Class of 2020 Graduation

Caps and Gown Details

Bishop Chatard rents gowns especially made for BCHS. Seniors are responsible for the reasonable care and return of the gown. (Please follow the instructions for preparation of the gown when the student brings it home.) Seniors may keep their caps as a keepsake.

Graduates wear their gowns and caps with tassel to Commencement.
Graduates wear their gowns (no caps) to the Baccalaureate Mass.

Dress Code for Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement

BOYS
Solid white shirt and tie, (sports jacket or suit jacket is worn only for the Living Rosary), dark (blue, black, charcoal) dress pants with a belt, dark colored socks, and dress leather shoes. Boys should be groomed and clean-shaven; no facial jewelry or earrings. No shorts allowed.

GIRLS
Option A
A dark solid (blue, black, or charcoal) dress with sleeves or wide straps- no strapless, spaghetti straps, plunging necklines or backless dresses. No dresses that have large slits (a 2-3 inch slit is fine), uneven hem lines or are too tight/form fitting. The hem of the dress must extend to the top of the kneecap
Option B
A white loose-fitting (not transparent) or a black top/blouse and dark slacks. No Capri or tight-fitting slacks or yoga pants or leggings
Option C
A white loose-fitting (not transparent) or a black top/blouse and classic A-line dark solid skirt. The skirt must not be tight-fitting. The hem of the skirt must extend to the top of the kneecap. A small slit (2-3 inches) is acceptable.

Hair should be well-groomed. No facial jewelry or large dangling earrings. Dress shoes are required. Shoes should be dark or neutral in color. Open-toed shoes are acceptable. No flip-flops, clogs or boots.

Participation in the Commencement ceremonies is a privilege. Students who earn this privilege have completed the work required and conducted themselves in a way that befits the values promoted by the school!
Admission to commencement is by ticket only.

The number of tickets that each senior will receive is determined by the size of the class and the capacity of the facility.

Commencement Ticket Details

• The school does not provide extra tickets. Often, families do not need all of their tickets, so additional tickets are available through those families only. The senior student may talk with other seniors and obtain tickets from classmates who are not using their full complement.
• The tickets are given to the senior at graduation practice, and it is up to him/her to work out arrangements where there are custodial and non-custodial parents.
• Tickets are NOT required for the Baccalaureate Mass.

Seniors will keep their iPads after graduation. We will transfer the iPad to their ownership after finals are completed. Instructions on how to do this will be sent to seniors. If they experience any issues with the transfer, please encourage them to contact the Tech Counter for help.

Commencement is a unique privilege that comes only once in a student’s high school career. It is our way of honoring each student for completing all requirements for earning a high school diploma in the state of Indiana. Participation in this prestigious event is reserved for students who fulfill all academic, financial, and behavioral obligations.

It is a heart-wrenching experience for a senior not to be able to participate in Commencement, but participation policies were developed in justice to those many seniors who have worked long and hard towards graduation. Bishop Chatard reserves the right to establish policies concerning a student’s participation.

Participation Policies

1. Any student who does not pass all required courses will not be permitted to participate in Commencement ceremonies. As soon as the school receives official notification that the work has been successfully completed, the school will send a diploma.
2. Any student who successfully completes the required courses, but has not passed the ISTEP+ exams (or qualified for a waiver) will be permitted to participate in Commencement, but will receive a certificate of completion instead of a diploma. As soon as the school receives official notification that the student has passed the ISTEP+, the school will send a diploma.
3. If a student completes all of the necessary requirements, but is involved in any major violation of the school rules, he/she may not be permitted to participate in the Commencement ceremonies. Any such decision will be made by the administration after recommendation from the Discipline Board. The student is entitled to a diploma if he/she completed the requirement, however he/she does not have the right to participate in Commencement.
4. Unless excused by the principal, any senior who does not attend the graduation practice may not participate in the Commencement ceremonies. He/she may attend the Baccalaureate liturgy with the approval of the administration.
5. All tuition and fees must be paid to receive a diploma and final grades.

In order to receive a diploma from Bishop Chatard High School, students are required to:

• complete a total of 8 semesters in high school,
• pass the ISTEP+ Assessment in Math and English/Language Arts or qualify for a waiver, and
• successfully complete the academic requirements, including Theology, for either a Core 40 or Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma
• View diploma requirements here

The graduation fee of $150 will automatically be billed to you as part of the tuition and fees for senior year. The fee is used for the following:

• Diploma covers and printing of diploma inserts;
• Rental of caps and gowns;
• Program printing for the Baccalaureate Mass;
• Decorations and program printing for the Commencement ceremonies.

The graduation fee does not cover the cost of any personalized invitations or other packages offered by Herff-Jones. All of the keepsake items are optional.