WHS’s graduation ceremony, held each year on the Town Green, carries traditions stretching back nearly a century. These rituals serve as a bridge between eras; while their core remains, their evolution reflects a school that honors its heritage even as traditions have grown, adapted, and been redefined since the first class walked across the stage.
The roots of the tradition stretch back to two years after the current WHS building opened. According to the Weston Historical Society, the school began holding graduation ceremonies on the Town Green in 1963, shortly after the fifth and current high school building was dedicated in 1961. The ceremony has continued to be held there for more than 60 years, interrupted only by severe weather driving the event indoors or, most recently, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced changes.
Given the long tradition of many of the ceremony’s elements, younger siblings have watched their brothers and sisters participate in the annual customs, which helps them value the ceremony’s significance.
“I think graduation is a very special moment for all students who graduate,” said sophomore Kearney Dickie. “My sister graduated last year, and seeing her get to be a part of that tradition was so cool.”
Faculty members who have witnessed decades of ceremonies recognize how the specific physical setting on the Green contributes to this sense of tradition.
“I’ve seen many graduations at the town green and I think it’s a great tradition to have because it’s in the center of our town.” said English teacher Henry Moon.
The events that follow the diploma ceremony are viewed by many as an essential concluding celebration, especially the Senior Overnight, which is a trip all seniors take after graduation for one last hoorah. This event has become especially anticipated among members of the graduating class.
“I’m excited for Senior Overnight. It’s going to be a lot of fun, especially since we just graduated,” said senior Aidan Murphy.
Many of Weston’s traditions are meant to create lasting memories for students while also connecting current graduates to generations of past seniors. One tradition that especially reflects that sense of history is the graduation dress code. WHS graduates do not wear traditional caps and gowns; instead graduating seniors wear white dresses/outfits and white-jacketed tuxedos as they cross the stage to receive diplomas. Some students think the graduation dress code doesn’t really matter.
“I’m not too worried about wearing all white versus wearing a cap and gown,” said junior Greg Kocharyan. “When I graduate, I’m just going to want to celebrate; the outfit doesn’t really matter.”
This dress code is among the ceremony’s most recognizable elements, and its staying power surprises even some who were skeptical of it at first.
“For the first 15-17 of my 25 years here, I would probably say I was against the white tuxedos,” said Moon. “It’s been in the last decade or so that it’s kind of grown on me. It does look nice when the entire class is there.”
The origins of this clothing tradition are not totally clear, but some believe it may be a look adopted from what students graduating from private schools typically wear.
“I think wearing white is more symbolic,” said history teacher Robin Wanosky. “You see a lot of private schools with female students in white dresses. So I think it’s just been a long-standing tradition in a lot of schools for many, many decades.”
While certain traditions have stayed consistent, other processional traditions eventually disappeared from the ceremony.
“There was a bagpipe player that used to perform during graduation, but all of a sudden the bagpipe player wasn’t there,” said Moon.
While certain historical elements faded, school officials integrated fresh ceremonies celebrating high school completion. Such rituals provide modern ways for community members to honor successes in seniors’ final days at school.
“I think the Senior Clap out is a really fun tradition, though it’s sad to see the seniors walking out of a place they’ve been in for so long,” said junior Winnie D’Amaro.
For many seniors the traditions surrounding graduation are part of what makes the end of the school year even more special as a way to mark the end of their high school careers.
“In Weston there are so many different and fun traditions seniors get to do,” said senior Leanna Dinno. “It makes graduation really exciting, and there is so much to look forward to. It’s so fun that we get to spend our last moments together doing activities and other stuff; I know it’s going to be very memorable.”
