On Thursday, October 30, Saint Columbkille Partnership School celebrated All Saints’ Day with one of our community’s favorite traditions, the Fourth Grade All Saints’ Day Project Presentations.
Students, teachers, and families gathered in the gym to admire the impressive work the fourth graders completed over the past month. Each student dressed as their chosen saint and delivered an oral presentation, transforming the space into a living museum of faith and history.
After presenting, students traveled to Boston College to meet artist Nancy Marek Cote, known for her vibrant paintings of saints, including her depiction of Saint Columbkille, which hangs in our Welcome Center. Students were excited to share their costumes and see the artwork that inspired many of their choices.
Although the project is rooted in Religion class, it incorporates history, writing, and public speaking. Fourth grade teacher Ms. Kunkle shared, “Preparing for the All Saints presentations was great. Students learned research skills, applied paragraph writing skills, and practiced public speaking. Many of the students selected saints also featured in artwork by Nancy Marek Cote, and it was a delight to watch their faces light up as they saw their saints brought to life in the paintings.”
Students chose saints for many personal reasons, including name connections, shared cultural backgrounds, or qualities they admired. Fourth grade student Matthew selected Saint Francis of Assisi. He said, “The Saints Day project was really fun because we got to go to all the places I have wanted to visit for a long time, like the Boston Public Library, to do research. It was also really fun to put together my costume.” Matthew also discovered an important fact about Saint Francis. “He made the first Nativity scene, and that is really important to our faith because it celebrates when Jesus was born.”
This beloved tradition is one the Saint Columbkille community looks forward to each year, and is an important part of the school’s partnership with Boston College. Coming right after the excitement of Halloween, it offers a meaningful moment to slow down, reflect, and celebrate the saints whose lives continue to inspire us.