Portland St. Patrick Catholic School

The dust has finally settled on an exciting and very rewarding Catholic Schools Week.  It was a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate together in prayer and to learn more about our Catholic faith.  It was also a chance to cheer the end of a successful first semester.

Catholic Schools Week began on Sunday, January 31 when students and teachers took part in the 9:30 Mass.  After Mass, a record crowd enjoyed the Breakfast Buffet sponsored by the School Commission.  Many attendees also attended the Open House at the school.  

Monday through Wednesday were dedicated to prayer, service, and celebrating the Catholicity of our school.  Some of the events which were memorable were:

The PTO Breakfast:  Monday morning started with the PTO cooking and serving breakfast for all of our students.

Operation Cookie Drop Off:  On Monday afternoon, students in grades 5 and 6, with the assistance of a few high school seniors and teachers, delivered cookies to all businesses that were open in the downtown area and along the Grand River Avenue corridor.  Thank you cards, handmade by our Little Rocks with the assistance of the Big Rocks, were delivered with the cookies to thank the area merchants for all they do for St. Patrick School and the greater Portland area.

Mass at the Cathedral:  On Tuesday, representatives from all of the Catholic schools in the diocese traveled to Grand Rapids for a special Mass.  A male and female student was chosen from grades 1 - 12 to represent our school.  I will always remember the look of awe and surprise on the faces of our younger students as they took in the enormity and the beauty of the Cathedral.

 Mass at St. Patrick’s:  On Wednesday, the entire student body attended mass together.  Our school community watched as four high school juniors became Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.  We were treated to excellent music by our Catholic Schools Week choir, who sang at Mass on Sunday and again at the school Mass on Wednesday.

Big Rocks/Little Rocks:  Little Rocks were able to go upstairs to middle and high school classrooms to make Valentine’s Day cards for the Veterans hospital in Grand Rapids.

On Thursday, Fr. Larry King and his puppet Elmo paid a visit to elementary classrooms.  Friday afternoon was time for celebrating.  We celebrated the end of Catholic Schools Week and the successful completion of the first semester.  Each age group celebrated in a different way, after we all had pizza and pop for lunch.

Elementary Students: Students in grades DK through 5 headed out to the Meadow Bowl Lanes for some bowling. Students were excited when I picked them up after bowling.  One student exclaimed, “Did you know that they turned the lights off and let us bowl?”  Another student told me, “I love Catholic Schools Week.”

 Middle: Students were unable to hold their planned sledding party, due to the lack of snow.  Instead, they stayed at the school and watched the movie “Hoosiers” and played board games.  In the evening, there was a middle school semi-formal dance attended by more than 100 students from at least four area schools.  

High school: The afternoon started with a pep assembly followed by an all high school volleyball tournament.  

What a whirlwind of activity!  I tried to be present for at least a portion of every activity that was happening throughout the week.  What a great way to celebrate our own Catholic School and those around the world.  Even though it is one of the busiest weeks of the school year, I love every minute of it!  As this year’s slogan denotes, Catholic Schools do pay “Dividends for Life.”