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Earlier start for Friday's Crowe grad ceremony

Grads will be walking across the stage in cap and gown at 6 p.m. on Friday, one hour earlier than past years.
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Earlier start (6 p.m.) for this year's Crowe grad ceremony in the Trail Memorial Centre on Friday.

Grads will be walking across the stage in cap and gown at 6 p.m. on Friday, one hour earlier than past years.

Convocation in the Trail Memorial Centre (TMC) can stretch late into the evening, so this year’s organizers are hoping an earlier start will encourage students to stay for the fun and games after party, also held in the arena.

“For the past few years we’ve started at 7 p.m.,” explains David DeRosa, principal of J.L. Crowe Secondary School. “But over the years have noticed a trend, that grads were exhausted by Saturday night and definitely Sunday when they are most likely going to be spending time with their families and friends,” he added.

“Part of the reason (for the time change) was that Dry Grad also has been hosted on the Friday night after convocation and would go quite late. In recent years, many grads were heading home before some of the main events were finished or even started (the guest hypnotist as an example).

“With the formal ceremony an hour earlier, we can support the parent committee with their plans for a safe and fun dry grad evening that allows all grads to participate for a few hours before safely heading home.”

This year’s class of 154 grads, 152 participating in the ceremony, are scheduled to arrive at the TMC by 5 p.m. to receive their caps and gowns from Crowe teachers and staff.

Parents, family and friends are invited to gather for gown photos from 5-5:45 p.m., the ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. sharp with a ceremonial march into the arena.

The event is expected to wind up by 8 p.m.

This year’s guest speakers are Montrose natives Connor and Kellen Jones, twin brothers and past Crowe students, national junior hockey champions, Quinnipiac University graduates and professional hockey players.

“This is a very fitting connection,” DeRosa said. “We have three sets of twins in the grad class.

“The guest speakers have had an incredible journey (which continues) and we are looking forward to hearing about their collective experiences and shared wisdom.”



Sheri Regnier

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