all day
Commencement
To the Graduating Class of 2026 from the Head of School
April 15, 2026
Dear Students, Parents and Guardians of the Class of 2026,
The weeks leading up to graduation are exciting ones, and it is never too early to begin anticipating and planning. Toward that end, I wanted to take an opportunity to share some preliminary information with you.
Linked and shared below is the "Senior Countdown" calendar, which provides a comprehensive list of academic and other related events. In the interest of providing you with basic information on immediate and longer-term milestones, please refer to the list of dates and events below.
Senior Countdown Highlights (Scroll below for the full calendar)
May 5: Hermits Athletics Media Day
May 6: Last All-School Mass for Seniors; May Crowning
May 8: Last Day of Classes for Seniors
May 10 - 13: Senior Exams (5/14 - Make-Up Exam Day)
May 20: Senior Awards Breakfast and Graduation Practice (Morning; Students Only; Mandatory);
May 20: Senior Parent Social (evening; formal invitation to follow)
May 21: Class of 2026 Graduation
Other important graduation information:
- Each family will receive eight (8) tickets for the ceremony
- The ceremony will begin promptly at 4:00 p.m. on May 21 and generally lasts between two and two-and-a-half hours
- Students must have a proper haircut and be clean-shaven. Graduation attire is as follows: dress pants (school uniform khakis are permitted), a white dress shirt, a necktie, and dress shoes (sneakers are NOT PERMITTED).
In Christ through Augustine,
Fr. Robert J. Murray, OSA, Ph.D.
Head of School
Important Dates & Times
Wednesday, May 20
Class of 2026 Breakfast, Award Ceremony, and Graduation Rehearsal
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 20, at 8:30 a.m. on campus. This tradition welcomes the senior class back to campus for breakfast in the Consalo Dining Hall followed by the Senior Award Ceremony. The day will culminate with a brief rehearsal for the following day’s ceremony. (STUDENTS ONLY)
Wednesday, May 20
Senior Parent/Guardian & Faculty/Staff Reception (Formal Invitation to Follow)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Consalo Dining Hall
Wednesday, May 20, in Consalo Dining Hall on campus at 6:00 p.m. Formal invitations will be sent via email to parents and guardians via email from the Office of the Head of School. (Please ensure the school has your correct email address.) There is no cost for this event. It is a wonderful opportunity for the parents/guardians of the Class of 2026 to gather and celebrate their son’s past four years. Dress is smart casual. (Parents and Guardians only.)
Thursday, May 21
Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 21, at 4:00 p.m. on campus on the Forum field. Commencement Exercises should be finished by approximately 6:00 p.m. The decision to celebrate on a Thursday rather than a weekend is intended to minimize conflicts with end-of-year athletic events and college graduations. Each senior is given EIGHT tickets/per family.
In order for your son to receive his diploma, he MUST:
• Successfully complete all academic and senior retreat requirements. Please contact Mr. Sean Grealis '95 P'22, Dean of Academics (Mr.Grealis@hermits.com) if you have questions.
• Satisfy all financial responsibilities as determined by the Business Office by May 1, 2026. Please direct questions to Mr. Edward Hoy, Ex. Director of Finance, (Mr.Hoy@hermits.com).
• Attend the Senior Breakfast, Award Ceremony, and Graduation Rehearsal on Wednesday, May 20, beginning at 8:30 a.m. (Students only.)
Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises
Ticketing:
- All guests must present a ticket to enter.
- Each student will receive eight (8) tickets in total – five (5) blue tickets and three (3) white tickets.
- Both blue and white tickets provide admission to the outdoor Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises held on the field behind the Buondonno Forum Building adjacent to Railroad Boulevard.
- In the event of inclement weather, each blue ticket grants admission to the Rodio Gymnasium to view the indoor ceremonies and each white ticket grants admission to the Consalo Dining Hall to view the indoor ceremonies on the projection screens. (Blue tickets must be limited due to the fire code regulations for Rodio Gymnasium.)
- If the ceremonies are moved inside due to weather, an email will be sent and an announcement made via the school’s campus alert system in the days leading up to the ceremony. Additional pertinent information will be posted on this webpage.
Parking and Seating:
- Due to limited on-campus parking, families are encouraged to carpool.
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Seating for families opens at 3:00 pm and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The day of graduation, seniors MUST:
- Report to Spina Gymnasium no later than 2:45 p.m.
- Remember their cap, gown and hood. (These will be handed out in the weeks prior to graduation.)
- Students must have a proper haircut and be clean-shaven.
- Graduation attire is as follows: dress pants (school uniform khakis are permitted), a white dress shirt, a necktie, and dress shoes (sneakers are NOT PERMITTED).
Members of the Class of 2026 are welcome to invite family members who are Roman Catholic priests and deacons in good standing to participate in the Baccalaureate Mass.
Please contact Fr. Tony Burrascano, O.S.A. (Fr.Tony@hermits.com) or call 856.697.2600, ext. 145 by May 8.
St. Augustine Preparatory School legacy members are invited to present a diploma to their graduating senior.
This opportunity is extended to:
St. Augustine Preparatory School Faculty and Staff
Alumni Grandfathers
Alumni Fathers
Alumni Brothers
Please contact Ms. Maria Enos P’13 ’16 (Mrs.Enos@hermits.com) or call 856.697.2600, ext. 190 by May 8.
St. Augustine Preparatory School makes every effort to accommodate persons with special needs attending the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises.
Please contact Ms. Maria Enos P’13 ’16 (Mrs.Enos@hermits.com) or call 856.697.2600, ext. 190, regarding accommodations for persons with special needs or if you have questions or need clarification about items in this communication.
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any additional questions regarding this information, please contact:
Mrs. Melissa Sheftall, Administrative Assistant, Buondonno Forum
Phone: (856) 697-2600 x128 e-mail: Mrs.Sheftall@hermits.com
Commemorate your 2026 Graduate with a Legacy Paver
Commemorate your son’s time at St. Augustine Prep with a personalized paver! As per tradition, the special price of $125 will be available to the Class of 2026 for a limited time, the pavers will then be offered to the balance of the Prep Community beginning in July.
Inscriptions can be four lines of 16 characters per line. Spaces and special characters are included within those 16 characters. You may submit your inscription by email to Ms. Maria Enos at enos.maria@hermits.com
Prep Shop: Good Bye, Good Buy
As our seniors prepare for graduation, the Prep Shop is accepting donations of gently worn polos and Hermits gear. These items will support our popular “Good Bye, Good Buy” section—an initiative that gives new life to Prep apparel while supporting our community.
Thank you for helping keep the Hermit Brotherhood tradition going!
Class of 2026 Yearbooks
The Class of 2026 yearbook will include full coverage of Commencement and will be distributed this summer. Graduates will be invited back to campus at the end of July for a special yearbook pick-up celebration.
A formal invitation will be emailed to all members of the Class of 2026.
Livestream
The Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercise for the Class of 2026 will be live-streamed courtesy of Hermits Broadcasting Channel.
The live-stream link will be available at 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 21.