May 2025

May 30, 5:00pm - Baccalaureate Mass

All graduates and their families are invited to the Baccalaureate Mass on May 30 at 5:00pm in the Knauss Family Gymnasium. Join us as we celebrate the seniors in their last Mass at O'Dowd and pray for their continued success after graduation. Please join us at a reception after Mass.

Parking

• Due to limited parking on campus, we strongly encourage all families to carpool or use a ride share app.
• Parking will be on a first come, first served basis. There is no reserved or assigned parking for this event.

Attire and Decorum

Semi-formal attire. Graduates will wear their gowns, zipped up - no caps, stoles, or pins.

To maintain the dignity and sacredness of the Mass, no balloons, drones, confetti, or beverages are allowed.

May 31, 9:00am - Commencement

Commencement begins at 9:00am. All graduates must be in the Knauss Family Gymnasium by 8:15am.

We are excited to welcome graduates and their families to campus for this year's Commencement! The ceremony will begin promptly at 9:00am.

Parking and Transportation

• Campus Parking - Due to limited parking space on campus, each graduate and their family will be allowed to park ONE car on campus with the provided parking pass. Gates will open at 7:45am and cars must present the parking pass at the gate to Campus Safety.
• Satellite Parking and Shuttle Service - Additional guests can park at the following satellite lots:
• North of O'Dowd: Kaleo Christian Fellowship - 7700 Mountain Blvd, Oakland
• South of O'Dowd: Church of the Assumption - 1100 Fulton Ave, San Leandro
• Shuttle service will run from these locations 7:45 - 8:15am and will shuttle guests back to the parking locations after the Commencement Ceremony.
• Please note: The shuttles will drop guests off at the 98th Avenue turnaround. Anyone with mobility issues should arrive in the car parking on campus.
• Friend/Uber/Lyft Drop Off - This low stress solution avoids the complexities of parking and shuttle and ensures a smooth, safe arrival and departure after graduation. All cars dropping off individuals should do so at the 98th Avenue Drop Off Area. Commencement guests will walk up stairs to the Lower Field and present their Commencement ticket to Campus Safety at the gate.
• Neighborhood Parking - For safety and to respect our neighbors, we ask that families do everything possible to avoid parking in the neighborhood.

Attire

Graduates are to wear their school-issued cap, zipped gown, graduation stoles, pins, and any leis given by family and friends. Please dress to match the importance of this event! The event is taking place on the Lower Field, so please wear shoes that you can walk in.

Recording

Commencement will be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend the events. The recording will be available later that day on the Class of 2025 Webpage.

Accommodations

• We strongly recommend that any person in need of assistance getting to their seat arrives in a car parked on campus. Our buses and lower lot drop off area will not properly accommodate anyone in need of mobility assistance.
• When arriving on campus, please alert Campus Safety at the gate that a person in your party will need assistance and they will direct you where to drop off your guest(s).

Be Prepared for Commencement

During the two-hour ceremony, the seating is in the full sun on a turf field that heats up. Please be prepared for cool or warm weather. Bring layered clothing, hats, sunscreen, and your own bottle of water. Guests sitting in the bleachers may choose to bring a cushion to sit on.

Thank you Mr. Pham for the art!

Keep at Home!

Out of respect of all graduates, we kindly ask that you do not bring drones, noise makers, or air horns to the ceremony. Thank you in advance!

O'Dowd Alumni Exit Survey

Seniors! Stay-up-to-date with O'Dowd! As we welcome you as the newest alumni in the O'Dowd community, please make sure to complete the Alumni Exit Survey by June 30. Remember, you are Forever a Dragon. 

Last Chance! Senior Class Gift Deadline is May 30

This is your final opportunity to have your Senior Class Gift included in the presentation at Baccalaureate Mass on May 30!

We’re so close - just $3,000 shy of our $100,000 goal to support the Fund for Faculty Excellence. Every gift counts! Plus, your donation will be doubled by our $50,000 match. Join your fellow senior families in honoring O’Dowd’s incredible teachers and making a lasting impact.

Make your gift by May 30 for it to be included at Baccalaureate Mass!

Parent/Guardian Survey

Your student's four years at O’Dowd have meant a great deal to us. As they prepare to graduate, we’d love to hear your thoughts on their experience here at O'Dowd - particularly around school culture, diversity, and their overall lived experience as a student here. This short survey should take about 5 minutes. Share as much or as little as you'd like in the open-ended responses - your honest feedback is incredibly valuable. Your thoughts and insights will help us celebrate what’s working and identify where we can grow as a community to better support all Dragons in the future. Thank you, and we cannot wait to see where the future takes your student! Complete the survey.

College Counseling Reminder

Final transcripts will be sent to one college based on your college of attendance listed in Naviance. If you receive offers off a waitlist and need re-route your final transcript, please contact your counselor and Ms. Anguiano as soon as possible.

May

30 Baccalaureate Mass, O'Dowd's Knauss Family Gymnasium (5:00pm)

31 Commencement Ceremony, O'Dowd Lower Field (9:00am)

June

17 Diplomas Available in Main Office (10:00am - 2:00pm)