Updated: LHS Graduation is Indoors

Graduation will be in the high school gymnasium at 6 p.m. tonight.

The 216 members of Ledyard High School Class of 2011 will march into the gym to Pomp and Circumstance, performed by the Ledyard High School Band. Parents and guests with white tickets will be seated on the gymnasium bleachers. Blue ticket holders may watch by closed-circuit TV in the school cafeteria.

Irene Schultz, assistant to Principal Lou Gabordi, confirmed that with showers in the forecast the decision was made to move the ceremony inside.

Everything else will stay the same, she said, with the exception that fewer people may have the opportunity to watch the ceremony. Although only ticket-holders were to be allowed into Mignault Field, traditionally extra family members and friends could bring lawn chairs and watch from the perimeter.

The families of each graduate are given three white tickets and two blue tickets. Gold tickets for special seating on the gym floor are also made available by request for elderly guests and others who have difficulty walking.

As of Thursday night, it didn’t look good for an outdoor ceremony. The National Weather Service called for a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday evening.

The town had been planning to use the old bleachers at Mignault Field one last time before replacing them this summer. Now it appears that the old bleachers have already have seen their last big crowd.

Indoors or out, however, the night will belong to the Class of 2011.

Following the procession into the gymnasium, the National Anthem will be performed by the Senior Chorale, with April Flemming conducting.

Senior Class President David Tang will address the class, the first of a number of remarks offered by Ledyard Scholars Jilian Comstock, Sarah Woodruff, Basil Polsonetti, Austin Walker, Breanna Brown and Senior Class Valedictorian David Sindel.

Ledyard High School Principal Lou Gabordi will speak to the graduates, followed by the presentation of awards. Finally, diplomas will be presented to graduates by Board of Education Chairwoman Sharon Hightower, schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Graner, and assistant principals William Turner and Amanda Fagan.

Parents will have time after the ceremony to greet their graduates for pictures, hugs and best-wishes before class members head off for an all-night graduation party at an undisclosed location.