On Friday, May 21, Gunston School seniors spent their final day on campus, taking part in the annual Disembarkation Ceremony which consists of a final “campus march” past cheering classmates and faculty, placing a personalized brick on the walkway in front of Middleton House, and finishing with a waterborne send-off down the Corsica River aboard a multi-boat flotilla.

The day began with a faculty appreciation breakfast, hosted by the class of 2021 behind Heron House, in which faculty and staff were invited to enjoy breakfast sandwiches, coffee and more. Seniors then met in the field house, where they were given the letters that they wrote to themselves during 9th grade orientation. After reflecting on these letters, seniors continued tradition by signing the boat that resides near the atrium and choosing their spot on the walkway to place their brick.    

Families, faculty and fellow students then gathered around the oval in front of Middleton to watch as Head of School John Lewis called each graduate to receive their brick from their advisors. After the last brick was laid, everyone proceeded to the waterfront, where the seniors continued their final campus march to board boats headed for the Centreville Wharf. 

Before officially disembarking from Molly Dock, students were able to convince Head of School John Lewis (who made a valiant effort to retire the tradition) to take one last “dip” in the Corsica river.