Knowledge, perspective, faith and friendship are among the number of things we develop throughout our time at St. Patrick School. Knowledge is gained through the dedicated, determined and open-hearted teachers. Perspectives are formed based on experiences and discussions during the school day. Our faith is explained and taught by living out what it means to be a follower of Christ. Friendships are made and strengthened through the events and challenges of growing up and discovering things we didn't know before. All of these, and more, contribute to the important lessons we learn while at St. Patrick Cathedral School.

At. St. Patrick's we receive a good education that gives us a head start for high school. Through mid-terms, finals and our abundance of homework, we begin to understand what it means to be hard-working. We go through times when we feel overwhelmed by all of the work, but there are always teachers and fellow students around to help us through them.

Starting from kindergarten, and leading up to eighth grade, students begin to make lifelong friends that play a big role in our school days. By being in the same classroom and taught the same things, is not what creates the closeness of the environment within our school. It is the things we do to bond and get to know each other that make us feel like we have a second family. Celebrating Catholic Schools Week and participating in events like the talent show, brings students together. The friends made at St. Patrick's are often in your life for a long time.

In school we learn so many other things besides curriculum and textbook information, we become aware of things that can help us lead a successful, thoughtful life. Lessons such as patience, teamwork, time management, and how to balance work with play are some of the things students may learn. These are learned everyday through group projects, class debates and discussions, and helping a friend deal with a problem. Through experience, we learn how to deal with those who think differently than we do and use their opinions with our own to gain perspective of each another. For example, if a student does not understand how to solve a math problem, a friend might offer some of their own advice about how they would answer it. The students learn and build off of each other's own ways of approaching a situation or problem. At St. Patrick's we start to step into another's shoes and see things from another student's point of view.

Most importantly, at St. Patrick's School we are taught about Jesus and our beliefs. In religion class, stories about God's love and kindness are read, and students dig deeper into their heart to answer questions about being a good person and portraying Jesus' message to others. However, although we have religion class every day, most of the things we learn occur from actually practicing love towards our neighbors. We do this by contributing to can drives, giving money to the penny drive, and dressing down for charity. Events like the crowning of Mary and attending Mass as a student body unite students through our faith and love for God.

St. Patrick's School is a place where everyone is welcome, where people are brought closer together and teachers always try to do what is best for the students. All of the things mentioned before, combine to create a student's life at St. Patrick's. St. Patrick Cathedral School is where students become supportive of each other, grow academically and spiritually, and become family.

By Catalina Calachan
Grade 7