With the academic year near completed, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools will celebrate its high school graduates across three days this weekend.
The districts are preparing to hold their commencements on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday — June 11, June 12, and June 13 — and have shared instructions for participants and visitors alike to keep in mind when coming to the ceremonies.
Here are highlights from what you need to know about this weekend’s events, with additional details on CHCCS’s graduation webpage and Orange County Schools’ graduation webpage.
Start Times and Locations
The Partnership Academy’s graduates will kick the ceremonies off Thursday morning at Cedar Ridge High School (1125 New Grady Brown School Rd), with its commencement set for 10 a.m.
Like last year, OCS’s remaining schools will hold their events at the Dean E. Smith Center (300 Skipper Bowles Drive, Chapel Hill) on UNC’s campus. Both will be held on Friday, with Cedar Ridge High School’s graduation at 10 a.m. and Orange High School’s at 1 p.m.
CHCCS’ Phoenix Academy will also hold its graduation ceremony on Friday, but at its own campus (750 S Merritt Mill Rd). The event will take place at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, CHCCS’ traditional trio of high schools will hold their graduations at the Dean Dome. Carrboro High School will start the day off at 9 a.m., followed by East Chapel Hill High School at 12:30 p.m. and Chapel Hill High School at 4 p.m.
Entry to Ceremonies
For each graduation event, doors will open to guests one hour prior to the ceremony.
The districts also shared the Dean Dome’s policies ahead of the weekend’s events, which prohibits noise makers, confetti, balloons, wrapped gifts, firearms and alcoholic beverages. Cameras, bouquets of flowers, appropriate signs, and unopened food and drink are welcome, as limited concessions will be sold.
All bags are subject to search upon entry, and attendees are encouraged to bring clear bags to reduce their screening time at the doors. CHCCS staff should bring their school district ID so security can identify and verify employees before providing access to restricted areas.
Both districts also recommend graduates leave gowns unzipped and opened as they enter the Smith Center to make the security check as quick as possible.
Parking
Parking on UNC’s campus in the lots around the Dean Smith Center and off Skipper Bowles Drive will be free to visitors for the graduation ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. The Bowles Lot, Manning Lot and Craige Deck will be reserved for the event, and accessibility parking with shuttle service will be at the Williamson Lot across the street from the arena. The Craige Deck must be accessed via the Blythe Drive side entrance, according to the districts.
With five ceremonies set to take place on UNC’s campus this weekend, CHCCS recommends arriving early to each event, anticipating heavy vehicle traffic before, during, and after the graduations.
Livestreams
All Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools graduation ceremonies will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel. The individual ceremonies will also be recorded and posted to the channel for later viewing. Graduation pictures, stories, and information will be posted to CHCCS’ Instagram and Facebook before and after the weekend’s events.
Orange County Schools will not be livestreaming its commencements, but photos will be posted afterward to the district’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
Featured image via Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
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