PROCESSING UP THE NAVE in candy red robes and mortarboard hats, the eighth-grade class of St. Norbert Catholic School celebrated their graduation to high school in their parish church on May 23 before a crowd of family, friends, balloons and flowers.
CO-VALEDICTORIANS ALEXA BAUZON (LEFT) AND FRANCESCA FLORES ADDRESS THE ATTENDEES. IN THE FALL, ALEXA WILL ATTEND MATER DEI, AND FRANCESCA WILL ATTEND ROSARY ACADEMY. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
But the 27 students of the Class of 2025, some of whom have been at the parish school for nine years, weren’t the only ones saying goodbye that night. Saying farewell were some families whose only, or final, child would be leaving the school were also honored at the ceremony.
“Graduates, God has a plan for each of you,” said Fr. John Moneypenny, pastor of St. Norbert. “The next four years of high school, continue to dream, find what you like to do, try lots of things while keeping Jesus as the center and always desire to love him more and more each day. High school is the time when God will continue to let you understand the dreams He has for you.”
One of the graduates, Benett David Hansen, was the last of four children to go through St. Norbert. He, like his brothers and father before him, will move on to Servite High School. The Hansen family was one of many honored at the ceremony. The family has been a part of St. Norbert school family the longest: 22 years.
BENETT HANSEN POSES WITH HIS FAMILY. HE IS THE LAST CHILD IN HIS FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM ST. NORBERT—THE FIRST GRADUATED 22 YEARS AGO.
“We’ve been here many years and I’m so happy that we’ve been a part of this community for so long,” said mother Mikki Hansen, a graduate of Rosary Academy. “All of our children have grown up to be faith-filled. It’s given us exactly what we wanted in a school.”
For many of the graduates, they are moving on after nine years at the parish school. During her graduation remarks, eighth-grade teacher Adriana Holguin took her students back through some highlights. They made applesauce and Play-Doh in preschool and read about the adventures of Flat Stanley in first grade.
They prepared for First Communion in second grade and faced the COVID-19 pandemic in third grade, being forced to go home and finish the school year online, Holguin said. Then they came back to school in fourth grade but were split in two with some learning online. Their teacher made sure they sanitized their hands every 30 minutes. It wasn’t until fifth grade that their education returned to normal, but through all of it, the 2025 graduating class “stayed gold,” Holguin said.
“Throughout all of these moments you have lived out the pillars of St. Norbert’s Catholic School: truth, service, family and peace,” she said.
Principal Joe Ciccoianni said in his speech that he hoped that their four years of high school would be amazing, that they would go on to college and make their dreams come true.
“But even more than this,” Ciccoianni said, “that your faith and trust in God grows and deepens. And that in your life, His dreams for you will come to fruition.”
Francesca Flores, who was named Outstanding Graduate, said she and her classmates were ready to move up to high school, but that it was hard not to look back at the “unforgettable memories” at St. Norbert.
“Even though we are going to different high schools, we’ll always share our connections to St. Norbert,” Flores said. “Whether it’s field trips, class moments or the East Coast expedition, we’ve created lasting, core memories and inside jokes.”