Chatham, NJ -- Wednesday, September 5 marked the start of school for students attending St. Patrick School (SPS), located at 45 Chatham Street, in Chatham.
To kick off the day, students first gathered in the gym for an opening morning celebration and for the "Blessing of the Backpacks" from Father Kamil Kiszka. The annual "Blessing of the Backpacks" helps start the new school year and recognizes the importance of learning.
During the day, students met their teachers and classmates and also began school work, such as participating in a counting game using animal figures as seen in Mrs. Michele Heerema's 1st grade class.
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Keeping with tradition, St. Patrick Principal Dr. Christine Ross chose a theme to carry the school forward in the 2018/2019 school year - "Be a Blessing." Students are encouraged to share the uplifting message while at school but also in their daily lives and in service of others.
St. Patrick School (SPS), which was founded in 1872, is a National Blue Ribbon School and one of only four Catholic elementary schools in the nation to achieve STEM Certification from preschool through Grade 8 from AdvancED, a national school accrediting agency. SPS is a co-educational, parochial elementary school and has been recognized as a Diocese of Paterson Star School. For more information on SPS, go to www.st-pats.org.
