Class of 2023 Senior Celebrations and Commencement Ceremony Information

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Hello Class of 2023 Students and Families! Who is ready to GRADUATE?!

As we move into the last weeks of the school year, I am excited to share details about the Class of 2023 Commencement Ceremony and end-of-year celebrations with you! 

Throughout the end of May and into early June, we have several celebrations planned. Hopefully, these give you a chance to reminisce about your educational experience, thank those who have been influential in your life, and help you look forward to the exciting new chapter ahead. Please check out the details below and watch for continued updates throughout the spring. In addition, please bookmark the website links below as quick access to various updates and streaming services for all of our events scheduled for late May and June:

• CLICK HERE to access the Class of 2023 Senior Celebration and Commencement Ceremony website
• CLICK HERE to access the link to our livestream services. All the events outlined below, including the Commencement Ceremony, will be streamed and recorded through this link.
• Follow and monitor the Oconomowoc Area School District social media pages for reminders and video updates throughout the Spring.

 

I am so proud of each of you, and I look forward to a fun Spring ahead! As always, please email me at CurtisJ@oasd.org if you have any questions!

Go Raccoons!
Jason

 

CLASS OF 2023 RECOGNITION EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS 

Mark your calendars for the following celebrations. More details will be shared closer to each day!

 

CAP AND GOWN DISTRIBUTION & CLASS PICTURE
Wednesday, May 24 (1:45-2:40 p.m.)

We will run a modified schedule, and seniors will be released from Pride to take their class photo and pick up their cap and gown in the Gale Douglas Field House. This special event is a chance to come together as an entire senior class and for you to have one last meeting with your counselor, collect your memorabilia, and take those first photos in your cap and gown!

Seniors taking classes off-campus should plan to attend. If you cannot make it, please email your counselor to make alternative arrangements. 

 

CELEBRATE YOUR FUTURE WEEK

Monday, May 29- Friday, June 2

 
Families and friends are invited to join the Oconomowoc High School community as we celebrate the seniors who have committed to the military, workforce, apprenticeships, and  2-year and 4-year colleges during the following events:

Monday, May 29

Memorial Day Ceremony (8:00-8:30 a.m.) on the OASD Facebook Page

Rho Kappa, our Social Studies Honor Society, will honor our Raccoons committing to the military and honor our alumni and families who have served in the Armed Forces with this special Memorial Day Event. Join us on Facebook Live @oconomowocschools at 8:00 a.m. 

Senior Tribute Signs and Recognition

Throughout the week, Stadium Drive will be lined with recognition signs honoring each member of the senior class. The signs will showcase stickers indicating their contribution to the legacy of Oconomowoc High School. Family, friends, and community members are welcome to drive or walk around campus to check out these signs. The signs are for you to keep. However, we ask that you leave them on campus for our community to see and in recognition of Celebrate Your Future Week until after school on Thursday, June 1.

Tuesday, May 30

Military Commitment Day (8:55-9:35 a.m.) at Rux Stadium

We will recognize the seniors enlisting in the Armed Forces in a special school-wide celebration at Rux Stadium. Please email Lauren Black at BlackL@oasd.org to ensure your military recruit is registered to participate. Family and friends hoping to participate should meet at Rux Stadium by 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 31 

Apprenticeship and Workforce Signing Day (8:55-9:35 a.m.) in the Little Theater

We will recognize the seniors committing to various apprenticeships in the skilled trades and employment opportunities in a ceremony in the Little Theater. Please contact Kyla Stefan at StefanK@oasd.org to ensure your senior who is committing to an apprenticeship or the workforce is accurately registered for this special event. Family and friends hoping to watch this special ceremony should enter through the main office at OHS any time after 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, June 1

2-Year and 4-Year College Commitment Parade (9:15-9:35 a.m.) at the Gale Douglas Field House

Seniors attending various technical, 2- and 4-year colleges should dress up in gear and colors from their new school and showcase their college commitment. At the start of Pride, students will assemble in the Oconomowoc Arts Center and at 9:15 a.m. begin to parade down Raccoon Runway. Families and friends wanting to watch the parade can meet in the Gale Douglas Field House lobby at 9:00 a.m.

 

COMMUNITY RECOGNITION EVENTS & FINAL EXAMS

Monday, June 5-Friday, June 9

 
Monday, June 5

Class of 2023 Academic & Community Honors Night (6:30-9:00 p.m.) in the Oconomowoc Arts Center

We will recognize our seniors receiving various awards and scholarships at our Academic and Community Honors Night. Susan Verhagen coordinates this event and will be in touch regarding a formal invitation and details in the coming month. 

If your senior is receiving an award or scholarship, please CLICK HERE to report your scholarship offers.

Tuesday, June 6 

Class of 2023 Community-Wide Recognition and Parades

Seniors are asked to wear their graduation regalia as we take our final field trip of our high school careers. Graduation recognizes not only the completion of your high school journey, but the culmination of 12 years of education. As a class, we will visit our district’s elementary and intermediate schools to honor our former teachers and inspire the next generation of Raccoons who will build on the legacy that the Class of 2023 is leaving behind. 

Seniors should report to the Gale Douglas Field House at 8:45 a.m. with their caps, gowns, and academic regalia. Lunch will be provided.

 

Raccoon Community Senior Sendoff (1:30-2:40 p.m.) in the Gale Douglas Field House
Family and friends are invited to join our entire OHS community as we celebrate and send-off the Class of 2023. As a community, we have so much to celebrate from this past year. Please join us in the Field House as we share a few laughs, recognize our retiring staff members, and remember some of the highlights of this past year.

 

Wednesday, June 7, and Thursday, June 8

Final Exams
Seniors should report to OHS for Final Exams. We will run a modified schedule with students released at 12:10 p.m. each day.

 

Friday, June 9

Last Day of School and Graduation Rehearsal 

Seniors are required to come back to campus at specific times to collect any last-minute materials, enjoy a send-off breakfast, and practice for graduation. Below are the specific times, by counselor, that each senior should report:

• Eidman (Last Names A-D) 7:30-9:00 a.m.
• Fisher (Last Names E-Ka) 8:15-9:45 a.m.
• Verhagen (Last Names Ke-O) 9:00-10:30 a.m.
• Black (Last Names P-Th) 9:45-11:15 a.m.
• Schultz (Last Names Ti-Z) 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

 

CLASS OF 2023 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY 
SATURDAY, JUNE 10 AT 10:00 A.M.
OHS RUX STADIUM

 

The Commencement Ceremony for the Oconomowoc High School Class of 2023 will occur at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 10 at Rux Stadium. Seniors should report to the Gale Douglas Field House by 8:45 a.m. in their caps and gowns for photos and to line up. With more than 400 seniors graduating, we anticipate the ceremony will last about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Additional details about the ceremony are outlined below. If you have any questions, please email me (CurtisJ@oasd.org) or Christine McCartney (McCartnC@oasd.org):

Event Protocols and Logistics

• General Seating: Graduates are invited to bring an unlimited number of guests to the ceremony. Seating is done on a first-come, first-serve basis with the gates opening at 6:00 a.m. so that our team can begin setting up for the ceremony.
• Reserved Handicap and Accessible Seating: Families needing accommodations for handicap-accessible seating should email Christine McCartney (McCartnC@oasd.org) to make specific arrangements prior to Wednesday, June 7 at 12:00 p.m.
• Livestream Viewing: The ceremony will be livestreamed so that individuals who cannot attend can watch this special event live. A link will be shared closer to the event. In addition, the Oconomowoc Arts Center will be open to the public to watch the livestream of the ceremony in a comfortable and air-conditioned setting. 
• Flowers: You can preorder flowers for your graduate at: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/oconomowoc/. You will be able to pick up your flowers on Graduation Day at OHS.
• Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be postponed to later in the day. If the weather forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms throughout the day, the ceremony will be moved to Sunday, June 11, with a tentative start time of 1:00 p.m. If it is still raining on Sunday afternoon, the ceremony will be moved to the Gale Douglas Field House. Our primary goal is to have the event on Saturday, even if that means it happens later in the evening.
• Diplomas: Diplomas will be available to pick up in the Gale Douglas Field House after the ceremony.
• More Details in May: I will contact seniors about the dress code, cap decoration, and other important details in late May.