Dear Parents and Families,

The final week of the school year is upon us, underclassmen are excited to be finishing their last exam today, and we’re all enjoying the opportunity to say our farewells in person and send our Senior class off with accolades and heartfelt congratulations. 

COVID cases in Oxford County, as well as on-campus, have continued to rise, and the forecast for the end of the week is calling for rain Friday evening and into Saturday. In order to keep everyone a) dry, and b) outdoors, we are making several logistical adjustments to our end-of-year celebrations. Changes are noted below, along with a review of the overall schedule for your convenience. Our goal, of course, is to make this last week of the term feel special and celebratory for our students and Seniors, by controlling what we can in the face of what we can not.

“The End,” which will be held at River Lanes, our local bowling alley, will happen as scheduled. The only change is that students will be asked to eat outside at the picnic tables. Inside, everyone will be masked, consistent with our current indoor masking policy.

All Underclass Students are to depart campus by noon, at the latest. Students are working hard each day this week to clean their spaces, pack their belongings, return their library books, and donate their unneeded items. Day Students should be sure that all their belongings from their lockers and other places on campus have been removed. Boarding Students should plan to check out with a dorm parent before departing. 

The Senior Class will spend Thursday in perfect Gould tradition; The Annual Senior Canoe on the Androscoggin River followed by the Senior Gala - a fun night of games and a food truck! 

All Seniors have Baccalaureate and Commencement marching practice at 2:00 pm (not 3 pm - this is an hour earlier than the previously published time.) They will meet at the flagpole in front of Hanscom.

The Baccalaureate Dinner buffet will be available from 6:00 - 7:30 pm in the Ordway Dining Hall foyer and seating will be available under the Commencement Tent on Alumni Field. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer indoor seating. This will be a great time to connect with friends and family and take photos! 

The Baccalaureate Ceremony is in Bingham Auditorium at 8 pm. All guests are welcome and must wear a mask. The ceremony will also be available via Livestream - Watch the Baccalaureate ceremony online. 

Friends and Family, please plan to head off campus after the ceremony. Gould Seniors will all head back to Ordway Dining Hall for a great Gould tradition, Senior Shoutouts, and late-night snacks with their friends and faculty!

Family and friends will arrive on campus in time for Commencement, which begins at 10:30 am sharp. Seniors are expected to report to the flagpole in front of Hanscom by 10:00 am at the latest. The ceremony will take place on Alumni field, regardless of the weather. All parents and families of graduates will have seats under the tent. The ceremony will also be available via Livestream - Watch the Commencement ceremony online. 

We strongly encourage all participants and families to do two things:

Please know that things may have to change again; we will continue to communicate any updates through email and on the “End of Year” page on our website.

Best,

Lindsay Legare, Assistant to the Head of School

Denise Manning, Dean of Students

Rob Manning, Dean of Community Life