Celebrating the Class of 2022!

Brewster’s Class of 2022 graduates and their guests will gather on Brown Field for Commencement on Saturday, May 28 at 10 a.m. No tickets are required for this year’s event. Those who cannot attend in person are welcome to watch the ceremony live via livestream.

ARRIVAL DETAILS

Plan on arriving 20-30 minutes early for the ceremony so you have time to park and get settled on the field before the 10 a.m. start time.

Please remember there are no pets allowed on campus or at the ceremony.

The Brewster Campus Store in Estabrook will be open on Commencement Day from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. We ask that you maintain social distancing while in the building, but masking is optional.

2022 Commencement Speaker

Brewster is honored to announce that noted author Aminatta Forna will be the keynote speaker at the 2022 Commencement on May 28. Author of critically acclaimed works, including Happiness, The Hired Man, and most recently The Window Seat, Ms. Forna is the recipient of a Windham Campbell Award from Yale University, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best Book Award, the Aidoo-Snyder Book Prize, and a slew of other literary awards.

A true citizen of the world, Ms. Forna was born in Scotland and has lived in Sierra Leone, Great Britain, Iran, Thailand, and Zambia. We invite you to learn more about our fascinating speaker—including her Rogbonko Project, a nonprofit organization supporting the village founded by her grandfather in Sierra Leone—at her website here. Our graduates and their families are in for a treat!

2022 COMMENCEMENT AND END-OF-YEAR FAQs

Q. When is Commencement 2022?
The Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 10 a.m. Eastern time, rain or shine.

Q. Will the Commencement 2022 ceremony be live or virtual?
This year’s Commencement will be live and in person, with a livestream video option for those who cannot attend.

Q. Is there a limit on the number of guests each graduate can invite?
No, this year’s ceremony will not have a guest limit.

Q. Are tickets required to attend Commencement?
No.

Q. What are the COVID protocols for the ceremony?
Brewster is currently in a mask optional posture, which we anticipate will continue through our Commencement weekend (if this changes due to a spike in cases or other pandemic circumstances, the change in protocol will be posted here). We do ask that guests try to maintain social distance and take advantage of hand sanitizing stations. Proof of vaccination is not required to attend Commencement.

Q. Where do I find the link to the livestream?
It will be posted and shared here closer to Commencement Day.

Q. Where is the ceremony taking place?
It will be on Brown Field, aka “The Turf Field,” as it has been in recent years. But please note there will be no rain location, nor a rain date. So watch the weather reports and dress accordingly. In the case of severe weather, it is possible that the ceremony could be postponed for several hours. Please make travel plans with this possibility in mind.

Q. Will there be professional photos taken at Commencement?
Yes. Once again, the professional photographers from Grad Images will be on hand to take photos of each graduate on stage receiving their diploma. The company will make those images available for purchase. We will also have our own Brewster photographers capturing candids all morning, and those will be posted to Brewster's Flickr account where anyone can download them free of charge. Of course, parents and other guests are welcome to take their own photos, we just ask that you take care not to block the official photographers as they get their shots.

Q. Is there a plan for foul weather?
The ceremony will be on Brown Field rain or shine. There will be no rain location, nor a rain date. So watch the weather reports and dress accordingly. In the case of severe weather, it is possible that the ceremony could be postponed for several hours. Please make travel plans with this possibility in mind.

Q. Will the Class of 2022 be wearing caps and gowns?
Yes, caps and gowns will be distributed to graduates.

Q. When will students receive their diplomas?
Graduates will receive their diplomas at the Commencement ceremony. If a student is unable to attend the ceremony, they will receive their diplomas by mail.

Q. Is there going to be a luncheon after the ceremony?
A buffet lunch will be served under the tent near Estabrook. (There will also be to-go lunch available for those who prefer to get on the road!)

Q. What are the accommodations being made for guests with accessibility needs?
A golf cart and special seating areas with parking and restroom access will be available. Guests with accessibility needs or concerns should contact Caitlin Ward, Special Events & Program Manager, at 603-569-7191 or cward@brewsteracademy.org at least two weeks prior to the event.

Q. Are family pets allowed at Commencement?
No. Absolutely no pets are allowed on campus during the Commencement ceremony.

Q. What about hotels?
Commencement is on Memorial Day weekend, so we strongly encourage all families to make reservations at local hotels and inns as soon as possible. Please remember that in addition to Wolfeboro’s many hotels and inns, there are very nice places to stay in towns all around the lake, including Gilford, Laconia, Lakeport, Meredith, Moultonborough, and Center Harbor. These towns are all within a 45-minute drive of Brewster, and the ride around the lake in the spring is beautiful! There are also chain hotel options in Rochester, N.H., which is closer to the Seacoast, and Concord, which is about an hour’s drive.

Q. Will there be items for families to celebrate at home like last year?
Yes, this Commencement/End-of-Year webpage on the Brewster website will have celebratory items like downloadable graphics you can use on social media and a lawn sign you can order.

Q. Will I be able to order a yard sign to celebrate my child’s graduation?
Yes! Yard signs are a great way to celebrate your grad! Use this link to order directly from our printer, R.C. Brayshaw & Company. Sign(s) will be shipped directly to you.

Q. Are these plans final?
As new CDC and state guidelines or restrictions develop over the coming weeks, these plans could change, and our community will, once again, show how flexible we’ve learned to be. All changes will be carefully considered and quickly communicated via email and the Portal.

Q. What is the plan for Moving Up Day?
We are planning an in-person Moving Up Day on Monday, May 23. In keeping with Brewster tradition, students will process from Estabrook to the Smith Center by class. Students will gather to process at 4 p.m., and the ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Smith Center. View the program here.

Q. What is the plan for the Ivy Address?
The Ivy Address will be in-person on Friday, May 27, followed by the Head of School Reception. The Ivy Address will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Lamb Green (rain location: Anderson Hall). This year’s reception will have light refreshments at 5:30 p.m. in the Rogers building so that families may enjoy dinner in town if they like.

Q. Will there be a prom?
Yes, prom will be held on May 26. Details to come!

Q. Will underclass students attend the ceremony?
No. Due to the need to have more space for our graduates’ guests to socially distance at Commencement, underclass students will be required to leave campus before Commencement Day and will not attend the ceremony. Underclass students should plan to leave campus after their last commitment on Wednesday, May 25. The exception, of course, is an underclass student who is a family member of a graduate and is attending the Commencement ceremony. However, the underclass student will not be allowed to stay on campus in the dorms.

Q. Is campus open to the public, including alumni who would like to visit as the weather warms up?
Brewster’s campus is now open to visitors, we just ask that folks give us a heads up if they are planning a visit. (Alumni can contact Beth Hayes at bhayes@brewsteracademy.org, all other visitors can contact Caroline Chartier at cchartier@brewsteracademy.org.)

Q. What’s new in Wolfeboro to enjoy if we’d like to extend our visit?
A lot! New restaurants including Marker 21, The Farmer’s Kitchen, Harmony Coffee House, Back Bay Boathouse, Bistro 19, and Pavilion are now open. There are a few new shops along South Main Street, too, including Van Otis Chocolates, Adornments and Bayberry Provisions. Plus, all your favorite places will be ready to welcome you as the spring and summer seasons begin!

Q. What is the status of a special event for the Class of 2020, whose graduation was 100% virtual?
We had hoped the pandemic would allow a special delayed Commencement for our Class of 2020 grads in 2021, but COVID safety concerns made that impossible. We'd love to hear from our Class of 2020 alumni about what kind of event in the future might interest them and mean the most to them. If you have ideas to share, please contact Caitlin Ward at cward@brewsteracademy.org.