Davie County High School will hold commencement exercises for the Class of 2018 at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 9 in the War Eagle Stadium. Gates will open at 7 a.m. Graduates will assemble in the large gym by no later than 7:30 dressed and ready for the processional.

The rain date is Sunday, June 10 at 2 p.m. Notification will be made via a Connect-Ed message and on the DHS website.   

Department chairs will call the names of the graduates. Principal Doyle Nicholson will present diplomas and Superintendent Dr. Darrin Hartness will offer congratulations. Graduates should plan to stop in the auxiliary gym after the graduation ceremony for document pick-up. Any graduate who has not cleared debts to the school must do so before graduation. Any graduate who does not visit the auxiliary gym after the ceremony should plan to stop by the high school at a later date to see Debbie Shepherd.

Guests do not need tickets; graduation is open to the public. Guests are asked to arrive early to facilitate parking and seating.  Warning signs will appear along Farmington Road to alert motorists of the graduation traffic. Organizers suggest that those in the community not attending graduation avoid traveling in this area. Approximately 5,000 guests are expected. Deputies will assist with pedestrians and traffic flow, but delays are still anticipated.

Parking is available in the school’s regular lots, the school bus lot, North Davie’s parking lots and the Davie County Youth Little League lots. Please note that War Eagle Drive will be closed for this event and that entrance for parking will be at the school bus entrance. There will a be walkway for golf cart and pedestrian traffic. Graduates may be picked up after the ceremony in the bus parking lot area.

For handicapped guests, special parking will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis. Only vehicles tagged with official NC handicapped tags will be permitted to park in these designated areas. It is recommended that guests delivering handicapped guests to the stadium’s entrance come early for easiest movement to and from the entrance.

For further convenience, chauffeured golf carts will assist guests to the two entrances. Once the graduation ceremony begins, this service will be suspended until after the ceremony has ended. Areas coned off are for the movement/safety of these golf carts. No vehicles can be parked in/near the coned areas.

War Eagle Stadium is handicapped accessible with ramps and accommodates wheelchair seating. However, an alternative location is available for those elderly or infirm and unable to negotiate the steps/ramps in the bleachers.

The ceremony will be streamed online to be viewed on large screens in the Davie High School auditorium.  Reservations for auditorium seating must be made through the individual graduates. Graduates can see Sara Beth Holbert in the media center or call (336) 751-5905, Ext. 5446 to make these reservations. Only one companion with the handicapped individual will be admitted to this area (no family seating).  An attendant will be on duty throughout the exercises. Again, it is recommended that guests arrive early.

For those friends and family members who cannot be physically present at graduation, Davie County Schools will be streaming the ceremony online. The link will be posted on the main page of the Davie High School website on the sliding banner. The link will be live on graduation morning.

The focus of graduation is to enjoy the accomplishment of the graduates. For safety and viewing purposes, no one will be permitted to stand/loiter along the railings of the bleachers or move about during the ceremony. There is no access to the track until the conclusion of the ceremony. Also, strolling around the seating areas or the refreshment area will not be permitted so that all may see and enjoy their graduates. Two information tents, one at each entrance, will assist guests and offer basic first aid. Emergency Medical Service units will also be on the grounds. Bottled water will be available for purchase at the concession stands. All proceeds will benefit Davie High School Hunger Fighters.

Organizers ask that guests understand how important hearing every graduate’s name and seeing every graduate’s acceptance of his/her diploma is to each family so please refrain from bringing umbrellas, air horns, cowbells, and other noisemakers that would interfere with this moment.  Noises for one graduate often negate hearing the next graduate’s name.

Again this year for the convenience of the families, a professional photographer will be on the field taking the “moment of” photos, which eliminates the photo gallery area. Parents can now enjoy the entire ceremony without moving from their seats. These photographs will be taken by Life Touch Photography and available for viewing and purchase on their website at www.events.lifetouch.com, 336-765-7288.

Also, added for your convenience, the graduation program will be available online Saturday morning, June 9 in addition to the printed copy.  Davie High School will have a finite number of bulletins; therefore, adults only will receive one.

The stadium offers no shade or protection from the weather.  Those who may not be able to attend or may have health issues will have opportunities to view the ceremony via online streaming. Visit the Davie High web page to access the link. Families can purchase a professionally filmed DVD of the graduation ceremony by Bryant Media through Yadtel Telecom.  Yadtel will also broadcast the ceremony on YVTV7 at a later date.

After the ceremony, the field will be open for celebration and the stage area will be open for family photography. It is the hope of the organizers that every family is able to honor and celebrate appropriately as the Class of 2018 holds its commencement.