(COVINGTON, La.) — On Aug. 6, 2015, St. Paul’s School welcomed the largest eighth grade class in school history to their first day of school.

“I’m very excited that we have the largest eighth grade class in the history of the the school,” President Bro. Ray Bulliard, FSC, said. “I’m humbled that it could be (as large as) it is, because there are that many people who wanted to be a part of St. Paul’s School.”

The St. Paul’s 2015-2016 eighth grade class is already breaking records and making history by being the largest eighth grade class to attend SPS with 192 new Wolves.

“It’s amazing to be a part of St Paul’s history,” eighth graded Dominic O’Brien said. “I’m excited for what my future here has in store.”

According to Bro. Ray, the size of the class can be partially credited to “shadow days” held last year, during which a prospective student shadowed an existing student, and the SPS summer camps.

“We did something last year called ‘shadow days,’ which we hadn’t done before,” Bro. Ray said, “and that seemed to go exceptionally well.”

Bro. Ray said another thing that contributed to the rise in eighth grade enrollment was this past year’s summer camps. Coach Phil Williams and other coaches did a “great job” of running the camps, according to Bro. Ray.

The future appears bright for the Class of 2020, with many students already a part of football, cross country, band, and other organizations.

“I love being a part of the St. Paul’s football team,” O’Brien said. “It’s great to be involved.”

The Class of 2020 received a warm welcome at the first President’s assembly of the 2015-2016 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The eighth grade class entered the Briggs Assembly Center to a standing ovation from their fellow Wolves.

“The welcoming was extremely overwhelming,” eighth grade Justin Guidry said, “but I’m glad to finally be a part of St. Paul’s.”