Senior Year Resources

Date: Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024

The Senior Parent meeting is a great opportunity to receive the latest information needed for parents and guardians of the Class of 2024. Even if you have had a graduate in the past, we recommend joining us for this important meeting in the BSM Theater.

Topics to be covered:

• End of year events
• Graduation (tickets, caps and gowns, announcements, etc.)
• Finals
• What to expect as a senior parent 
• Senior party information

Review the slides from the presentation

Senior Baby Ads

Due: Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

Senior baby ads, which Jostens calls "Yearbook Recognition Ads," will be created by parents online via Jostens. Follow these instructions.

• Ad site will end on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023
• 1/8 page ads for $40

It is a tradition for the yearbook staff to offer parents of seniors space in the yearbook to display a baby/toddler picture and a message to their seniors. This is a wonderful opportunity to express how much your son or daughter means to you. Due to strict yearbook deadlines, we will not be able to accept late entries.

Please DO NOT email baby ad submissions to the BSM yearbook staff. 

Senior Portraits

Due: Monday, Nov. 13, 2023

Requirements and submission instructions are outlined in this document. Photos can be uploaded here.

Please DO NOT email senior portraits to the BSM yearbook staff. 

Yearbook Orders

Yearbook orders are added to your student’s tuition unless your family opts out of the purchase. Please refer to your tuition statements to confirm you will be receiving a yearbook. 

Contact Paul Canavati (pcanavati@bsmschool.org) if you have any questions.

Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Members of the Class of 2024 will gather together to celebrate "Decision Day"!  The event will include all members of the Class of 2024 who are encouraged to wear shirts indicating the next leg of their journey. If they have not yet made a decision about life after graduation, Red Knight gear is always popular and appropriate, because “Once a Red Knight, Always a Red Knight”! 

Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 11 a.m. 

Location: Minneapolis Marriott City Center
Grand Portage Ballroom, 30 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis.

Invitations will be mailed in mid-April and RSVPs are required

This event is held annually for seniors and their parents/guardians (siblings and other family members do not attend this event.) The Baccalaureate Mass is followed by a light lunch and a short program.

Questions? 
Contact Mary Fran O’Keefe at 952-927-4176, ext. 2448. 

Second semester seniors have the opportunity to skip all of their final exams.

Refer to the student handbook for complete information. 

A survey of seniors is distributed in May. On this survey, seniors indicate which college they will attend and their signature on this form authorizes BSM to release the year-end transcript. The year-end transcript is mailed no later than the end of June.

Graduation will take place on Friday, May 31, 2024 at BSM Stadium from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Graduation announcements are traditionally sent to family and friends. Each senior will receive six official graduation announcements, at no cost, from BSM in April. 

BSM will take care of ordering the six announcements and the cap and gown. Additional announcements are available for purchase from Jostens as well as other items seniors and parents may find useful (e.g. class rings, senior jewelry, senior apparel, gifts & keepsakes, and photo gifts.) These items will be delivered to seniors in April.

Questions? 
Contact Jostens at 952-974-0800

Each senior is assessed a fee of $150 in February. This fee covers the cost of the commencement exercises and the Baccalaureate.

Seniors with outstanding tuition accounts, detention, fines, missing athletic equipment, or miscellaneous items will not receive their cap, gown, and tickets until all outstanding debts have been satisfied.

Laptops must be returned. Because laptops are repurposed, seniors are not allowed to buy/keep their laptop.

We appreciate the sacrifice your family has made to allow your student to attend BSM. As a friendly reminder, it is the school's policy that tuition accounts for graduating seniors be current before they are allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies. The deadline is Sunday, May 12, 2024. 

Please review your tuition account activity in PowerSchool to ensure your account is current. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your tuition account, please contact Shané Sisco at ssisco@BSMschool.org or 612-875-2461.

The dress code for graduation is strictly enforced. Any student out of dress code will not be allowed to participate in the commencement exercise.

Female Dress Requirements:

• A dress, skirt or long dress pants and blouse
• Skirt or dress should not be longer than calf length
• No shorts or capri or cropped pants
• Natural, white, or no hose
• Dress flats or dress sandals (sneakers, tennis shoes, clogs, “flip-flops,” or excessively high platforms are not acceptable)

Male Dress Requirements:

• Long dress pants
• Dress shirt with a collar
• An appropriate tie
• Dress shoes (sneakers, tennis shoes, or any open toe sandal are not acceptable)

The dress code requirements in the Student Handbook do apply the evening of graduation.

Seniors are expected to wear the traditional gown and cap during the commencement exercises.

BSM will order the cap, gown, and traditional tassel for each student.

Graduation caps and gowns are delivered to BSM and will be distributed to seniors during graduation practice in June. The graduation gown and cap are red in color. The gown is calf length and should be ironed at home. The cap is the only headpiece allowed and must be worn flat on the head. Females traditionally carry a bouquet of flowers provided by BSM.

Seniors eligible for honor societies to which BSM belongs will receive the appropriate cord at graduation practice. Seniors will also receive their cap, gown, and tickets to the ceremony at practice.

Seniors eligible to graduate with honors will receive their gold tassel the evening of graduation. The gold tassel is worn in place of the red and white tassel. 

Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 8:30 a.m., Haben Center.

PROMPT START - Please do not make any doctor appointments or schedule work which will conflict with this practice.

No student will be allowed to leave practice early. Each senior is required to attend practice. Failure to attend practice will prohibit participation in the commencement exercise.

Friday, May 31, 2024, 7 p.m., BSM Stadium 

Commencement will be held in the BSM Stadium. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Haben Center.

Each senior will receive six tickets allowing entrance to the commencement exercises as seating is limited for this event. Seniors will receive their tickets to the ceremony at graduation practice. Graduates do not require a ticket.

Commencement exercises will be held at BSM's outdoor stadium on campus. Each graduate can have two additional guests sign-in at the event to attend the outdoor ceremony. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Haben Center, and only the six ticketed guests per graduate will be admitted due to capacity constraints.

Please email Kathleen Huyck (khuyck@bsmschool.org) if you:

• Need more than six tickets, and want to be placed on a standby list for additional tickets
• Do not need all six of your tickets, and want to share your extra tickets with members of the BSM community who can use them. 

You may also contact other BSM families independently to secure additional tickets.

Date: Friday, May 31, 2024, starts after Graduation Ceremonies. 

The Senior Party is a tradition at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. It is a parent-chaperoned, parent-organized, all-night party for our graduates, sponsored by the Parent Association. The party is designed to allow graduates a chance to celebrate in a safe, chemical-free environment after an emotionally-charged day. Food, games, and friendship are all part of the night of good, clean fun. This party is a gift for our children! 

Registration link to come.