Glen Rock High School

400 Hamilton Avenue, Glen Rock, New Jersey 07452

Main Office: (201) 445-7700 ext. 8957 - Facsimile: (201) 389-5015

JOHN ARLOTTA, Principal TINA BACOLAS, Assistant Principal

(201) 445-7700 ext. 8958 (201) 445-7700 ext. 8910
arlottaj@glenrocknj.org bacolast@glenrocknj.org

December 7, 2017

Dear Parents,

On Tuesday, a representative from Jostens and I met with the seniors regarding ordering their caps and gowns
for this years upcoming Graduation. During this meeting, we shared with the students a change from the
practice of female students wearing white and males wearing red. Our Jostens representative tells me we are
actually one of the few schools remaining that still separate gowns by gender. Schools such as Northern
Highlands High School, Livingston High School, Lyndhurst High School and North Arlington High School
now all use a single colored gown for their graduates.

In steps toward unification of the class, this years group will wear one color gown red, with white stoles and
black writing, so that each member of our class can represent all of our school colors.

The administration believes that making students choose by gender is no longer appropriate and can make some
students uncomfortablesomething we certainly wouldnt want during a joyous occasion such as graduation.

The world is changing. Things that were the norm, with the first class of 1959, would not be relevant with the
Class of 2018 and beyond. Our job as educators is to prepare our students for these changes and hopefully
develop accepting and tolerant leaders of tomorrow.

We realize that change is difficult. We ask that you respect this new tradition even though you may not all
agree with it.

Sincerely,

John Arlotta
Principal