As a Dunwoody High School Parent of the Class of 2020, the students last year missed many of the end of year celebrations but the DHS staff and parents bent over backward to do the best they could with much uncertainty and constant flux.
The Parents of 2021 know their Seniors have so far missed everything special about Senior Year as compared to the traditional school year but they refuse to not celebrate the many successes of this Senior Class and will therefore honor them appropriately. Kudos to all involved!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/gradcats-2021
Dunwoody High School Parents of Class of 2021
Hey everyone, Here’s some exciting news! A group of about 50 senior class parents has been collaborating on a fun graduation event for all of us. We are ready to make it happen, and we will need everyone’s help!
To make sure everyone is clear on the parameters of the event, PLEASE READ THIS IN ITS ENTIRETY!
First, email gradcats2021@gmail.com with questions, ideas, etc. All event communication will go through gradcats2021@gmail.com.
SENIOR CELEBRATION (like baccalaureate or senior reflections in prior years)
• Ameris Amphitheater, Wednesday, May 19, 7:00 PM
• Everyone is welcome! All 500 members of the senior class and their families included and invited (up to 3,000 people)
• A FUN CELEBRATION of the past four years while looking forward to a great future for all of these kids
• Event is in addition to graduation Monday, May 24, 7:00 PM at Hallford Stadium
• A more personalized program than the formal graduation ceremony (focus on what’s great, honorable and special about this group of kids and this particular class)
• POSSIBLE ideas for the program: Feature all types of kids and all types of things they have focused on and achieved in high school (this is not set in stone by any means)
o Video on big screens as people are seated (one page per kid: kindergarten and senior pics, name)
o Singers (senior chorus members, solos, duets, etc.)
o Musicians (senior band/orchestra members, solos, duets, etc.)
o Drama (seniors perform segment from a play performed during the past four years)
o Artists (senior-created program cover, other suggestions welcome)
o ROTC
o Senior Superlatives (easy way to feature kids who might not normally be recognized)
o Academic and sports records and achievements
o Speakers (let kids speak and introduce each other, plus have adult speakers chosen by kids)
• This will be an expensive event. Ameris Amphitheater will cost more than $30,000, and we are hoping and praying we can raise the funds from senior class parents, sponsorships and any other funding we can find. We will gladly accept money from local businesses, and their logos can be featured in the program. Parents, please consider what you have not, and will not, be paying for since last March. When you add up costs for all the things our kids have not been able to do in the past year, it can be a significant sum.
• Please make all personal donations ANONYMOUSLY through Go Fund Me. This will help all of us give what we can and no more.
Ameris Amphitheater is an outdoor, covered venue seating 3,000 people at this time. While that number may increase as May nears, it will not likely be close to normal capacity of 12,000. Covid safety precautions (wearing masks, family units seated together and spaced apart, etc.) are mandatory for all attendees. By attending you agree to abide by all event safety requirements and absolve organizers and event management from liability.
As stated above, this event is addition to the county’s graduation. Can it be an insurance policy our kids will have something if the county graduation is canceled, and can we make it more of a graduation ceremony if that happens? Sure, but it is in no way meant to replace the county's planned graduation. Having two graduation events is not unusual in any other year, and many schools across the country will hold baccalaureate and graduation.
In summary, this is intended to be a super fun, upbeat and personal way to celebrate our kids -- together.
