Letter to senior parents

Although it may seem difficult to believe, the high school journey for our seniors is rapidly drawing to a close. There are just a few weeks remaining until we join together in Celebration of the Holy Eucharist to honor the academic accomplishments of the St. Patrick Class of 2018 in graduation. It is with great honor that I have had the opportunity to work among these students for the past few years, and I am humbled to wish them well in the next chapter of their lives. Emerging from the St. Patrick Class of 2018 are outstanding leaders, articulate orators, brilliant thinkers, great athletes, extraordinary artists, and most importantly, faith-filled disciples. I could not be prouder to have worked alongside these students and watched them grow and excel in their many endeavors.

To ensure that all parents and close family members have priority floor seating at this year’s Graduation Mass, I have enclosed four tickets for seats that will be reserved on the floor closest to the graduates. Additional seating will be available in the bleachers on a first come, first serve basis. Attendants must have a ticket in order to be guaranteed a seat in the reserved section. Listed below is additional information for parents of graduating seniors regarding events scheduled for the next few weeks:

• Senior Parade: On Friday, May 4, seniors will dress in their caps and gowns, and we will all travel to each of our partner elementary schools for seniors to parade through the hallways and greet the elementary students. Not only will this be an opportunity for many of our seniors to revisit their elementary schools, but it will also be an opportunity for the elementary students to see what their future holds as the future Fighting Irish. Students will receive their caps and gowns on the morning of Friday, May 4. Students will need to be sure to keep up with their caps and gowns until graduation as extras are not ordered.
• Senior Farewell Mass: The traditional Senior Farewell Mass is scheduled for Thursday, May 3, at 9:40 a.m. in the gym. Parents and guests, as always, are invited to join us to celebrate mass. Seniors should wear nice dress clothes. Guys should wear a coat and tie; girls should wear appropriate-length dresses or nice pant suits. Blouses should have a cap sleeve or at least a three-inch strap; otherwise, a sweater or jacket should be worn. Senior
• Luncheon: Following the Senior Farewell Mass, students will travel by school bus to the Gulfport Yacht Club for their final senior luncheon. For questions, please contact Mrs. Saucier.
• Senior Exam Schedule and Exemptions: Senior exams will be administered May 10 and May 11 during the regular scheduled class periods. We will follow the regular bell schedule, and exams will be at the regular times of the class period, so each exam period will be fifty minutes. Students do not need to attend classes in which they have earned an exemption status (students will be notified of exemptions on May 9). There will not be check-outs during exam class periods, so students will need to stay in class for the entire exam period. If a student is exempt from one class and arrives at a later time, they must check in at the front office. Thursday, May 10: exams during first, second, third, and fourth periods. Friday, May 11: exams during fifth, sixth, and seventh periods.
• Graduation Practice: Graduation practice will begin on Wednesday, May 16, at 9:00 a.m. Students must attend and be on time to graduation practice in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. The valedictorian and salutatorian will meet with and me after the graduation practice for speech review.
• Senior Awards Night: Tuesday, May 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the gym. Students should turn in copies of all scholarship offers to Ms. Wilkinson as soon as possible. Guys should wear coat and tie; girls should wear appropriate-length dresses or nice pant suits. Blouses should have a cap sleeve or at least a three-inch strap; otherwise, a sweater or jacket should be worn.
• Graduation Mass and Ceremony: Friday, May 18, at 5:00 p.m. Seniors should report to the auditorium no later than 4:00 p.m. dressed in their caps and gowns. Underneath the gown, guys should wear a light-colored button-down shirt with a tie, dark dress slacks, and dark shoes. Girls should wear dresses or slacks with comfortable shoes (no flip-flops). The Graduation Mass is a solemn ceremony as we join together in Celebration of the Holy Eucharist in honor of the achievements of this graduating class. Please ask your family members to refrain from taking pictures during the mass. There will be time after mass to take your child’s picture on the altar. Students will return their caps and gowns to the auditorium following the ceremony. Once caps and gowns are returned, students will receive their diplomas and report cards if all balances are cleared. All final transcripts will be mailed to the student’s college of choice during the first week of June.

On behalf of the administration, faculty, and staff of St. Patrick Catholic High School, I commend and congratulate each member of the Class of 2018. I wish our students every success in the future and will continue to pray for God’s blessings for your family.

Kind regards,

Matt Buckley
Principal