Senior End of Year Information
This is your one-stop resource for all information related to end-of-year events at for the Class of 2021. Please review all the information on this page and refer to it regularly. If things change, this page will always be updated with the most recent information regarding these events.
Senior Events
Three events, one ticket and one low price!
The total cost for all three events is $20 per person. See Mrs. Howe for tickets. Deadline for tickets and permission slips is Monday, May 17. For a permission slip, click here.
Senior Field Trip
Thursday, May 20
The senior class will enjoy time together at Odetah Camping Resort in Bozrah. Students should arrive no later than 9 am and meet in the bleachers on the turf field before being assigned to busses for transportation to Odetah for a day filled with fun activities and camaraderie, including mini golf, knockerball, paddle boats, funtastic inflatables, basketball courts, an obstacle course, traditional filed games and two food trucks!
Senior Prom
Saturday, May 22
The Senior Prom will take place on the NFA campus from 6 to 9 pm. The theme is “Camp to Couture.” Walk the red carpet and have pictures taken in the Atrium. A mobile DJ will spin tunes in the front of campus with more great photo ops. And, a dessert truck will provide delicious lite fare.
Important trip and prom note:
Students attending the field trip and/or prom will need to sign up in small groups, which may be different for each group. This will allow us to manage any contact tracing, should the need arise. Sign ups will take place during Connections on May 17.
Wildcat Lawn
On Monday, May 24, the lawn in front of Norton will be covered with Wildcats, representing each member of the Class of 2021. Students will help in the assembly of the lawn, too!
Senior Brunch
Monday, June 7
The traditional Senior Bruch will take place at 11 am on the NFA practice field. Enjoy this final time together before taking part in graduation rehearsal (immediately following).
Recognition Events
Visual and Performing Arts Awards
Thursday, June 3
Join us virtually as we celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of the students in our visual and performing arts program. This virtual event will begin at 6 pm.
Champions Night
Monday, June 7
On this night, we celebrate the individual and team success of our Wildcat student athletes. This virtual ceremony will begin at 6 pm.
Class Night and Awards Ceremony
Tuesday, June 8
This year, we will present more than $400,000 in scholarships to our students thanks to the incredible generosity of the NFA Foundation. Tune in to this virtual ceremony at 6 pm and watch this celebration of achievement recognizing excellence in our senior class and beyond.
All of our virtual celebration programs will be available in the following manner:
- YouTube: youtube.com/norwichfreeacademy
- Comcast Cable (Norwich/Old Lyme): NFA-TV, Channel 12
- Frontier Communications: NFA-TV, Ch. 99 (Educational Access 1)
*Frontier Communications customers watching on cable should follow the steps below:
- Go to channel 99
- Press OK
- Scroll to Norwich
- Select Educational Access 1
Graduation
Graduation Rehearsal (mandatory)
Monday, June 7
Following the Senior Brunch, students will then participate in a mandatory graduation rehearsal on campus and not at Dodd Stadium. Students will be assigned to specific classrooms and all necessary information will be shared virtually.
Please arrive for rehearsal at 12:45pm.
While in those classrooms, students will also receive their cap and gown, a special Class of 2021 mask to be worn at graduation and the four tickets for family members to join the ceremony at Dodd Stadium. Students will also learn their staging area to determine where they go when arriving at Dodd.
Graduation Exercises of the Class of 2021
Wednesday, June 9
As previously announced, the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021 will be held at Dodd Stadium in Norwich. This in-person ticketed event will also be broadcast live. Details on how to watch can be found below. The ceremony will be held rain or shine. Here are the important pieces of information with more specific detail below:
- Each student will be provided four tickets for the ceremony (this is the same number that is provided for an on-campus ceremony)
- Masks are required at all times by all participants.
- Students should arrive between 2:45 and 3 pm and go to their assigned staging area prior to the ceremony. These staging areas will be outside of the stadium and signs will be posted. Staff will be on hand to direct students, too.
- Gates will not open before 3 pm.
- Nobody will be allowed in the stadium without an official ticket.
- Seating will be assigned. This is not a general admission event.
Additional important information
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Students will be seated in the stands in assigned sections (students will receive their seating assignment at graduation rehearsal). Unlike past years, students will not be called in alphabetical order, so this will be important for families to know.
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Families will also be in the stands, also in assigned sections, and socially distanced. We are maintaining necessary guidelines and doing our best to provide the best and safest event possible for our students. We ask for your cooperation and patience and that you follow the guidance of our ushers and support staff.
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Large video boards will be on site, one on each concourse. While each seat will have a view of the stage, which is located at home plate, these video boards will ensure that you don’t miss any opportunity to see students walk across the stage.
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Like last year, students will not actually receive diplomas during the ceremony. (They will receive the diploma jacket.) Diplomas and other materials such as awards and printed programs will be handed out June 11 and June 12 during the on-campus photo days.
What if it rains?
First of all, it won’t. But, just in case, here’s the plan:
If weather becomes an issue, the event will still occur Wednesday, June 9. A decision to move to our foul weather plan will be determined 24 hours in advance -- therefore, at 4 pm on Tuesday, June 8. If the decision is made to shift, it will be put out on the Academy’s social media and via a SchoolMessenger phone call.
Should we be forced to change the course of events, here’s what you need to know:
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Students will still arrive between 2:45 and 3 pm. Their staging areas will be moved under the cover of the stadium concourse. Students will be provided seating on the concourse and be out of the elements.
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If we shift, one car only will be allowed for each student. Students will receive these parking passes during graduation rehearsal. The parking passes are only needed if we shift the ceremony.
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Cars will be parked as they were last year, in the main Dodd lot with access to the large video monitors we will have on site. These are 16 foot by 10 foot LED video walls that are easily viewable from anywhere in the lot.
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The ceremony will be ‘live’ and broadcast to the screens and online from a stage located under cover at the stadium. Nobody will have a direct access view to the stage from the parking lot, but all activities will be broadcast clearly on the video walls.
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From there, the ceremony will take place as normal, with the main element being that students will walk across the stage as the featured part of the ceremony. All of this will be under cover and outside of the elements.
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Following the ceremony, students will be dismissed from their staging areas one group at a time. The students will come to the cars in the parking lot before cars are dismissed.
The Graduation Exercises of the Class of 2021 will be available to view in the following manner:
- YouTube: youtube.com/norwichfreeacademy
- Comcast Cable (Norwich/Old Lyme): NFA-TV, Channel 12
- Frontier Communications: NFA-TV, Ch. 99 (Educational Access 1)
*Frontier Communications customers watching on cable should follow the steps below:
- Go to channel 99
- Press OK
- Scroll to Norwich
- Select Educational Access 1
Photo, Diploma & Award Distribution
Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12
With our ceremony taking place at Dodd Stadium, this is your opportunity to return to campus for the signature photos everyone craves. It’s also your opportunity to pick up your diploma, as well as any awards you have earned during either of our three virtual award ceremonies.
If you are just coming to pick up your diploma and/or awards, you do not need an appointment. You can stop by anytime between 2 and 7 pm on Friday or between 11 am and 7 pm on Saturday.
If you are coming for photos, an appointment is required and you can sign up for that here.
Photos will be taken of the individual graduate and families. These will be provided at no cost. Masks will be required while on campus (except during the photo). Each graduate may have four guests, for a total party of five.
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