By Sister Mary Roy Weiss, SSND
In the early months of 2020, the theme for the 8th grade closing ceremony at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, Maryland was chosen: “Sent Forth in the Spirit.”
Little did we know how that would ring true for the June 1 date of the actual closing ceremony. With the onset of COVID, Notre Dame Prep, along with many other schools, closed its doors on March 13 that year. Instead, we continued educating virtually and in hybrid mode.
Without an in-person closing ceremony, we navigated through a Zoom and livestreamed event to mark the occasion. What made the 2020 ceremony particularly special was the decision to deliver the certificates and awards by faculty and staff to the students’ homes after the online celebration. What surprised and happy faces greeted those of us who made those deliveries!
Included in the large envelope for each student was a key chain to mark the memory and theme. The key chain featured the Holy Spirit on one side and the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the opposite side.
(The students had learned - and loved - the gifts as WUCKFPF: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Try saying the word and it becomes a fun way to remember the gifts!)
Even though we did not celebrate in person that year, we still had a program cover designed by an 8th grader who formed the Holy Spirit with the names of all those who were moving on to high school life.
These students of 2020 were truly "sent forth in the Spirit," and are being sent forth again as they graduate this year from high school!
Let us all remember we are sent forth every day.
