On the morning of August 28, students filed into the Parish Hall at Saint Peter’s School for the first day of the 2024-2025 school year. The “first day” represents an important milestone for all students, but for five students, this first day was extra-special, as it marked their eleventh and final first day at Saint Peter’s.

Abby, Liam, Keegin, Nicholas, and Camden started their journey at Saint Peter’s as preschoolers. They’ve been through a lot of first days togethers, but this one was different. Liam described it as feeling like “the first goodbye.”

“To have four fellow students that have been with me through all my time at St. Peter’s is really cool to see how all of us grew differently with almost the same education and school experience,” said Abby.
 
“It did not feel real that I had made it to 8th grade since I have been at Saint Peter's for so long,” said Nicholas. “I think it's cool that we've been here all together and all have gone through every Saint Peter's event with one another.”
 
The five students share a collection of memories spanning from preschool to middle school. From being the younger buddies to becoming the older buddies, from class field trips to school dances, from transitioning to online learning and back, they have grown together every step of the way.
 
“One of my favorite early memories is going on bear hunts in Pre-K music class. Mr. Nguyen would play a bear hunt song and the whole class would sing and dance together to get through the hunt,” remembered Abby.
 
Camden’s first memory was playing with a red toy pick up truck in Mrs. Graham’s PreK-3 class. Keegin recalls a memorable second grade field trip when he caught crawfish with his friends. Nicholas enjoyed making the sacraments with his classmates and the times he got to spend with his older buddies. Liam remembers when he first played the ukulele and Fantastic Friday Afternoons with Mrs. Nichols.
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Each of the students are looking forward to adding to those memories throughout the upcoming year.

“I’m thankful for the education I’ve received and the friends I’ve made,” said Keegin, “I am looking forward to the 8th grade vs faculty basketball game and more fun times with my friends this year.”

“My favorite part of being a Saint Peter’s student is the environment at the school. All the teachers push you to learn your best and have fun while doing it. Everyone is friendly and works hard to make Saint Peter’s a wonderful place, said Abby.
 
Liam is looking forward to the 8th grade field trip and hoping to have a role in the school musical. “The teachers care about me and are there for me. I have had a lot of opportunities with drama, choir, ensemble, the morning show, and student council.”

Camden is looking forward to being involved in the school masses, participating in the drama program, and hosting the school’s Morning Show. “Having friends from PreK-3 still with me feels very special. They are the kind of people I will not easily forget the names of, and I could see myself meeting up with them later in life to catch up.”

by Elisha Gabriel

This year, Saint Peter’s embarked on beginning their own Summer Program for the youth of Olney. This undertaking began in October of 2023 with a team of planners: Angela Busby, Cindy Dixon, Maria Hauge, Father Magro, and Eric Stone. Each of these individuals works within the school or the parish and were dedicated to designing a program to benefit the youth of Olney. They worked tirelessly to make sure the program would provide a fun summer camp experience for children ages 4-12, a volunteering opportunity for adolescents ages 13-15, and a workplace for young adults ages 16-23. The program was designed to give the young adults a place to work for the summer and provide an environment to grow in their faith formation.

The program began with a retreat for all counselors to spend time getting to know their coworkers and the camp procedures. After the retreat, the demanding work began for the counselors: planning and preparing for seven weeks as camp counselors. They met with their small groups and began planning activities for their young campers to enjoy when they arrived for the week.

On Monday, June 24th at 8:30 a.m., campers began arriving for the first week of camp. The excitement and energy filled the parish hall as we welcomed the campers and began a program that had been eight months in the making. “All the time, I have fun!” said camper Karoline, capturing the joyful spirit of the camp.
Throughout the weeks, the counselors grew in their leadership, collaboration, and communication skills all while providing a Catholic environment for their campers. Camper Ellie expressed, “I love camp because it’s so fun!” and her enthusiasm was echoed by many others.

Saint Peter’s Summer Program offers a wide variety of camps, ensuring there was something for every camper to enjoy. With options ranging from baking and basketball to American Girl Doll and fun/gross science, the program catered to diverse interests and talents. Camper Taylor shared her enthusiasm: “All the camps are fun, but American Girl Doll is my favorite.”

Meanwhile, Anjali appreciated the opportunity to explore new skills, stating, “I like that I get to learn how to do things that I do not know how to do. Like in filmmaking I learned how to film something and in painting I learned how to paint animals.” This range of activities not only provided enjoyment but also helped campers discover and develop new interests throughout the summer.

Once the campers left for the day, counselors and volunteers enjoyed lunch and time off before their catechesis. Throughout the summer, various priests and religious lay people came to Saint Peter’s to provide talks and holy hours to our teens and young adults. They received lectures on several topics like the Holy Spirit, magnanimity, prayer, New Testament vs. Old Testament, death, interior spiritual life, conversion stories, and testimonies. Following the talks, a holy hour with adoration began for the young teens and adults to sit with the Lord. Volunteer Matthew reflected, “Volunteering here gives me a sense of community and helps me grow closer to the people in my community.”

As counselor Josh summed up, “Good, positive environment!” perfectly encapsulating the spirit of the program. This summer, Saint Peter’s Summer Program created a space where fun, faith, and community came together seamlessly, making it a memorable and impactful experience for everyone involved.