Commencement 2020
Drive-Thru Events Celebrate Milestones for Class of 2020, 2024 and 2027
The end of the school year looked a little different in 2020, but St. Margaret’s still found ways to celebrate the extraordinary class of 2020 as they graduate from St. Margaret’s, as well as the class of 2024 finishing Middle School, and the class of 2027 finishing Lower School.
Class of 2020
St. Margaret’s gave a final celebratory send-off to the Class of 2020 with a drive-thru commencement ceremony in August, where graduates received their diploma and an alumni gift, and sent on their way with streamers and cheering by members of the Upper School professional community.
Each family came through one-by-one in their vehicles, allowing for individual celebrations and photos for each student throughout the day, with St. Margaret’s campus as a backdrop.
The Class of 2020 will now matriculate to 65 colleges and universities across the country and around the world to begin the next part of their educational journey.
“It was incredibly moving to share a personal moment with so many graduates in the Class of 2020,” Upper School Director of Community Life Lora Allison said. “We were thrilled to be able to provide a moment of closure as they received their diploma, but also celebrate and rejoice with them on a job well done at St. Margaret’s. We are so proud of each student, and wish them the very best on their next step.”
The Class of 2020 Commencement activities included a special senior tribute put together by the Upper School. You can view it below:
Class of 2024
St. Margaret’s Middle School celebrated and sent off its grade 8 students in a drive-thru event in June, held at Pasternack Field House as a symbolic welcome to the Upper School.
Grade 8 students received a commemorative Class of 2024 gift, which included a custom pillow, pajamas with the class year on them, a sticker sheet, a sign and a treat. The Middle School also put together tribute films that were shared with the class via email.
Class of 2027
St. Margaret’s Lower School celebrated and bid farewell to its grade 5 students as they leave their red sweaters behind and begin their transition to Middle School.
Lower School faculty, including grade 5 teachers Todd Clarke, Erika Higgins and Rachel Stephens, set up a yearbook and gift bag distribution with special surprises for the Class of 2027 students. The gift bags included a customized blanket with photos from each class, personalized St. Margaret’s water bottles, the lyrics to the Grade 5 Ode written by the teachers, inflatable shoes, and a box of Scottie dog shortbread cookies.
Special Film
As a special gift from each of the four school divisions to their classes celebrating important “rising” milestone years, St. Margaret’s decorated its beautiful Highlands Quad around the Chalmers Field with chalk writings of the names of students rising to Kindergarten, rising to Grade 6, rising to Grade 9, and importantly culminating with the members of the Class of 2020, poignantly written on the steps of the Performing Arts Center where their Commencement Ceremony is planned to take place in August.