Scattergood’s graduation ceremony follows the school tradition of holding special events within a context of attentive silence. Accordingly, our commencement takes place in the school Meetinghouse. Attendees sit quietly for several minutes as the meeting “gathers.” Then the senior class sweeps in and down the aisle to sit on a long facing bench at the front of the room. Out of the continuing silence, friends and family members may share appreciations, bits of wisdom, or anecdotes about the seniors. Before the end of the ceremony, a diploma is given by the Director to each graduating student. And then after a few more moments of quiet, a sophomore who has been chosen by the senior class rushes out to ring the final bell of the year. This bell announces the end of the meeting, which is officially broken with the shaking of hands all around.