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For 75 years, Bishop O’Dowd High School has shaped generations of students who carry the lessons, friendships, and spirit of the school far beyond graduation. As O’Dowd celebrates 75 Years of Excellence, one tradition remains strong: our alumni stay connected to the community that helped shape them. That connection is captured in a phrase many graduates know well: Forever a Dragon. Across generations, O’Dowd alumni remain involved in many ways. Showing Up for the O’Dowd Commu

By Kathy Canty Brown ’84 | O’Dowd Senior Director of Development Daughter of Tim Canty ’58, Parent of Joshua Brown ’12 & Rebecca Brown ’18 I’ve walked these halls as a student. I’ve stood on the sidelines as a parent. I’ve shown up each day as a staff member, first as a math teacher and later in the development office, committed to giving back to a place that gave so much to me. I’m one of many in a three-generation O’Dowd family - and I know I’m not alone. Over the past 75

Ava Bright ’28,   Tony Varni ’57, Sara Varni Bright ’96. Tony Varni ’57 traveled from Hayward each day to attend Bishop O’Dowd High School. A graduate of All Saints Catholic School, he and his family were committed to continuing his Catholic education. “O’Dowd was the new Catholic high school,” says his grandson Graham Ramiza ’17, “and was a natural landing place with our family’s roots in the East Bay.” That legacy drew in Tony’s daughter, Sara Varni Bright ’96, who also

When Bishop O’Dowd High School opened in 1951, it didn’t yet have a campus of its own. Classes were held at St. Louis Bertrand in Oakland, where eighth graders Joyce Allencastre and Frank Souza (both Class of ’57) were already “going steady.” “O’Dowd was co-ed, whereas St. Joe’s and St. Mary’s were all-boys,” Joyce recalls with a smile. “That’s why I wanted to go there.” Her family’s commitment to Catholic education ran deep. “I babysat and cleaned houses all four years to

Celebrate our 75th anniversary with us! Each month on social media  and in our O’Dowd In Brief  newsletter, we will have a trivia related to our school’s history and community. The answers and information about the trivia will be shared here. March 2026 How many NCS Championship Titles have O’Dowd athletic teams won? A: 101 B: 54 C: 33 D: 12 In 1957, O’Dowd earned its first NCS Championship title in Boys Cross Country. Since then, O’Dowd has earned 54 NCS titles across 17 sp

The Cor Unum Award, named for the school’s motto, “One Heart in Christ,”  is Bishop O’Dowd High School’s highest honor. It is presented...

As the sun set across the Bay Area, we welcomed nearly 100 alumni to campus for our annual Alumni Happy Hour. Everyone enjoyed delicious...

With the sun shining on a brisk fall morning in Jack London Square, Oakland city leaders gathered near the ferry terminal for the...

Dear Dragon Community, As we approach Thanksgiving I am filled with gratitude for the vibrancy, connection, and community on our campus....

There’s something special about reconnecting with fellow Dragons - whether you visit for our Reunion Days, Alumni Happy Hours, and Living...