Graduation at Bishop Chatard High School

Class of 2025 Graduation

Baccalaureate Mass: May 15, 2025 (Thurs)
Commencement Ceremony: May 18, 2025 (Sun)

The graduation gowns are made especially for Bishop Chatard. Please follow the instructions for the preparation of the gown when your child brings it home.
Cap & Gown Pickup
TBA

Cap & Gown Return
Gowns will be collected after the graduation ceremony at Door #10 until 2:45 pm. There is a $250 charge for any gown that is not returned after the ceremony. Graduates can keep the caps. Caps are to be left precisely as received. They should not be decorated in any way.

Graduation Practice - May 15, 2025 - 1:00 p.m.

Any senior who wishes to participate in the Commencement ceremonies must attend the practice unless excused by an administrator of the school.
Students report to the main gym on Thursday no later than 1:00 p.m.
Dress Code: Casual: jeans, pants or shorts, polo shirts, etc.

At graduation practice, each senior will be given their tickets for guest admission to Commencement ceremonies.

Baccalaureate Mass - May 15, 2025 - 6:30 p.m. - BCHS Main Gym

Seniors should report to the third floor of the school on Thursday with their gown only (no cap) no later than 5:45 p.m. (see below for complete Dress Code.)
Guest parking is available on campus at Bishop Chatard with additional parking available at Christ the King.
Tickets are NOT needed for the Baccalaureate Mass.
Dress Code: See below

The Baccalaureate Mass marks the end of each senior’s high school experience in thanksgiving to God for all the blessings they have received, and in prayer for God to be with them as they continue on toward higher education and careers. Any senior who wishes to participate in the Commencement Ceremonies must attend the Mass unless otherwise excused by the Principal and/or President.
Senior Video
Graduates and guests are asked to remain seated following Mass for a viewing of the senior video. A link to the video will also be emailed to the students after the Mass.

Commencement - May 18, 2025 - 1:30 p.m. - BCHS Main Gym

Seniors should arrive through Door #5 by 12:45 pm and report to the 3rd Floor, after putting any ‘other’ things (phones, etc.) in their lockers.
Graduates wear the graduation gown, hat, and tassel. See additional Dress Code below
Admission by ticket only. See ticket details below.
The main gym will open for seating at 12:45 p.m.
Guest parking is available on the Bishop Chatard campus with additional parking at Christ the King Church.

If you have a family member who will be attending graduation in a wheelchair, scooter, or walker, please contact Chelsea Everhart at 317-785-2423 or ceverhart@bishopchatard.org to arrange special accommodations.
Participation in the Commencement ceremony 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.

Dress Codes for Events

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. No shorts allowed.

Girls:

Pants: solid-colored dress pants, no denim, jeans or skinny pants
Skirts and dresses: length must be no shorter than two inches above the top of the knee and must not be tight or form-fitting
Tops: no low-cut shirts, no sheer/transparent tops, no form-fitting tops
Shoes: flats or low heeled requested, no tennis shoes.
No facial jewelry.

Commencement Ceremony Tickets

Admission for guests is by ticket only. At graduation practice, each senior in the Class of 2025 will be given seven tickets (5 bleacher seats and 2 floor seats) for guest admission to Commencement ceremonies. No additional tickets are available.

It is up to the family to decide how tickets are to be dispersed. Families with unused tickets can share with those who need additional tickets. The tickets are given to the senior at graduation practice, and it is up to him or her to work out arrangements where there are custodial and non-custodial parents. The school does not provide extra tickets.

Senior iPads

Seniors will keep their iPads after graduation. The iPad will be transferred to their ownership after final exams are completed. If a student experiences any issues with the transfer, please encourage them to contact the Bishop Chatard Tech Counter for help.

Commencement Participation Policies

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

Any student who does not complete all requirements for graduation will not be permitted to participate in Commencement.
Any student who successfully completes the required courses, but has not completed a state-required pathway (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, the school will send a diploma
A student who is withdrawn or suspended from the school for major disciplinary infractions or excessive absence from school may not participate in Baccalaureate or Commencement.
Unless excused by the principal, any senior who does not attend the graduation practice or Baccalaureate may not participate in Commencement. He or she may attend Baccalaureate Mass with the approval of the principal. Bishop Chatard High School reserves the right to establish policies to decide whether or not a student may participate.
All tuition and fees must be paid to receive a diploma and final grades.

Graduation Fee ($150)

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.