Student of the Month...

I'd like to take a walk down memory lane, inspired by cousin Jenny.

Some of the best days of my childhood were spent in school, not because I was a dork (I know, I know, I still am), but because Holy Spirit School was an amazing place to be, even if you had to wear the ugliest uniforms with peach shirts and brown knee socks on a daily basis.

Just about everyone I know who attended the great H.S.S. looks back fondly on memories made while a student there. Let's recall a few memories:

-Coming to school early to sit in the gym to copy all of Debbi Dobson's homework
-Forging your mom or dad's signature in your notebook so you didn't get a checkmark
-the Christmas door decorating competition

-watching PBS shows for four-year-olds while Sister Antoinette slept at her desk

-walking to church each week on Tuesdays

-Honoring the Jesse Tree during Advent by hanging the necessary paper ornaments on the tree

-Mrs. Repko's Bingo, Christmas Jingo and flavored Tootsie Rolls

-practicing for the Passion Play at Our Lady's Church and getting to yell "Put him to death"and "We want Barrabas"

-singing "Great Day in Bethlehem" at the Christmas concert while holding your flash light with colored saran wrap for effect

-Sister Antoinette's lesson on alcoholism when she pretended to see purple elephants (b/c this happens when people are drunk, apparently)
-Miss Fedock ensuring you read Judy Blume's "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and "Are you there God, it's me, Margaret?" as part of the Pizza Hut Book It Movement
-Mr. Bobber's musical antics, including "put three fingers together and say AH"
-Mrs. Repko's son's storying about "downshifting"
-Watching Voyage of the Mimi and learning about whales, sign language, and the Mayans in Mr. Litchko's class

I mean, seriously, in just a few short moments I could recall all of this wonderful memories.

But there's always one that everyone remembers: the monthly gatherings for Student of the Month.

Sister Adrian would welcome everyone to the gathering. She would say, "Good afternoon, students" and everyone would respond "Good Afternoon, Sister Adrian." But you had to say it correctly -- as an entire school, you had to drag out the words with the correct sing-songy tone. If you went there, you're reading this now saying it in just the right fashion. This is clearly one of the best memories.

Being selected the Student of the Month was a huge deal that came with big responsibility. As a selectee, you had a role to fill and you had to do so successfully. When Sister Adrian or the Student Body President honored you for being Student of the Month in your class, you had to deliver the proper speech:

"I'd like to thank my fellow classmates for nominating me and selecting me as student of the month. I'd also like to thank (Insert Teacher Name) for his/her support. And finally, I'd like to thank Sister Adrian for making this day possible."

Failure to deliver the speech word for word, particularly, failure to thank Sister Adrian meant you were a let down to your respective class. This was a key element in the Student of the Month process as well as one's role as a Holy Spirit Spiritan.

We should take time to remember these great memories of our childhood. We should also take time to remember to thank Sister Adrian for making things possible. It only seems appropriate.

Catholic Schools: Put Faith in the Future -- Let's hope Holy Spirit School can find the support it needs to help future students create these lasting memories that I still hold to this day.