Welcome, ECFS families
Welcome, Class of 2027!
We are excited to celebrate and support you as you begin your final year at ECFS! On this page, use the menu above to find information on senior events, Commencement, volunteering, and more. These resources will be updated throughout the academic year with timely information.
General questions can be emailed to your Form VI Dean John Reyes at jreyes@ecfs.org.
Additional questions about Commencement can be emailed to the Upper School Office at schooloffice-fs@ecfs.org.
Class of 2027 Events
Senior Events
Click on the arrow next to each event for more details.
Who? Students only
When? Tuesday 9/1–Wednesday 9/2
Where? Iroquois Springs (Rock Hill, NY)
Who? Open to all grade levels and parents/guardians
When? Saturday 9/26, 12:00pm–5:00pm
Where? Fieldston campus
Who? Students and families
When? Friday 10/9 and Friday 10/23
These days are intended for seniors and their families to tour colleges and work on their college applications. The College Counseling Office will share more information on these opportunities in the fall.
Who? Open to all grade levels and parents/guardians
When? Friday 1/22, 4:00pm–8:30pm
Where? Fieldston campus
Who? Students involved in Bridge to Bridge and their parents/guardians
When? Monday 5/3, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Where? Fieldston campus
Who? Students only (livestream available for families)
When? Friday 5/7, 10:00am–12:00pm
Where? Ethical Culture Society auditorium
This ECFS tradition is a very special day to celebrate the founding of the School and honor the graduating class. Upper School students, faculty/staff, and 8th Grade students will be in attendance at the Ethical Culture Society auditorium to hear from guest speakers, sing school songs, and honor the current and incoming FSG Co-Presidents.
Who? Open to all grade levels and parents/guardians
When? Saturday 5/8, 12:00pm–6:00pm
Where? Fieldston campus
Who? Students only
When? Thursday 5/20, all day
Where? Fieldston campus
Who? Students involved in the arts and their parents/guardians
When? Thursday 5/20, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Where? Fieldston campus
Who? Students only
When? Friday 5/21, during school hours
Where? Fieldston campus (Seniors will participate in Field Day activities on the Fieldston campus before attending the Senior Barbecue.)
Who? Students only
When? Thursday 5/27, 8:00pm–11:00pm
Where? Virgin Hotel (1227 Broadway, New York, NY)
Who? Students involved in sports and their parents/guardians
When? Tuesday 6/1, 6:30pm–9:00pm
Where? Varsity Gym, Fieldston campus
Who? Students, parent/guardians, and Form VI advisors
When? Wednesday 6/2, 6:30pm–9:30pm
Where? Quad and Varsity Gym, Fieldston campus
The evening includes a pre-reception on the Quad, a seated dinner organized by advisories, and remarks. This event is for seniors and their parents/guardians and advisors. The dress code for this event is smart casual.
Who? Students only
When? Thursday 6/3, 10:00am–12:00pm
Where? Fieldston campus
Attendance is mandatory. The rehearsal will last about an hour and 30 minutes, and caps and gowns will be distributed at the rehearsal.
Who? Students, faculty, and families
When? Friday 6/4, 11:00am–1:00pm
Where? Fieldston campus
Commencement FAQs
Commencement 2027 FAQs
Details are subject to change and will be updated and finalized as we approach Commencement.
Commencement will be on Friday 6/4. The ceremony begins at 11:00am and concludes at approximately 1:00pm. Graduates and their guests should arrive no earlier than 9:00am. Please read the detailed schedule below for details and expectations.
- 9:00am: Families may begin arriving on campus.
- 9:15am: Professional family photos on the field (optional)
- 10:30am: Graduates meet advisors at the JV Gym and walk by their advisory group to to the Quad for the ceremony.
- 11:00am: Ceremony begins.
- 1:00pm: Approximate end time for the ceremony
- 1:00pm–2:15pm: Refreshments and family photos on the Upper Field (optional)
Highpoint Pictures will be available to take photos of the graduates and their families on the field before the Commencement ceremony. Following the ceremony, light refreshments will be served on the upper field, where families are welcome to mingle and take photos.
Yes. The mandatory Commencement rehearsal is on Thursday 6/3 from 10:00am–12:00pm and all seniors are required to attend. Seniors receive their caps and gowns at the rehearsal. There are no replacement caps and gowns so please keep them safe and remember to bring them to graduation.
The Senior Class Photo will be taken during rehearsal. If a student doesn't attend rehearsal, they will miss the class photo.
The rehearsal will last about an hour and 30 minutes. Seniors will assemble in the JV Gym and then proceed to the Quad for the rehearsal.
Caps and gowns will be distributed on Thursday 6/3 at the Commencement rehearsal. Please remember to bring them for Commencement; we do not have replacements. At the end of the Commencement ceremony, gowns will be collected. Students may keep the caps.
Commencement is held on the Quad. If there is inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the Varsity Gym. If the ceremony is moved indoors, families will be notified by the afternoon on Thursday 6/3.
Yes. The Quad has variable surfaces that may be difficult for some attendees to navigate. There will be chairs set up along the walkway for those who need accommodations. Families will have an opportunity in the spring to communicate these accommodations to the Upper School Office. Please note that, because of the limited number of accessible seats available, other family members will be seated on the Quad and will not be with their guests in accessible seating.
Please see this helpful accessibility guide and campus map for more detailed information.
This will be determined by the afternoon of the day before Commencement, Thursday 6/3, accounting for the most up-to-date weather forecast.
If the ceremony is held outdoors, each graduate may invite no more than 15 guests. To help us with our safety goal, we ask all families to share the names of all the individuals who will join you in celebrating your child at Commencement. A registration form will be shared with senior families. Your guests will need to have their names on the list to be admitted, and all guests 18 and older will need to present a valid photo ID. Please plan your arrival with sufficient time for guest verification.
If Commencement is held indoors, each student will be allowed four guests, and families will be asked to identify which four of their invited guests will be admitted to the Gym. A registration form for these four guests will be shared with senior families.
Seniors sit in their advisory groups during the ceremony.
Parking on campus is available on a first come, first served basis. Additional parking will also be available at the Manhattan College garage. A garage pass with parking and driving instructions will be available this spring. Shuttle bus service to the Fieldston campus will be available at the garage entrance.
There are a limited number of parking spots at Fieldston for people with disabilities. These spots are available on a first come, first served basis for families in a vehicle with a handicap plate or tag. Cars without a permit or plate that are carrying a family member whose mobility is compromised will be permitted to pull up to the top of the driveway and have a family member (not the driver) escort the person with impaired mobility to the Quad while the driver parks the car off campus.
Yes. A livestream will be available to watch live and replay for one year. This will allow extended families and friends to watch the ceremony the same day and allow families to relive the ceremony. A link will be sent to families closer to the event.
There will also be an overflow seating area on campus, should it be too hot outside for some guests or if the Commencement is relocated into the Gym.
Photographers will be on site before the ceremony, beginning at 9:15am for seniors and families wishing to have their photos taken. During the ceremony, the photographer will take individual photos of each graduate holding their diploma on stage. Families are welcome to remain on campus after the ceremony and take their own photos on the Quad.
All photo orders can be made directly from Highpoint Pictures. Ordering information will be sent to parents/guardians approximately one week after Commencement.
Students should wear something appropriate under their gown, which they will remove and return at the end of the ceremony.
Yes, students who have incomplete graduation requirements may still attend Commencement. They will not receive a diploma at the event. For these students, diplomas will be sent after all requirements have been fulfilled.
For graduation requirements, please review the “Course of Studies.”
Don’t Forget: Form VI Gift
Students and their families traditionally support the Form VI gift during their senior year. Named in honor of the graduating class, this meaningful contribution benefits both the Orange Fund and a class-designated fund selected by the students. Members of the Class of 2027 will have the opportunity to vote on the fund that feels most meaningful to them. We hope you will consider making a gift and helping the Class of 2027 achieve 100% participation. You can make a contribution now. Thank you!
Other Questions? Please email additional questions to the Upper School Office at schooloffice-fs@ecfs.org.
Memos and P+T Meeting Notes
Senior Event Memos
Invitations and RSVP details for senior events will be added throughout the academic year.
P+T Form VI Coordinator Meeting Notes
Meeting notes from the P+T Form VI Coordinators' regular discussions will be added throughout the academic year. You may be prompted to sign in with your ECFS parent/guardian email to view these.
Volunteering and the Form VI Gift Committee
Volunteering
There are many events dedicated to the Class of 2027 and their families. Most of these events occur in the spring (Senior Dinner, Arts Night, Sports Dinner, etc.). We are looking for volunteers to help at one or more of these events. If you are interested or would like to know more, please email events@ecfs.org.
The Form VI Gift and Committee
The Form VI Gift is an important part of senior year traditions at ECFS. Each year, the graduating class’ parents/guardians strive for 100% participation in their philanthropic support of the School. As a senior parent/guardian, your support is divided equally between an endowed fund, named in honor of the graduating class, and the Orange Fund. The endowed fund will live in perpetuity, and you or your children can choose to give and grow this fund in the future. On the other hand, the Orange Fund is put to immediate use to improve and bolster the current academic needs of the School.
As our incredible seniors prepare to celebrate their final year at ECFS, we hope you will consider giving generously to create a legacy for the Class of 2027. To make your gift, please visit www.ecfs.org/support. Thank you!
Volunteering for the Form VI gift committee is another impactful way to give back. Responsibilities include reaching out to fellow parents/guardians to help meet our goal of 100% participation from every family. The Committee will meet virtually two to three times in the spring and reach out to fellow Form VI parents/guardians to encourage participation in the Form VI gift. Please email Kavita Bordia, Director of Development, at kbordia@ecfs.org to volunteer and learn more.
Form VI Galleries
Senior Event Photo Albums
Photo albums and other media from the Class of 2027's senior events will be added here throughout the academic year. Links to the Class of 2026’s senior event albums are still available.
