In preparing for the 8th grade Graduation Mass we have been working closely with the parish and following their guidelines for capacity restrictions and safety protocols. As we shared in our initial communication in March regarding Graduation, the specific protocols for a special Mass like this were to only allow the graduates and two family members. These are the same protocols that were in place for the First Communion Masses that are scheduled for the next couple of weekends.

With a steady increase in vaccines, and declining COVID numbers, the Parish has been working on a plan to increase seating capacity in the church for Masses and other special events (as you should have received notice via Flocknotes earlier today). Last week, the decision was made to allow up to increase capacity in the church, and for Graduation we can now seat up to 400 people instead of the less than 200 we were able to seat in July for the Class of 2020 graduation.

We are grateful for the decline in COVID numbers that allows the increase to seating capacity and to the parish for their assistance. With 50 graduates in the Class of 2021, that means each graduate will be able to have 7 people attend graduation in the church with them (so 8 people total per family).

We have made an online ticket request form that every family needs to fill out, so the school can do it’s best to accommodate each family's needs for Graduation tickets for the church. A few points to note about the Graduation Ticket Request Form:

An overflow seating area with a live stream will be available in the Auditorium, and the Graduation Mass and Ceremony will still be live streamed via the church website.

As we communicated in a few weeks ago, the Parent Tribute will take place in the Auditorium on Friday, May 7th following the 8:15AM Mass on that day. This will be the first time all year the 8th grade students will be able to attend Mass in person in the church, and with the increase in seating capacity in the church, their 1st Grade prayer buddies will also be in attendance. 8th Grade parents are invited to attend this Mass at 8:15AM in the church, and then the Parent Tribute will follow at 9:30AM in the Auditorium.

As a reminder, 8th Grade students are to wear their Graduation attire for the Parent Tribute and for Mass that morning. They will take a class group photo on the church altar following Mass, and before coming to the Auditorium for the Parent Tribute.

Jeremy Kennedy who came to campus and took the individual photos on March 29th is making a digital image of each student available for parents who would like to purchase them (the price is $30).

These are the photos we had taken of the students to use in the social media tribute posts we will begin posting in early May. The deadline to order photos is Friday, May 7th. Click here to purchase a copy of your child(ren)'s photo. Photos will be emailed to purchasers in mid-May.

Thank you to the Pickett family for allowing us to share Maddie's photo as an example of the pictures Jeremy Kennedy took and is making available to purchase!