Saturday, May 30 will mark the end of the Sharks’ time at NDB as, after four years, the Class of 2026 will officially graduate.
Graduation will be held that afternoon at 2 p.m. on campus. The ceremony will feature speeches by Head of School Meredith Essalat and the class’ valedictorian and salutatorian as well as the conferring of diplomas to the graduating seniors.
On the evening before at 5 p.m. at St. Bartholomew Parish Community in San Mateo, the Baccalaureate Mass will be held. It is a Catholic liturgy to honor the graduates in a religious setting. Several of the seniors and their parents have roles during the service, making it even more meaningful for attendees.
These ceremonies are not only a way for seniors to reflect on their time in high school one final time, but also an opportunity to celebrate growth, accomplishments and the journey that led to graduation. In many ways, graduation allows students to recognize how far they have come and the memories they will carry with them beyond NDB.
“I feel like it’s a really bittersweet ending. I think I’m really going to miss my friends [and] the teachers,” shared senior Lily Logan. “Everything I’ve learned at Notre Dame, I think, I’ll carry on with me, but it’s going to be hard saying goodbye to a place that I feel like I’ve made my home.”
This momentous occasion is also important for staffulty and parents who have to say goodbye to the students they have been watching grow into young women over the past four years.
Senior Class Coordinator Kate Mahoney has supported the Class of 2026 throughout the year.
“The Sharks have celebrated some major milestones in the last month: Aquacades, prom, mother-daughter brunch, and I am so happy I was able to be a part of the planning alongside the senior class council and Mrs. Bergholm,” explained Mahoney. “The next couple weeks will go fast, and I hope every senior takes the time to enjoy it and live in the moment at the remaining events before the year comes to an end.”
From baby Sharks to mature young women, the seniors have grown tremendously during their time at NDB. With graduation officially splitting them up as they head into the ocean that is college, the Class of 2026 will always be connected to the NDB community.
