Gratitude Day has always been my personal favorite day in the Mary Help school year - maybe it's one of your favorites, too. It's a day of comraderie, friendship, and unity among all grades. This year?s Gratitude Day on May 24th was no exception.
We began the day with beautiful weather, sunny and warm. It was perfect for our May Crowning ceremony, held outside this year as a result of the destruction in our chapel. However, we didn't let this loss for our school keep us from having a beautiful ceremony. Led by the sophomores, the students and Salesian sisters down the hill prayed the rosary together, each decade in a different language. We ended the service with a hymn, "Salve Regina," led by Sister Guerline. It was a wonderful way for us to keep the faith as a school community. Thank you to Sister B, Mrs. Kirt, and Mrs. Berlin for all of their help with the ceremony!
Next, the seniors performed their annual skit, in which seniors got the opportunity to poke fun at our school and its teachers. Everyone got a kick out of the jokes that only Mary Helpers and our teachers would understand. The skit was followed by a senior video, featuring pictures and videos of the class of 2018. It was bittersweet: we're happy for the seniors to be starting this new chapter of their lives, but we are sad to see them go!
The day concluded with the passing out of yearbooks, also designed by members of the senior class. Our community gathered in the cafeteria to sign each others yearbooks, laugh at cringe-worthy pictures of each other, and more. It was an amazing way to end our perfect day, one that would not be possible without each others?support.
Gratitude Day is my favorite day because it truly celebrates what Mary Help is all about. We have fun, but we don't lose sight of the values of our school. No matter what grade we are each in, and no matter what friends we have, Gratitude Day always brings us together as a school and as a community.
Thank you to everyone who was involved in the planning of the day. It was amazing, and I can't wait for the next one!
-Gemma Fahy, '19