Beginning this June, West Hartford’s two public high schools, Hall and Conard, will no longer assign the colors of graduation gowns based on gender.
Hall High School graduates have traditionally worn either blue (male) or white (female) gowns and have been seated in alternating rows. Photo credit: Katie Cavanaugh (we-ha.com file photo)
By Ronni Newton
The tradition of separating Hall High School graduates by by gender – for seating and by the color of graduation gown – will change for the Class of 2016, Principal Dan Zittoun told families in an email last week.
For many years, the tradition at Hall has been that male graduates wear blue gowns while female graduates wear white. During the ceremony, the students have also been separated into alternating blue and white rows.
“From our standpoint, this is not really about gender issues but more about being one class,” Zittoun said. In his email, he told families: “While there are many opportunities for us to celebrate the individuality of our students (awards night, prom, etc.), the graduation ceremony should be a time that we celebrate as a unified group.”
Conard graduates have traditonally been seated in alphabetical order, but beginning with the Class of 2016 male and female graduates will have their choice of red or gray gowns. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)
Conard’s long-standing tradition has been to seat graduates alphabetically, but Principal Julio Duarte said that although the school will still use red and gray gowns, Class of 2016 graduates will get to choose whatever color they would like to wear.
Zittoun said the decision at Hall was actually made early in the fall after conversations took place among administrators, faculty, and with the Student Association senators and executive board. Glastonbury High School announced a decision in January to move away from separating graduates by gender through different colored gowns, but Zittoun said the timing of Hall’s announcement was coincidental.
“It seemed awkward to send out something about graduation in September or October,” Zittoun said. “Now was a good time to make it official.”
Duarte said that notice about Conard’s graduation gowns was included as a blurb in the 17-page Conard Newsletter sent out on Jan. 26, 2016. He said he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it because it’s not a major change.
“The big difference is that students will get to pick the color they want to wear,” Duarte said. Conard students will also be purchasing their gowns this year, rather than renting them.
At Hall, blue was chosen as the color for the gown because it’s the color most identify with the school. Graduates will wear a royal blue robe with a white sash, and will be seated alphabetically, Zittoun said.
Zittoun is hopeful that the arrangement will begin a new tradition. “As we say goodbye to our graduates and watch them embark on their journey into their future, we think this change brings us together and reflects our school spirit and cohesiveness,” Zittoun told parents.
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