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President’s Message:
This is indeed an unexpected honor to be writing an article for the St. Patrick’s Alumni Association Annual Newsletter. Surprising it was to have received that out of the blue phone call from Mr. Paynter asking for my participation at an upcoming Alumni Association board meeting. It is even more surprising to now be elected to the position of President of the Alumni Association. Other friends from my years at St. Patrick’s Junior High School that are now part of the Alumni Association as board members include John Bellochi, Vivian Keefe, Mandy Monette, Karen King and Richard Horrigan. As always, there is a need for more involvement.
With the honor of being the president of the Alumni Association carries with it the equally honorary role of writing the president’s message article for the Annual Newsletter. As with every Annual Newsletter, it is our opportunity to not only let you know what has been going on in the Alumni but is also an opportunity for many to see the continued hard work and achievements of our “Alma Mater”. Let me first start this letter by expressing my thanks to Marc Ouellet who carried the torch as President these past three plus years. Under his leadership we saw further improvements to our website and an even more impressive increase in board membership. Now as Past President, along with all other current board members, he will continue the responsibility of recruiting and recommending Alumni to positions on the Executive.
One position that we do not need to recruit for is the School Principal. Later in this Newsletter you can read in the report of Mary Donaghy, Principal of St. Patrick’s High School that much has happened in the High School over the past year. As usual, the sports teams are continuing to excel; however, with the ever growing enrolment, continued expanding academic programs and the ongoing effect of the tight economic climate, the school faces increased challenges. We, the Alumni, can and continue to help!
In the past the Alumni has stepped forward to assist students from families in need with the purchase of school uniforms, and to provide help to the school in the acquiring of several sport team championship banners from 1929 to the present. In addition the Alumni Board donates to the School Uniform Fund on your behalf. More to the needs of graduating students, the Alumni provides two $500 bursaries to deserving graduates annually.
It is because of these monetary contributions by your Alumni, that I take this moment to present a plea: we need your help to continue to fund these initiatives. Please use the Donation form that is included in this newsletter or visit our website at www.stpatsalumni.com, print off a form and send a donation to the Friends of St Pat’s.
The Alumni are always looking for information and ideas on how to reach out to past students and staff of St. Pat’s. Feel free to send us your ideas through the “Contact Us” tab on the site.
Finally, we need your help to spread the word About the Alumni and the website to any former St Pat’s students and staff. In the move from massive mail-outs and changes in our website, we have lost contact with a large number of Alumni. Please take the time to help us re-establish that connection by contacting those St Pat’s Alumni in your address book and encourage them to register on-line through the website or forward the newsletter to them electronically so they can print it, clip out the registration/donation slip provided and mail it in to the Alumni Association c/o St. Pat’s H.S.. Thank you.
Vince Harris (‘78)