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Date: 2/3/2017
WILBRAHAM – Beginning this year, graduating seniors at Minnechaug Regional High School will have the option to choose the school color of their choice for their caps and gowns.
Traditionally, males students wore green, while females wore white.
Minnechaug Principal Stephen Hale told Reminder Publications during the last four to five years students have made individual requests about wearing a different color based on the gender that they identify with.
“That caused us to create a student and facility committee to look at this issue,” he explained.
Minnechaug Assistant Principal Heidi Drawec said the committee met three times during the past year and investigated changing to a single color gown.
“The students came forward with the choice,” she explained. “Our gowns continue to be green and white. It’s just whatever color you choose. We just added a spot on our graduation order form for the grads – it’s just what color do you choose?”
She added the high school isn’t concerned there would be an abundance of students choosing one color over another.
“We just sent our cap [and gown] order in last week and it’s about the same as normal,” Drawec said.
Hale said the school is looking into a single cap and gown for all students, but he believes this is a good “first step” to eliminate gender associated colors.
“I’m sure over the course of the next few years we may look at it again,” he added. “I believe Monson has recently gone to one color. East Longmeadow is one color.”
Hale said he called principals from high schools across the Pioneer Valley in 2015 and created a survey. In that survey he lists Ludlow, Westfield High School, and Westfield Technical Academy as having one color for cap and gowns.
When asked if the school has received any negative feedback about the change, Hale replied, “I haven’t heard a word. I haven’t heard positive feedback [and] I haven’t heard negative feedback.”