As the first half of the 2021-2022 school year ends, we look forward to a new year with many exciting events and changes, but before that, Saint Paul’s students will have their semester exams next week. With the exams approaching, students will get off of school at 1:00 instead of 2:00, except for Friday: Students get out at 11:30 for Christmas break. During these past two weeks, the campus has had an exciting time. 

On Wednesday, December 1, students had a three-period schedule, with the Blue Ribbon celebration ceremony taking up the fourth period. The Blue Ribbon Ceremony was a very well constructed and formal ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Saint Paul’s students and faculty and former faculty, principals, and vice-principals from elementary and middle schools and the St. Tammany parish president Mike Cooper and Covington Mayor Mark Johnson. The master of ceremonies was Gavin Dominique ’22. Gavin was very well composed and handled the ceremony very well. Towards the end of the ceremony, the St. Paul’s Brass Band paraded around the Gene Bennett Sports Complex, followed by Saint Paul’s banners and the 2015 and 2021 Blue Ribbon awards.

On Thursday, December 2, Saint Paul’s hosted their annual luminaries. The campus was filled with candlelight and beautiful caroling voices, and Saint Paul’s jazz band performing classic Christmas carols and jazz songs. The student council president, Walker Dubreil ’22, chose the Latin word Agape to put in the stands this year. Agape means the fatherly love of God for humans, which comes from hope, — last year’s luminary word. Mu Alpha Theta, Student Council, Student Hosts, and the Key Club all helped set up the campus with the luminaria bags placed around the campus, lighting the way for Jesus.  

On Saturday, December 4, Saint Paul’s hosted the return of their annual Oktoberfest. With tickets available for $5 a person, one could enjoy the German-inspired festival with a vast majority of authentic, Bavarian food. You could also enjoy stein carrying, pretzel twisting, a strudel eating contest, and dancing along with live entertainment. 

On Sunday, December 5, the Marching Wolves marched in their annual Christmas parade in downtown Madisonville. The parade was only a half-mile, starting at the Maritime Museum and ending at the Madisonville Playground. Families could enjoy meeting Santa, seeing a Christmas play, drinking hot chocolate, and many other arts and crafts. The Marching Wolves, along with other dance groups, cheerleaders, an ATV club, and horse riders, rocked Madisonville to its core, foreshadowing next year’s Mardi Gras. 

On Wednesday, December 8, Saint Paul’s hosted an all-school mass for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The school gathered in the Gene Bennett Sports Complex for the mass and filled the gym with heavenly voices singing “Ave Maria,” “Salve Regina,” and the Saint Paul’s classics like “O God Beyond All Praising” and “Word of God Enthroned.” The mass was a big success, minus the microphones cutting out, creating a loud bang scaring everyone. Saint Paul’s students look forward to the upcoming holidays once exams pass. This upcoming week will not be easy for Saint Paul’s students as they study and prepare for the exams with the full intent of passing and raising GPAs. After exams are said and done, we will look forward to an even better school year when we return from the break.