Catholic schools to hold commencements today

Two Costa Mesa Catholic schools — St. John the Baptist School and St. Joachim Parish School — are scheduled to hold eighth-grade graduations today.

St. Joachim, which covers preschool through the eighth grade, will hold its commencement at 5 p.m., with a graduation Mass starting in the church and continuing to Nevin Hall for awarding of diplomas.

Thirty-one eighth-graders will take part in this year’s graduation, the school’s first under Principal Sister Kathleen Marie Pughe.

St. John the Baptist will see off 67 eighth-graders at 7:30 p.m., with the graduating class leaving a gift for future generations.

Principal Sister Mary Vianney said the gift would be a secret until tonight.

— Michael Miller