Schools
Need to Know: Berkley High School Graduation is Thursday
A handy guide of important details to know for your senior's big day.
With cap and gown pickup and rehearsal out of the way, Graduation Day will be here before you know it. If you're like most parents, you likely still have some last-minute questions about the big day.
To help, we’ve compiled an overview of the details for commencement on Thursday, from getting ready to catching the best photos as 255 students walk across the stage for their much-deserved diplomas.
When
Graduation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Meadow Brook Music Festival in Rochester. Graduates should arrive to line up at 6:30 p.m. for the commencement to begin on time. The Meadow Brook gates won’t open before 6:30 p.m. though.
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Where
Commencement will be in the Baldwin Pavilion at Meadow Brook Music Festival on the grounds of Oakland University. Meadow Brook is located at 3554 Walton Blvd. in Rochester and a campus map is available here.
The campus is situated off Walton Boulevard and Adams Road, accessible from Interstate 75 at University Drive (exit 79) and from M-59 at Adams Road.
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The main entrance is on Walton, a quarter of a mile west of Adams Road and nearly one mile east of Squirrel Road. There is also the east entrance on Adams, just south of Walton.
Directions
The quickest route from Berkley and Huntington Woods is to take I-75 north, exit at University Drive (exit 79) and head east to Squirrel Road. Take Squirrel Road north to Walton Boulevard and turn right onto Walton. Take Walton east, almost a mile to the main entrance. For a more scenic route, take Adams Road north to Walton.
Parking
Parking is free for all families. The campus map shows the various parking lots available at Meadow Brook, with P57 being the closest to Baldwin Pavilion.
Tickets
Graduates receive four free tickets. Students were also eligible to purchase four additional tickets during ticket pickup Wednesday, for a total of eight.
Additional tickets may be purchased Wednesday or Thursday from Ms. Kondrat in the main office. Ticket prices are $3 for pavilion and $1.50 for lawn seats.
Seating
Seating in the pavilion is first come first served and the lower seats are reserved for the graduating seniors.
Weather
Thursday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 76. The evening forecast calls for mostly clear skies, with a low around 56.
Dress code
Graduating seniors are reminded to dress appropriately for the ceremony. For guys, this means dress pants with a light colored shirt, socks and shoes, and a tie. Girls should wear a dress or a skirt and blouse (no high collars) and dress shoes.
No jewelry is allowed to be worn on the gowns and all caps must be worn flat on the front part of the head, not pushed toward the back.
Speakers
Student commencement speakers will be Victoria Cheung, valedictorian; Rachel Pernick, salutatorian; and Rachel Sabbath, the speech contest winner.
Photography
Parents are welcome to bring cameras, but a professional photographer will be on hand to get close-up shots, which will then be mailed to the graduate’s home. Guests will not be allowed to go down near the stage for any reason, including photos. Berkley School District will also record the ceremony and copies of graduation will be available for purchase.
No distractions
It is important that graduates contribute to the dignity, solemnity and respect for the ceremony. Accordingly, blow-up toys such as beach balls are not allowed.
All-night party
The senior class graduation party will be 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday at Berkley High School.
The cost is $50 in advance (order forms available in the main office) and $60 at the door. Students must arrive by midnight and the theme is “tailgate.”
Donations for the all-night party
The Operation Graduation planning committee is asking for donations of pop and water for the all-night party.
Donations can be brought to the West Gym 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday.
For anyone who cannot make it to the gym, donations can be dropped off at committee member Joanne Aronovitz’s house at 25816 Pembroke in Huntington Woods. For more information, call her at 248-798-6502.
