“God is first. My family and friends are second, and I am third,” Mayor Harrell told us as we gathered in the gym on Sunday, adding, “I share that with you to say that is the spirit that I see here at this great school with the great teachers and the great parents.” Hear, hear, Mayor Harrell! We opened Catholic Schools Week and the Centennial celebration with a huge congregation at Mass. Students, alumni, family and friends took A Walk Through Time as they visited the classrooms and viewed the classroom doors dedicated to the decades from 1920-2020. I am so very grateful to Pablo and the Centennial team, to Mr. Bretz and the Centennial middle school elective, and to the teachers. For a wonderful account of the day, take a look at this week’s edition of Northwest Catholic’s article, “Seattle’s St. John School Celebrates Centennial.”
From Mr. S’s legions of mini-mes to gorgeous bouquets of flowers to a spirited Spelling Bee, Catholic Schools Week continues to be an exciting journey! Congratulations to Amelia E., Spelling Bee champion and runner-up, Elle G. who hung in there up to the bell! Catholic School Week concludes with Purple and Gold Day tomorrow! Students are encouraged to dress in our school colors – Purple and Gold – and be ready to show their school spirit! Spirit Day is also the day when we celebrate our students! Thanks to Chef Michael, the Kitchen Crew and the Parent Association, students will be treated to a lunch of waffles, smoothies and more! Vegan options are available – please have your student notify a lunch team member for a vegan option when they pick up lunch.
As we end Catholic Schools Week, we begin the month of February commemorating Black History Month, in which “we celebrate the legacy of Black Americans whose power to lead, to overcome, and to expand the meaning and practice of American democracy has helped our Nation become a more fair and just society.” (President Biden, A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2023), and we, too, will celebrate Black History Month at St. John.
I end this letter with more to celebrate: Ms. Shaw and her husband will soon be parents! Join me in congratulating Ms. Shaw!
Happy Catholic Schools Week!
Bernadette O’Leary
