Tomorrow the teachers have a professional development day. It was on this day one year ago we were preparing for an in-service day when the Governor announced we would be closing the school for two weeks. We called the bagpipers, originally scheduled for St. Patrick’s Day, and asked if they would come earlier as we didn’t want to miss the annual performance. They came, we closed, and teachers spent the next day preparing for what we thought would be a short quarantine…. Little did we know! What an incredible year it has been!
At this morning’s meeting with the Office for Catholic Schools, the assistant superintendent said that on Saturday, March 13, we will light a candle for 24 hours as a way of remembering and praying for the over 2.6 million people worldwide who have died from Covid-related complications this past year. We can hold them, and especially those in our own community, in our prayers as the candle burns:
Let us stand together in prayer as we remember all who have gone before us.
May our prayers strengthen those who are grieving right now.
May the light of the candle increase in each of us the hope we have in the light of Christ.
May we remember we are not alone.
God is with us….always. Amen.
We also pray in thanksgiving for the blessings we received over this year. I am so grateful for the health of our community,
- for the fact that we are receiving the vaccine and the help we had,
- for the teachers, who since our in-service one year ago, have been an incredible example of growth mindset and perseverance,
- For the Parent Association and the hospitality we have experienced,
- For our volunteers,
- And for the Auction team, rocking on with their second virtual auction – more growth mindset in action.
Report cards were mailed home today for trimester 2. Please review with your student their progress and set family goals for trimester 3.
I trust you have all made arrangements to participate in our school auction on Friday, March 19. Today is the last day to secure a delicious meal from Ethan Stowell Restaurants and to order your cocktail kit. The silent auction opens Monday at 8:00am! Register now at: www.biddingforgood.com/stjohnsea.
Looking ahead, please plan to “attend” the virtual performance of this year’s school musical, The Little Mermaid, Jr., Read below for more information on how to secure tickets and we’ll see you at opening night. Thank you middle school actors and our directors for finding a way to share your talents, from a distance, while maintaining this important artistic tradition.
We will have to wait another year for the bagpipes–but let’s all plan to wear green on Wednesday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duibh!
Bernadette O’Leary
