Its hard to capture how something makes you feel—the emotions that are brought back, the memories jumbled into joyful times, the laughs that were had, the friendships made and the overwhelming sense of gratitude. These are all the things I think about when I reflect upon my time at Holy Cross School.

I attended Holy Cross School from Kindergarten through 8^th grade (Class of 1995 Whoop Whoop!!!!) and if I’m honest with you, my earliest memories are from this school. I remember walking into my Kindergarten class—not nervous, as I had 2 older sisters at the school, but excited and confident. This sense of excitement and confidence was cultivated during my time at school. My teachers (I can still name every single one of my teachers and aids) believed in me and encouraged me to be who God made me to be. It wasn’t without bumps and bruises, but I was in an environment where I was not scared to get bumped or bruised because I was genuinely loved by the teachers and staff and I was safe to learn and fall forward at school.

Now, as I reflect back at my time at Holy Cross I realize how grateful I am to have spent those many years at this school. There were days, possibly even months when I didn’t want to be at the school, maybe it was the uniform, maybe it was the tough curriculum, maybe it was the rebellion of a tweenager, but my parents never faltered. It could have been easier for them to send me somewhere else but it was never an option. I never appreciated the sacrifices that my parents made to send 3 of us through Catholic school. The tuition, the volunteering, the BINGO (oh the BINGO!) was never complained about—at least we never heard it. We made amazing memories and we extended our family by being part of this community and we cultivated our faith. I now look back with an immense sense of gratitude and pray that my children will do the same when they reflect back on their time at this school.

I loved so many things about this school, but mostly I love the feeling of home that I have when I am here. I feel at home because it was my home for 9 years, the walls kept me safe, the teachers taught with an abundance of love, my faith grew its roots here. I continue to see this as a home and now this home has been a home for my children. The walls keep them safe, the teachers teach them with an abundance of love, and their faith roots are growing deep as well. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to continue to be part of this School Family Tree.