Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate the people who make Saint Columbkille Partnership School such a strong and joyful community. While our students and faculty are at the heart of Saint Cols each day, we are also grateful for the individuals who help guide and support our school behind the scenes.
This year, we invited members of our Board of Trustees to reflect on what Saint Columbkille Partnership School and Catholic education mean to them. Their responses highlight the pride, connection, and shared commitment that unite our community.
The Board of Trustees plays an important role in supporting the long-term vision of the school, helping inform big-picture decisions related to strategy, sustainability, and growth. Our board includes current and former parents, alumni, and individuals connected to Saint Cols through professional and community partnerships.
We are grateful for their leadership and service, and we are pleased to share their reflections below.
“I love walking through the doors of Saint Columbkille and being welcomed by the amazing staff. The students are exceptional; they are confident, caring, and inquisitive. I have been reading once a month to various grades for 15 years. It's an amazing place to be.”
- Diane Boulanger
“Catholic schools are important to me because they provide a rigorous academic foundation grounded in faith, values, and service to others. St. Columbkille's is especially meaningful to my family, as it has offered us an opportunity to actively live our faith through service on the board and engagement in the classroom, both now and in support of the school’s long-term goals. As a board member, I am committed to stewarding the mission of Saint Columbkille School and Catholic education so that future generations of students are formed with integrity, compassion, and a strong sense of purpose.”
- Megan Brown
"Saint Cols is the very best of what Catholic schools have to offer. It offers a model for Catholic Elementary schools across the country as a true partnership between the Archdiocese, the Parish and the premier Jesuit institution in the country, Boston College. This partnership provides an environment that fosters academic excellence that is grounded in our Catholic Faith."
- Wade Brown
“I love every opportunity I get to come back to Saint Cols. When you arrive, you immediately feel an immense sense of the vibrant community that is our school. As an alumnus and having grown up in Brighton, I take great pride in getting to be a small part of this great community.”
- Nino Gilarde, Chair
“When I first started supporting teachers at Saint Cols while working on my doctorate at BC, I never knew I'd have the privilege to continue supporting this dedicated and committed faculty as a board member. The teachers and staff at Saint Cols demonstrate what it means to pursue a rigorous and loving elementary education. They know that it requires holistic and ongoing professional learning in order to sustain this community, and they put in the work that is necessary to do so. No Catholic school can function without educators, but it's in conditions like those at Saint Cols where you see a new model of the professional Catholic school educator emerging.”
- Andrew Miller
“Our daughter Gabriella is a sixth grader at Saint Columbkille. She has been at the school since pre-K, and she has thrived at this school that embraces each child with care and love while challenging each to learn and grow. We are in awe at the devotion and dedication of the teachers, and we love the spirit of community that permeates Saint Cols.”
- Dr. Jim O’Connell
“Saint Columbkille is an anchor of community and caring in our neighborhood, and it provides an excellent education. From the moment we set foot on campus, our family was welcomed, engaged, and inspired.”
- Julia Serazio