Holy Name Parish School

On Monday, HNPS had a special guest visit us for a tour and to observe some of our classes. Mr. Liam Beatty is the principal of St. Thomas School in Camp Hill, Australia. He enjoyed seeing our classrooms, especially hearing our kindergarten students rattle off as many "m" words at they could in a minute. Liam is here on a two-week visit to BC's Roche Center and is touring a few schools in the Archdiocese. We were happy to be among those schools and to welcome him to HNPS. As a thank you, he donated a book written by an Australian author to our library. In the future, we hope to find a way for our two schools to connect.

In the first few weeks of school, students focused on kindness in both words and actions. Teachers and administrators shared books and led activities to start our year with kindness. It is one of ten traits emphasized through Character Strong, the character education program we use with all students. As we begin October, our focus will shift to Respect. Through Character Strong activities and morning announcements, students will learn the definition and concrete ways to exhibit respect in the school community. In addition, we will be reintroducing our Eagle Award program next week. This program recognizes students for demonstrating kindness and respect as well as creativity, cooperation, courage, empathy, gratitude, honesty, perseverance, and responsibility (traits introduced through Character Strong later in the year). More information about Eagle Awards is included below.

We have a beautiful 3D mural in the school's lobby thanks to Ms. Buckley's art classes. After reading "Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood," students worked in small groups to paint a mural on a wooden block. The blocks have been stacked together in the shape of the school to showcase our school community and its collective creativity.