Saint Andrew School culminates the year

Intermountain Catholic

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RIVERTON — As the school year came to a close, Saint Andrew School engaged in many activities. Among the most poignant was the annual living rosary May crowning. Each class chose 10 students to represent the Hail Marys of the decades. Students from the oldest class, grade 7, filled in as the Our Fathers. Sitting in a circle on the gym floor, the prayer service began with the singing of "Immaculate Mary." Class representatives read an introduction to individual decades. Holy Cross Sister Karla McKinnie, principal, recited the prayers as one child stood up in the circle. At the culmination of the rosary, the students who celebrated First Eucharist the Saturday before, dressed in their special clothing, crowned the Blessed Mother and presented flowers. Other classes brought forth vases of flowers as well. The traditional hymn "Bring Flowers of the Fairest" was sung during the presentations of flowers and crowning. The prayer service, prepared by second-grade teacher Kathleen Dudek, has become a favorite part of the traditions being established for years to come.

Other events observed during the year’s end included a play, "Wackadoo Zoo," presented by Mary Andreason and the first-graders. One of the parents made costumes as a service project. The children performed expertly, entertaining parents, grandparents and students.

Third-grade teacher Mary Gist engaged her students in collecting teddy bears for Shriners Hospital. The students made up stories about their bears, sharing them with the kindergarten students at a teddy bear picnic. The class delivered the bears, along with original stories, to the hospital. On their way back to the school they stopped at the Ronald McDonald House to drop off all the pop tabs collected by the student body throughout the year. This project is one of St. Andrew’s outreach efforts to teach the students to serve and be aware of others. Ronald McDonald visited the school for a magic show as well.

The seventh grade social studies class of Amy Ferre studied individual countries of Europe, doing a written report followed by oral presentations and sharing food from the assigned country.

Michelle Mulcahy, who teaches pre-K4, organized a jog-a-thon that landed on one of the non-rainy days. Students enjoyed the spring weather, got lots of exercise, and raised money for the school.

Meanwhile, a group of dedicated volunteers led by James Stanbrough and Rich Learned, dodged rainy weekends to install a new playground. Sadly, weather prevented its completion before the students dismissed for the summer.

The last day of school will include a farewell Mass and awards assembly. The culminating Mass will be Father Francisco Pires’ last celebration with the school community; he has been assigned to Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish and Saint Jerome Chapel and Newman Center in Hyde Park. Saint Andrew School will say good-bye to him at the end of the liturgy.