Cap & Gown, Graduation Announcements
Graduation announcements are typically sent to out-of-town relatives and friends who would not attend the Commencement ceremonies, but may like to send a congratulatory note or gift to the senior.
The announcements are not invitations to the Commencement ceremonies.
The school chooses the style of the announcements. Name cards personalized for the graduating senior can be purchased to insert inside the announcements can be purchased. The company also offers items such as photo albums, picture frames and thank you notes.
Graduation Practice: May 16, 2019
- Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019
- Time: 1:00 p.m. (until around 2:00 p.m.)
- Place: Bishop Chatard Gym
- Mandatory Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. Any senior who wishes to participate in the Commencement Ceremonies must attend the practice unless excused by the Principal. Dress code is casual: jeans, pants or shorts, polo shirts, etc.
Baccalaureate Mass: May 16, 2019
- Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019
- Time: 6:30 p.m. Seniors must be at school with their gown (no cap) by 5:45 p.m. Seniors should gather on the 3rd floor prior to the start of Mass. Please do not bring your cell phone with you to Mass.
- Place: Bishop Chatard High School gym
- Dress Code: Bring your graduation gown only. See Dress Code below for other details. Parents & Guests: a minimum of business casual, please.
- Tickets: All are invited. No tickets are required.
- Parking: Additional parking is available at Christ the King Church.
- Senior Video: Following Mass, the senior video will be shown for graduates and guests. A link of the video will be emailed to the students.
The Baccalaureate Mass marks the end of high school in prayer and thanksgiving to God, to parents, to the administration, faculty and staff, and to the students themselves.
All parents and family are most cordially invited and encouraged to attend. No tickets are needed. Parking is available on site at BCHS with additional parking available at Christ the King Church.
Any senior who wishes to participate in the Commencement Ceremonies must attend the Mass, unless otherwise excused by the Principal and/or President.
Commencement: May 19, 2019
- Date: Sunday, May 19, 2019
- Time: Ceremony begins at 2:30 p.m. The gymnasium doors will open for seating at 1:45 p.m. Seniors must be at school with their cap, tassel and gown no later than 1:45 p.m.
- Place: Bishop Chatard High School varsity gymnasium
- Dress: Students: See Dress Code below. Parents & Guests: A minimum of business casual, please.
- Special Needs: If you have a family member who will be attending graduation in a wheelchair, scooter, or walker, please contact Allison Mayer at 317-251-1451 ext. 2248 or amayer@bishopchatard.org to make arrangements.
- Parking: Additional parking is available at Christ the King Church.
Prior to lining up, students will be asked to empty their pockets and leave cell phones in the locked 3rd floor classrooms.
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 colored shirt and tie, 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 (no facial jewelry)
Dress Pants
- Only solid colors
- No denim, jeans or skinny pants
Skirts and Dresses
- Length must be no shorter than 2 inches above the top of the knee
- Must not be tight or form-fitting; no more than 3 inch slit
Shirts
- No low-cut, no sheer/transparent tops
- No tight or form-fitting tops
Shoes
- Flats, low heeled, and comfortable shoes are required – Please be sensible
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.
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
- 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.
- Any student who successfully completes the required courses, but has not passed the ECAs (or qualifies 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 ECAs, the school will send a diploma.
- 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.
- 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.
- All tuition and fees must be paid to receive a diploma and final grades.
- 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.