Senior Scoop

Graduation Information

Graduation for the Class of 2025 is on the horizon! Here are a few things to keep in mind to prepare your graduate(s) and hopefully answer any questions in advance that may arise. 

The Class of 2025 graduation will take place Saturday, May 31st, at Michael K. Aselton Memorial Park. 

May 30th, Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal: 

Please note, all school issued materials (books, chromebooks, uniforms) are due back by rehearsal.

East campus will take place at 9:45 am and West campus will take place at 12:45 pm.

Rehearsal will not begin until all seniors are present, so please plan to arrive early or on time at Aselton Park wearing your cap and gown. 

All graduates should turn in any books, Chromebooks, sporting goods and other Sturgis property on or before the graduation rehearsal date.

May 31st, Day of Graduation: 

The East campus ceremony will take place at 10:00 am, and the West campus ceremony will be at 2:30 pm, the length for each will be approximately ninety minutes.  All graduates received 6 invitations for guests. Seating for guests with tickets will be under the tent, while extra guests will be allowed to sit on the lawn outside the tent to watch. In the event of inclement weather the sides of the tent will need to be closed, so viewing may be limited. The tent will be open for invited guest seating a half hour prior to the ceremony. 

If you have a guest requiring accessibility arrangements for parking or seating, please notify Rachel Todoroff by 5/27: rtodoroff@sturgischarterschool.org

Seniors need to arrive with cap and gown no later than one hour before the ceremony and meet in the East campus parking lot located off Pearl Street. Sturgis has hired a professional photographer, Estaben Marte, who will make all captured photos available to download for free. 

Parking:

On graduation day parking is available at the Red Cross lot on South Street, North Street public parking lot, and the Town Hall public parking lot. The Town of Barnstable will also make an exception to the 2 Hour Parking rule along Old Colony Road.
Another option is paying for parking at the Ocean Street lot and along the harbor and possibly utilize the parking at Saint John Paul on High School Road and then walk through the McKeon Field area to get to Aselton Park.
There are two porta-potties, one handicap accessible, located close by at the edge of the lawn in the lower parking lot of the Marine Museum. 

🎓 Seniors: Complete Your FAFSA or MASFA ASAP!

Attention Sturgis Seniors and Families –
If you plan to attend college in Fall 2025, it's crucial to complete your financial aid applications as soon as possible. Submitting the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or MASFA (Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid) can open the door to critical funding for college.

 Who should apply?

• FAFSA: For students eligible for federal financial aid.

• MASFA: For students not eligible for FAFSA, including undocumented students who are Massachusetts residents.

 Helpful Links:

• FAFSA Application

• MASFA Application

• MEFA – MA Educational Financing Authority

 Need Help? Cape Cod Community College Offers Free Support!

• Drop-in Zoom Hours: Monday–Thursday, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• Call 774-330-4393 to make an appointment

• Cape Cod Community College Financial Aid

Whether you're applying through FAFSA or MASFA, don’t delay — early submission is key to maximizing your aid!

Questions? Reach out to your school counselor — we’re here to help.

Financial Aid Sessions for High School Seniors:

MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) is offering a webinar on Monday, 5/12 at 6:00. Open to students and families to provide strategies and tips focused on the academic, social, and financial transition. 

Go to this website to register: 

https://mefa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bv0DbQa3RfGk8IHZutd_TA#/registration

Parents/Guardians of Seniors:
If your student is planning to attend college this fall and you will need financial assistance, please be sure to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible. Then check each college's financial aid website to see if there are additional documents or forms required. The school counseling team has put together some resources to help you with the financial aid process.
Please click on the links below to review Financial Aid  Information and Resources:
Financial Aid Information and Resources Part 1
Financial Aid and Resources Part 2.
If your family has special circumstances or if you have questions, please reach out to your child's school counselor if you need assistance.

Scholarship$ available! 

Seniors: Many local organizations provide money to use for college. Click on this link to see all about local scholarship opportunities.
The list is updated weekly. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gjiXeRUL039NHk2J0dqOrUskHig_2NbTKi3yPF-h99o/edit?usp=sharing 

Calendar for IB Exams

Students who are writing IB exams this year (all grade 12, some grade 11) should be aware that Mock Exams are April 1-4, 2025 and IB Exams are April 28-May 21, 2025. Full details can be found on the Sturgis IB Office website. Please ensure your student will be in school on all of these dates. Elective appointments or engagements (e.g. dentist, vacation) should be scheduled for other times. If you have any questions, please contact the IB coordinator for your campus. At Sturgis East: Camille Manrique, IB Coordinator at cmanrique@sturgischarterschool.org At Sturgis West: Julie Carman, IB Coordinator at jcarman@sturgischarterschool.org