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Notre Dame High School senior Noosha Steward received her diploma from head of school Maryann Osmond on May 28 in a drive-through, livestreamed graduation ceremony. (Courtesy photo)
June 24, 2020
Christina Gray
Catholic San FranciscoIt was not the senior year anyone expected, but the Class of 2020 at Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco seemed to meet the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic with grace, courage and humor.
After schools closed in March, students, their families, faculty and staff became quick studies in the art of distance learning, and as Convent/Stuart Hall principal Tony Farrell put it, “making lemonade out of lemons.”
Seniors graduated or were set to graduate in ceremonies real and virtual, masked and distanced, postponed or as-scheduled.
ST. IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL: Commencement exercises on the school’s football field are postponed until July 25. A celebration in advance took place May 28 when the school’s 348 graduating seniors and their families drove through campus to pick up their caps and gowns. Valedictorian: Owen Viet. (Courtesy photo)
SACRED HEART PREPARATORY: Siblings Maddy Lee and Spencer Lee sit atop a car during the high school’s drive-through commencement exercises May 23. Family cars parked on the field for the graduation of the school’s 155 capped-and-gowned students. Valedictorian: Parinaz Khosravi, Salutatorian: Alan Kagiri. (Photo by Abel Sanchez)
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL: Noosha Steward received her diploma from Notre Dame High School head of school Maryann Osmond on May 28. The all-girls school held a drive-through, livestreamed graduation ceremony for 120 graduating seniors who stepped masked from the safety of cars driven by family members to the podium. Valedictorian: Felicia Wei. Salutatorian: Abiya Baqui. (Courtesy photo)
MARIN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Father Andrew Ginter, school chaplain, blessed the 159 seniors of the Class of 2020 in the school chapel during a Facebook Live video May 28, their original graduation day. Commencement will take place the first weekend of August.Valedictorian: Jake Chuharski. Salutatorian: Lindsey Bell. (Photo by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)
MERCY BURLINGAME: Teachers and administrators greeted cars outside the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame May 16. Seniors picked up caps and gowns and other regalia for a drive-through, live-streamed graduation ceremony May 31. Valedictorian: Jessica Echarte. Salutatorian: Caitlyn Brooks. Head of School General Excellence Award: Sophia Postigo. (Courtesy photo)
CONVENT AND STUART HALL: Convent senior Nisrine Rahmaoui receivedher diploma in early June. Fifty-one Convent girls and 55 Stuart Hall boys graduated over six days to pace the event for safety. Convent valedictorian: Arianna Nassiri.Stuart Hall valedictorian: Maximilian Tellini. Alumnae Award: Nisrine Rhamaoui. (Photo by Browerbird Photography)
SERRA HIGH SCHOOL: Senior Nusi Malani is pictured at the all-boys school’s virtual graduation May 30. Seniors entered the campus one car at a time for conferral of diplomas. Valedictorians: Paul Mansfield, Sriyash Erra, Jack Dugon. (Courtesy photo)
ICA CRISTO REY ACADEMY: Dre’zhane Arceneaux was one of 89 young women who graduated from the school’s unique corporate work-study program in a virtual ceremony May 29. Valedictorian: Laura Barraga. Classspeakers: Pamela Cabotaje, Eva Moody. (Courtesy photo)
ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN HIGH SCHOOL: Zach Charlton’s face beamed from the car he drove through campus to pick up his cap and gown, June 1 in advance of formal commencement exercises June 27. The Class of 2020’s 138 graduates represent the school’s last all-male class, with coeducationbeginning in the fall. Class speakers: Michael Gray, Adam Kolokotrones. Aidan Murtagh. (Courtesy photo)
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL PREP: Like the other 296 seniors in the Class of 2020, Sam Hulan’s cap and gown and class photo were hand delivered by faculty and staff after the pandemic postponed commencement exercises at St. Mary’s Cathedral until July 18. Valedictorian: Alden Standley. Salutatorian: Tuan “Harry” Nguyen. (Courtesy photo)