CLASS OF 2027
Keep up to date on Senior activities during the 2026-27 school year!
If you have any questions about graduation, please contact Shannon Vanderpol, Associate Principal for Community Life, with exceptions noted below.
GRADUATION REMINDERS
Baccalaureate Mass
All graduates and their families were invited to the Baccalaureate Mass on May 28, 2027, in the Knauss Family Gymnasium. Celebrate the seniors in their last Mass at O'Dowd and pray for their continued success after graduation. More information will be shared soon.
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Questions about the Baccalaureate Mass? Contact Mr. Dilag.
Commencement
Saturday May 29, 2027, 9:00-11:00am. Graduates arrive 8:15am.
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Each graduate will receive 10 tickets (7 reserved on the field, 3 open seating in the bleachers) for their family and friends and one parking ticket. More information as we approach the date.
Questions about Commencement? Email Ms. Vanderpol.
COLLEGE COUNSELING UPDATES
Congratulations, Class of 2026! You're Off to Great Places!
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If you haven't completed your Senior Questionnaire, please do so ASAP so your counselor can schedule your Senior College Meeting.
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Remember to sign up for college visits on Scoir.
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Drop-in application support is available during flex periods!
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Make sure to have your UC and CSU applications checked by your counselor before submitting them. Make sure to submit well before the November30/December 1 deadline.
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FAFSA is now OPEN- complete as soon as possible for timely Financial Aid package information from the colleges you are applying to
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Keep your college list on Scoir up to date at all times to ensure your documents get sent by your deadlines.
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Questions about College Counseling? Email your student's counselor.
UPCOMING SENIOR EVENTS & REMINDERS
Senior Sunrise
October 28, 2025, 7:15 - 8:30am
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Join your fellow classmates and watch the sunrise from the lower field bleachers as the sun is rising during your last year here at O'Dowd. Please be at the football field bleachers by 7:15am. Bring blankets!!
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Parents and Guardians - We need your help! Please volunteer to make breakfast goodies for the seniors to enjoy while watching the sunrise. Sign up now! Drop off on Tuesday, October 27 by 4:00pm
Senior Portrait Makeups/Retakes
November 5, 2026
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Senior Portrait makeups/retakes will be on Thursday, November 5 in the James T. Bill ’55 Theater lobby. You must sign up for an appointment to take your photo that day. This is your last chance to take your Senior Portrait to be able to make it into the yearbook.
Our photographer also has in-studio appointments available.
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Questions about Senior Events? Contact Ms. Gray.
PARENT COMMUNITY & ENGAGEMENT
Celebrate Your Senior with a Yearbook Tribute Ad!
Senior year is full of unforgettable moments, and what better way to celebrate your Dragon's journey than with a personalized tribute in the 2026–2027 Bishop O'Dowd Yearbook, The Mitre!
Families can purchase a special space in the yearbook to share favorite photos, heartfelt messages, and congratulations for their graduating senior. Ads can celebrate individual students or groups of friends and classmates! Some folks even choose to take pictures with their fellow middle school graduates in their class.
Tribute Ad Options (Prices unchanged since 2023):
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¼ Page – $190: 1–3 photos and a personal message
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½ Page – $285: 3–7 photos and a personal message
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Full Page – $450: 8–15 photos and a personal message
How It Works: Purchase your ad, submit your favorite photos and message, and work with our yearbook team to create a beautiful tribute using Canva. You'll have an opportunity to review and approve the design before it's finalized.
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Purchase Your Senior Tribute Ad Here!
Questions? Contact the yearbook staff at mitre@bishopodowd.org.
Celebrate their accomplishments, friendships, and memories with a keepsake they'll treasure for years to come. Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon!
Senior Class Gift
Join in celebrating your senior and honoring O’Dowd teachers as we kick off the Senior Class Gift!
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The Senior Class Gift supports the Fund for Faculty Excellence, which provides professional development for teachers and counselors, and helps O’Dowd to recruit and retain outstanding educators. Please join us in this meaningful way of showing appreciation and support for our faculty.
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We have a good head start and a dedicated parent committee - help us reach our goal of 100% participation from senior families!
Mark Your Calendars
September 2026
22 Senior & Family College Night
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October
1 CSU App workshop
7 Senior Parent/Guardian Mass
14 Financial Aid Night | slides (Spanish)
16 SAT for Seniors (optional, must register)
28 Senior Sunrise
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November
5 Senior Portrait makeups/retakes.
30, December 1 UC and CSU application deadline
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December
31 Senior Ad Deadline​​​​
April
8 No classes for seniors (Career Day for others)
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May
15 Senior Ball
18 Senior Award Ceremony (6:00-7:30pm)
21 No classes for seniors​
tbd Senior Sunset & BBQ
20-21 Grad Nite
24-28 Finals
tbd Graduation Rehearsal
28 Baccalaureate Mass
29 Saturday, Commencement Ceremony, Lower Field at 9:00am (graduates arrive 8:15am)​
Senior Email Archive
Links to web versions of newsletters will be here.​
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Past Events will move below here
Senior-Parent/Guardian Mass
Wednesday October 7, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Thank you to all of our senior families who joined us in person or in spirit at our Senior & Parent/Guardian Mass earlier this month! View a special slideshow we showed at the end of Mass. Enjoy! A special shout-out to our Senior Campus Ministry Team and Music Ministry for organizing this beautiful celebration.