Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • May 31, 2019 22 Spotlight on Schools Our Lady of Fatimaʼs fifth grade CCDclass lead the May Crowning on Sunday, May 5. Two CCD second graders, Taggart DiLorenzo and Anna Couvillion, who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 4, crowned the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady of Fatima Elementary, Biloxi St. James sixth grade students, Gabriella Busching and Kade Moody, crowned Mary as queen of heaven and earth on Wednesday, May 1. Students from all grade levels brought flowers and placed them at the foot of Maryʼs statue. St. James Elementary, Gulfport Shayleen Moeini, a sixth grade student in Sindy Holder’s class at St. James Catholic School, recently qualified to participate in the 2019 National Geographic GeoBee State Competition. Shayleen placed fourth in the state. attend. Students and staff honored them during the morning assembly -- fondly called “Prayer and Pledge.” Students made and presented cards to the officers, thanked them, and shared handshakes. The officers joined the students’ morning praise of God by singing along to the song and then were treated to a simple reception in the cafeteria. Earlier in the week the school held a ‘Free Dress Day’ to raise money for fallen Biloxi patrolman, Robert McKeithen. Students paid $3 wear non-uniform clothes, and teachers paid $3 to wear jeans. The school collect- ed over $1,200 to send to Officer McKeithen’s family. “We know that we are called to serve, not to be served. These officers serve us and all the citizens along the Mississippi Gulf Coast every day,” Principal Carol Church told the student body, faculty, and parents gathered for the assembly; adding, “It is our pleasure to do a little something to show our appreciation.” Pictured, fourth grader Demi Stogner laughing at an officer's “dad joke.” Recently, St. Vincent dePaul Catholic School cele- brated National Police Officers Day. Officers from all departments were invited, and about 30 were able to St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School, Long Beach Left, pictured are Wesley Mitchell and his mom at the craft station. Friday, May 10 at St. Vincent dePaul Elementary School, Pre-K3-year-olds got to pamper their mommies in the class’ Mother’s Day Spa. The teachers set up six stations including nail painting, massage center, read- ing center, tea party center, a hail do space and a craft center as well as a photo booth. The three-year-olds were so happy to be able to do nice things for their mommies and the mommies just loved the whole thing. Brandi wants our readers to know it is amazing to see how much the kids want to do something nice for their moms. “I really like seeing the joy the mommies experience when they get pam- pered by their thre-year-olds.” Many students from St. Vincent dePaul Elementary School were among the 160,000 students worldwide to participate in the Math Olympiad program. They participated in a series of five monthly contests of five problems each, from November through March, and weekly practice sessions under the supervision and coaching of Tara Meleones. She and their classroom teachers, Cindy Cox and Jennifer Mink, taught the children to solve unusual and difficult problems and to think creatively. This program provides opportunities for children to engage in creative problem solving while developing their ability to reason, to be logical, to be resourceful, and occasionally to be ingenious. The students responded well. Thirty-seven St. Vincent dePaul’s fifth and sixth graders won national awards for excellence within Division E for grades four-six. The silver pin is awarded to those in the Top 10% of participating students including Camille Bourdreaux and Brianna Carver from St. Vincent dePaul Catholic School.