Sunday 16 October 2022

1967/68 GRADE 3 CLASS REUNION

If ever there is an award for the school with the most loyal and the most fun-loving graduates, I think St Patrick's Convent Schools will definitely be top contender!  Christine Rossiter Butler and Teri Healey Evans have sent me news of their annual schoolfriends' get together. On 14 October 2022, the group met again for some reminiscing, fun, and laughter.

Teri said:  "Today I had the pleasure of getting together with some of my St. Patrick's Girls School classmates.  Unfortunately, some couldn't attend and there are some who we couldn't reach or sadly had passed away. Here is our grade 3 class and today's photo. 4 of the ladies surprised us by wearing a replica of our School uniform! Lol. So nice every year to get together and reminisce and have a few (well a lot) of laughs!  St. Patrick's Girls are the best!"  

Christine and Teri have also sent some great pictures.  Here are the photos and Christine has kindly given us names.

Christine and Terri with their Grade 3 Class, 1967/68
(Teacher is Mrs Coady)

14 October 2022

Back: Ann Norris Lastiwaka, Judy Kavanagh Morgan, Debbie Barron Anderson, Donna Simmonds Brown, Ann O'Driscoll, Joanne Green Gillespie, Janice Fagan, Christine Rossiter Butler
Middle: Cathy Handrigan Vincent, Teri Healey Evans
Front: Mary Harris Squires, Donna Constantine Walsh, Charlene Whelan Pike, Karen Mugford Fitzgerald, Ellen Stone Wright
 Ellen, Karen, Charlene, Donna (Any knees showing?)
Terri imparted a bit of typical 'Convent School' wisdom.  She said that the uniformed ladies knelt down to demonstrate how the Sisters would measure the length of the uniforms.  If, when kneeling, the hem didn't touch the floor, then the uniform was judged to be too short! 😲 

At the get together, they all laughed a lot over that bit of nostalgia, but I don't suppose anyone laughed much when the Nuns were actually doing the measuring! 

Did you notice the little touch that added authenticity to the uniforms and to what it was like to go to St Patrick's Convent Schools?  That blue ribbon and medal pinned to each uniform?  That was the norm every May.  A blue ribbon and medal in honour of Our Lady in the month of May and a red ribbon and medal or Sacred Heart Badge in honour of the Sacred Heart in the month of June.  Well done for thinking of the ribbons ladies.  It was a beautiful touch!

And another bit of authenticity is the 'Presentation Clutch'! The girls in uniform all have their hands clasped just as we did when we were in school. (Have a scroll through this site and you will see the same thing in all the old school pictures.)  In my days at St Patrick's, we referred to this hand clasping as the 'Presentation Clutch'.  It's so nice that you remembered. 

In Christine's email, she said that she looks forward to this gathering every year and that she hopes to continue for a long time!  Oh, Christine, I am with you on that and hope to be posting your contributions for many years to come. As Teri said, "ST PATRICK'S GIRLS ARE THE BEST!"

👉👉A little P S.  I just heard a whisper that the uniforms were made by Donna Constantine Walsh.  Excellent job, Donna.

6 comments:

  1. Pamela (Wade) Rumboldt16 October 2022 at 14:46

    Well done ladies. I also went to St. Patrick's and have a picture of my Grade 1 group, Miss Walker's class. I will send it along.

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    1. Hi Pamela, I would be absolutely delighted to receive it. Please send it, with any names you can remember to mcallistersmith@gmail.com. I will post it on the blog and on the school fb page. Thanks.

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  2. I am still heartbroken that Covid prevented me from seeing you all!

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  3. Madelyn (Kelly)Lee

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  4. Covid has a lot to answer for. So sorry you missed your reunion. I am sure your friends were also disappointed you couldn't make it. God willing, you will make the next one.

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  5. We are sad that you missed it also! Hopefully next year, take care❤️

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