Watertown High School Graduation to be in the Gym Because Victory Field Isn't Available

Watertown High School’s Class of 2011 will graduate on June 3 in the WHS gymnasium, Headmaster Steve Watson announced at Monday’s School Committee meeting. Not everyone was happy with that decision, however.

When weather permits, the high school holds its graduation ceremony the Victory Field baseball diamond, but this year the space is unavailable due to the renovation of the field.

Mary Izzo, a WHS senior who serves as one of the School Committee student advisor, told the School Committee that many seniors had hoped have an outdoor graduation ceremony.

“We are disappointed we will not be able to graduate on Victory Field,” Izzo said. “If it was a choice between the field hockey field [inside the track at Victory Field] and the gym, I prefer the gym.”

Senior class President Anthony Fierimonte told the School Committee that holding the ceremony outdoors is a better experience.

“I have attended the last four WHS graduations and three were in the gym and each was equally bad,” Fierimonte said. “Last year they were lucky and they had it on Victory Field. It was far better than any ceremony at the gym.”

Fierimonte said he hoped that other outdoor alternatives would be sought, including inside the track at Victory Field and the Gore Place estate on the Watertown-Waltham line.

School Committee Chairman Anthony Paolillo said other outdoor options did not pan out. If the weather turned bad, he said, it would be hard to change locations quickly at another outdoor venue.

“We could not justify the cost of having it at another location,” Paolillo said. “The reason why it is not on the track is seating. Because you lose the [baseball] stands there is not enough seating for the parents.”

Watson said efforts will be made to make the gym a nicer venue for graduation.

“We will make sure we will have as excellent a graduation as possible,” Watson said.

Paolillo said he has asked the facilities department to bring in air conditioning to make the gym more comfortable.