Saint Columbkille Partnership School opened its 125th school year on Monday, August 31, gathering in prayer as students, faculty, and staff began a new year together. Fr. Fitz blessed the students, and faculty and staff shared special intentions for the school year ahead. It was a fitting beginning to an anniversary year rooted in faith and community.
For our eighth graders, the opening week marked the beginning of a special final year at Saint Columbkille. Eighth grader Fiona captured that mix of anticipation and affection for her school when she shared, “Being in eighth grade this year is going to be so much fun because there are so many activities that we get to do. I’m going to be going to high school next year, so it’s a little sad, but I’m also really excited.”
Throughout the school, teachers devoted time to building relationships, establishing classroom routines, and helping students understand the expectations and opportunities ahead. These early experiences lay the foundation for a successful school year and help every student, whether returning or new, to feel known and welcomed.
Our youngest learners began school on Wednesday, September 2, following two days of classroom visits with their families. Those visits offered children a chance to explore their new surroundings and meet their teachers with their family.
In early childhood classrooms, the first days brought opportunities to learn through play, practice new routines, and begin forming friendships. Teachers and teaching assistants helped children navigate the transition with patience, encouragement, and care.
Denise Prior, a teacher in our youngest early childhood classroom, described the meaning behind this work: “Families entrust me with their child during an important transition from home into the wider world.: She added, “My goal is to help each child feel that school is a safe place, that they are capable of learning and that they are loved.”
That commitment to helping children feel known and loved extends throughout Saint Columbkille. At our first school Mass, eighth graders served in leadership roles, setting an example for younger students who will take on similar responsibilities through the year. After Mass, families gathered in the school plaza for coffee conversation, renewing friendships and making new connections.
The sense of community continued in the weeks that followed as the school’s two Back-to-School Nights allowed families to meet teachers, learn more about the year ahead, and strengthen the partnership between home and school.
As we begin our 125th school year, we are grateful for the families, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters who are a part of the Saint Columbkille story. This anniversary invites us to celebrate the generations who have shaped our school and to carry their commitment to faith, learning, and service into the year ahead.