date that marks students’ official graduation from Hathaway Brown School. As we noted in earlier communication, we intend to still honor that milestone date as well, and we’ll be doing so with a special video Commencement experience that will be available for all to view and enjoy at 11 a.m., so the entire class may participate in this virtual celebration together. The video will be available as a recording after that time as well. We’ll share the link as soon as it’s available. 
 
We’re looking forward to seeing you soon.
 
Fondly, 
 
Fran Bisselle
Head of School
 
Hallie Ritzman
Director of Upper School



Hathaway Brown School  ••  Girls K-12/Coed Early Childhood
19600 North Park Boulevard  ••  Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122  ••  216.932.4214
     
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