2026 Senior Information

Senior Christian Service Deadline is Feb. 13 - By Friday, Feb. 13, seniors should have Christian Service hours logged (or a plan submitted) and their senior Christian Service reflection interview scheduled. This is a requirement for graduation. More information about the requirement can be found on the Christian Service course on Canvas. Please don't delay in contacting Ms. Hofer at service@bishopoconnell.org with questions or for help finding Christian Service opportunities.

Seniors DO NOT need to order a yearbook. This is included in your senior fees. Senior yearbooks will be distributed at the May 26 Graduation Practice.

Senior Ads - Families can place special Senior Ads in the 2026 yearbook. Use the link below for more information and to place an ad. The deadline for placing a senior yearbook ad is Feb. 12, 2026.

Senior Ad Information

Alumni Parents

Parents who are also O'Connell graduates are invited to present the diploma to their child during a special portion of the ceremony. We ask alumni parents to use the email address below or contact the Activities Office no later than May 1 with their intentions.

Please contact us at graduation@bishopoconnell.org if you have any questions.

College Decisions - Seniors, please make sure you update your college decision in Naviance as soon as possible. This step is required so that final transcripts can be sent to your chosen college. Colleges need your final transcript on file in order to complete your enrollment, so don’t delay in submitting this information. We also ask that you update all of your college decisions in Naviance. You can also fill out this Google Form and we will update Naviance for you!

Scholarships and Awards - Thank you for sharing senior scholarship information with our college counseling office.  This information is requested by the school and diocese for celebrating the achievements of the senior class. Please submit a separate form for each award received: Senior Scholarship, Honors, and Distinctions.

Important Update:  Individual scholarship listings will not be listed by student name in the graduation program this year. 

If you have questions, please email graduation@bishopoconnell.org or pcanfield@bishopoconnell.org for assistance.

The event is held on Sunday, May 3, beginning at 10:00 a.m. with Mass in the IHM Chapel, and followed by brunch in the school cafeteria. Formal invitations have been emailed. Please contact khaas@bishopoconnell.org if you have not received your invitation. Please RSVP by April 24. 

Win a reserved pew (8 seats) at the Class of 2026 graduation ceremony at the National Shrine on May 28! Raffle tickets are $10 per ticket or 3 for $25. Raffle ticket sales are online only, and close on May 15 at 3:00 p.m. Proceeds from this raffle will benefit the All-Night Grad Party! The winning family will be announced at the end of the Baccalaureate Mass. Get your tickets HERE.

• Mandatory for all seniors. 
• Seniors arrive by 8:20 a.m. and gather in the gym to line up.
• Sunday attire (ties for boys, dress shoes for all) with graduation gown (no grad cap, cords, or stole for this ceremony).
• Mass begins at 9:00 a.m. followed by reception with light refreshments in the atrium and cafeteria.

Please RSVP for the Reception - The Baccalaureate Mass is followed by a PTO-hosted reception in the cafeteria with light refreshments for graduates and their immediate families. There is no cost to families to attend the reception, we ask families to RSVP so we can plan accordingly.

Student Artwork Submission for Baccalaureate Program -  Attention Senior Artists: Would you like to help design artwork to be featured in the Baccalaureate Mass program?  Submissions to the selection committee must be submitted by April 20. Guidelines are available here.

Senior Prom is Thursday, May 21

• Aboard a Potomac dinner cruise ship.
• Check-in begins at 7:00 p.m.
• Students should arrive no later than 7:15 p.m.
• The boat returns at 10:30 p.m.

Additional Notes and Details from Mr. Britt

1. Ticket sale will take place between May 5 and May 18.
2. If you are bringing a guest from outside of Bishop O'Connell, there is a guest form process. 
3. The boat company requires that NO LIMOS go to their Proms and any groups of more than a few students COME BY BUS.  See bus map that shows the drop off zones.
4. If you reserve a bus, please send Mr. Britt: the name of the company and the number of students on your bus.  He will update a Google Sheet as he hear from you.
5. Chariots for Hire usually has a discount code. You may need to call them in order for you to get the best price. I would call soon if you are interested as groups have been reserving buses through them already.  Feel free to use another bus company, we just don't have any discount codes for other companies.
6. If you decide that your group is small (like one or two couples) and will not take a bus, please let Mr. Britt know if you plan to park off site or take the metro (SW Waterfront is the closest station). He can share parking advice closer to the event date. There are parking lots within a reasonable walk to the boat, but they tend to not be cheap.
7. Seating on the boat will be organized the week of Prom.  More details will be shared later.  There are plenty of seats on the boat for dinner groups of all sizes.
8. Dinner, soft drinks, and dessert are provided on the boat.  Dinner menu will be shared as soon as possible.  If you have dietary restrictions that we should share with the chef for the event, please reach out to Mr. Britt (nbritt@bishopoconnell.org) so that we can start the conversation.
9. This is a formal event so tuxedos, suits, and dresses are the expected wear.  Students should also wear formal shoes to the event although girls can bring along an extra pair of flats or flip-flops for getting around on the boat.

Prom Guest Form - High School Aged

Prom Guest Form - College Aged

• Both graduation practices are mandatory for all graduates.   
• Tuesday, May 26 practice at school, seniors must report to school at 10:00 a.m. This is a dress holiday for seniors.
• Wednesday, May 27, practice will be at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
  • Seniors must be in COMPLETE PERFECT uniform.
  • Seniors must use the transportation O’Connell provides to and from this practice.

• Graduates will receive an allotment of five (5) general admissions tickets for their families.
• Parents can email graduation@bishopoconnell.org or contact the Activities Office to request extra tickets. All members of the graduate’s immediate family will be able to attend. In the past, we have been able to give up to 1-2 extra tickets to those in need. Tickets are REQUIRED for admission to the Shrine. Please note that this is a 2.5 - 3 hour reverent event and it may not be an ideal atmosphere for small children.
• Seating is general admission, first come, first served. Parking at the Shrine is limited and traffic can be difficult.
• Graduates’ siblings, who currently attend O'Connell, are encouraged to sign up to be ushers at graduation. Ushers travel from O'Connell together as a group and leave graduation with their families after helping to clear pews. Permission slip is required to be an usher. 
• Tickets are distributed to the graduates after practice at school on Tuesday, May 26.
• Any additional tickets will be in the sealed, labeled envelope that the graduate receives on Tuesday, May 26.

PLEASE NOTE - Families needing handicap seating, please email graduation@bishopoconnell.org by May 1.

Class of 2026 Commencement Exercises
Thursday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 

• Thursday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m.  Students must arrive at the Shrine by 11:00 a.m.
• The school is closed for graduation and does not provide transportation to graduation.  
• The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception’s address is 400 Michigan Avenue, Northeast Washington, D.C. 20017
• Good seats are usually filled at 11:00 a.m.
• Livestream - Seating is limited at the Shrine, but know that the event is livestreamed.
• Photography - Sit back and ENJOY being present at this beautiful ceremony, knowing that Bishop O'Connell's professional photographers from Victor O'Neill Studios are on site at the Shrine to capture all the memories for this important day. They will post photos (including photos of each graduate receiving his or her diploma) for sale at a nominal fee.  Subscribe to their special O'Connell 2026 Graduation Collection HERE.

The Class of 2026 All-Night Grad Party (ANGP) is for Bishop O'Connell seniors only. It will take place on May 28 at The St. James Sports, Wellness, and Entertainment Complex (6805 Industrial Rd, Springfield, VA 22151). Check-in begins at 11:00 p.m. and the party continues until 4:30 a.m. on May 30. 

This event provides a safe, supervised celebration for our seniors in an alcohol-free and drug-free environment. Every senior is encouraged to attend and spend one last KNIGHT together as a class! There will be swimming, basketball, games, music, food, prizes, and much more! It is self-funded through ticket sales and generous donations from parents, businesses, and the O'Connell community. 

Early registration cost is $75 through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 1. After that time, the cost is $100 per student. Please be aware that no tickets will be sold at the door. ID is required to enter the venue.  

To register go to All Night Grad Party Registration

“Beach Week” is not sponsored or endorsed in any way by Bishop O’Connell High School.

Parents are encouraged to offer some alternative to “Beach Week” to their child.

The Associates of St. John Bosco (ASJB) is a Catholic non-profit organization here in the Arlington Diocese founded by Fr. Christopher Vaccaro, a that exists to help graduating seniors successfully transition to college keeping their Catholic faith at the center of their lives. Bishop O’Connell partners with ASJB to have them speak to the senior class in the springtime about living out the Faith in college. They hosted a Parent Night this spring as well.

ASJB also hosts free College Nights in the summertime for rising college freshmen. These College Nights include a panel of Catholic upperclassmen who share their personal testimonies about how to transition to college and maintain a strong faith life. Students are then divided into small groups based on university, so that they meet others going to their same school or a campus similar to theirs. This enables authentic friendships and community to begin before even stepping foot on campus. Finally, ASJB gives each student a bundle of free books called the "Bosco Bundle" for students to bring to college to help deepen their faith while away at school. Around 20 to 30 college student volunteers (some of whom are alumni from our school!) from colleges all across Virginia and the country facilitate the College Nights by giving the testimonies and running the small groups.

O'Connell seniors are encouraged to sign up for one of the ASJB’s free College Nights at a parish in the diocese. 

Find out more at www.asjb.org.

Questions? Email us at graduation@bishopoconnell.org, or contact our activities office: