Chatham High Commencement a Weekend Attraction

The graduation ceremonies for the seniors highlight this weekend’s activities, with commencement beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.

“What differentiates this graduation from others is that this is the 100th anniversary of the first Chatham High School graduating class,” said Lori Gironda, the assistant principal at Chatham High.

Contained in the program for the graduation ceremony will be information from the Chatham Historical Society as a tribute to the 100th graduating class in Chatham. 

The class of 2011 has 246 graduates, a far cry from the six men and women of the first graduating class of Chatham in 1911.

Speakers at the ceremony will include Principal Darren Groh, School District of the Chathams Superintendent Jim O’Neill, and . Hurt’s interests in European culture, foreign languages, track, and cross country will keep her busy as a freshman at Amherst College this fall.

Gironda is “hoping for good weather” for the outdoor ceremony behind the high school. In case of heavy rain the ceremony will be moved to the auditorium, where some guests will watch it via simulcast while seated in the cafeteria and gym due to limited seating.  

At 10:30 p.m., graduates will reconvene at the school where buses will take them into New York for a three-hour boat cruise around Manhattan beginning at midnight, an event that is funded and sponsored by the PTO.

Here are some other events happening in Chatham this weekend:

Friday, June 24

• Book signing at from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. by author Agatha Relota, former model, dancer, and Chatham native. Relota’s soon-to-be-released book, "Carla and Leo’s World of Dance," is an imaginative introduction to ballroom dancing for kids aged 8 to 12.
• Chatham High School graduation begins at 6:30 p.m. at the baseball fields at . In case of heavy rain, the ceremony will be moved to the auditorium.
• Live jazz at n from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., featuring jazz guitarist Steve Girardi. Enjoy music while having dinner or dessert. Cover charge is $5.
• Sally Abbott's "Faces and Places" exhibit at the in the gallery. Sixty pieces of Ms. Abbott's acrylic works are on display through Sept. 9 and admission is free to the public. June gallery hours: Monday though Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  July and August gallery hours: Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday until 1 p.m.

Saturday, June 25

• Opening day for Chatham Borough Farmer’s Market, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the . Support local farming/food vendors and listen to special guest , Chatham resident and musician, who will perform songs from her new album “One Earth So Green and Round: Songs of Nature.”

Sunday, June 26

• Chatham Borough in Annual Softball Game at noon at . Cheer for your favorite first responder at this traditional borough softball game.