Christopher Columbus High School

A Catholic School for Young Men in the Marist Tradition since 1958
Student Life

Commencement 2021

Commencement 2021

The Christopher Columbus High School administration and graduation committee, in consultation with the CCHS COVID-19 Medical Advisory Board, has set the dates, times, and locations for the following Class of 2021 graduation events:
 
Baccalaureate Mass for Class of 2021
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
7 pm, Columbus Football Field
Mass will be in person for graduates and 2 parents.
Livestream will be available.

Traditional Graduation at the Speedway for Class of 2021
Saturday, May 22, 2021
9 am, Homestead-Miami Speedway
Guests will be allowed in person.
Commencement will be held outdoors rain or shine; virtual livestream will be available.
 

Graduation at the Speedway

Christopher Columbus High School and Homestead-Miami Speedway are gearing up to a full commencement celebration for the Class of 2021!

On Saturday, May 22nd graduates, families, and Columbus faculty and staff will gather for the traditional pomp and circumstance graduation ceremony.  A themed photo op venue for extended celebration and spacious open-air seating will provide the ideal setting to bid farewell to the graduates. Capping the morning festivities will be an optional victory lap around the track.

Event Info:
  • Do not iron the gown, hang it up to let any wrinkles fall out.
  • Graduation practice (mandatory to attend) will be on Thursday, May 20th  and will begin at 7:45 am. After practice, students will receive their cap & gown and tickets. Every family will receive ten (10) tickets.
  • Gates will open at 7:30 am and graduates should arrive no later than 8:30 am for the lineup under the grandstands (like rehearsal on Thursday, May 20th) to formally process in. Late arrivals may not be admitted.
  • Graduates who opt out of the victory lap, and all additional family cars attending the graduation, will enter through Gate 4 and park in the green parking lot in front of the main entrance (see map).
  • Graduates opting to participate in the post-ceremony victory lap (see below) must enter through Gate 3, off 137th Avenue, and park in the designated parking area.
  • The ceremony will begin promptly at 9 am. The event will take place rain or shine, and though it is set for early morning, it is recommended that families dress formally, but comfortable.   
Post-Ceremony Lap Around the Track:
  • The car with the graduate must enter through Gate 3, off 137th Avenue.
  • The colored paper indicating your lap time must be displayed on the dashboard (will be in cap and gown package).
  • Start time for the lap is slated for approximately 11:30 am. The laps will be monitored by track personnel and are scheduled for every 5 minutes in cohorts of 20 vehicles.
  • Those who sign up for the optional congratulatory lap post-graduation must use personal vehicles only; no limousines or other rental vehicles. Max height of the vehicle is 7’9”. The car must be driven by a parent or guardian, the graduate wearing his cap and gown, should be in the front passenger seat.
  • No one is permitted to ride in the cargo bed of a pickup truck.
  • The cars may be decorated on the windows only, no balloons, streamers, signs, or other decorations will be permitted.
  • Signage will direct those signed up for the congratulatory optional lap post-graduation to Gate 3, off 137th Avenue.
New This Year:
We encourage all families to arrive early to the Graduation at the Speedway to take pictures in our Class of 2021 Photo Village! You may also want to get a specific seat in the grandstands, so we urge families to arrive before the seniors need to start lining up to process in at 8:30 am.
 

Baccalaureate Mass

We look forward to celebrating the Baccalaureate Mass with you and the Class of 2021. This Mass opens the festivities for the Commencement Ceremony, as your sons transition to college begins with a blessing.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 on the Christopher Columbus Football Field at 7 pm. Families may arrive as of 6 pm. We will follow Columbus and CDC guidelines, masks are required (no buffs or gaiters), and due to social distancing will be limited to the senior student and only two family members (please RSVP above - red button). The student will receive only two tickets; the senior does not need a ticket for entry. Seating will be first come first serve; the senior and his two guests will sit in a pod of three. Due to safety, persons without a ticket will not be
permitted to enter.

The Mass will be live-streamed for those not able to join us.

Proper attire must be worn by senior students and guests.

Senior Explorers Dress Attire:
  • Suit (or jacket with dress pants), long-sleeve dress shirt, tie, belt, dress shoes, and dress socks, properly groomed, and no earrings.
  • Please bring an umbrella in the event of rain and since the Mass will be outdoors, keep this in mind when selecting footwear.
For those in need of assistance for special needs, please contact Gerardo I. González '89, Director of Campus Ministry at ggonzalez@columbushs.com no later than Tuesday, April 13, 2021.
Christopher Columbus High School | 3000 SW 87 Avenue | Miami, FL 33165 | (305) 223-5650
Christopher Columbus High School is a private, Roman Catholic, college-preparatory high school, conducted by the Marist Brothers of the Schools. We aim to make Jesus Christ known and loved, as we prepare young men for higher education and for their continuous challenge of harmonizing faith, culture and life. We foster a family spirit among all who are committed to the success of the school and promote opportunities to work together as a community of learners. 

Columbus is fully accredited by Cognia and is a member of the Marist Association of Secondary schools, the National Catholic Education Association and the Independent Schools of South Florida.