St. Thérèse celebrates inaugural graduation

By Christine Bordelon

The St. Thérèse Academy graduation May 22 was a celebration of firsts. It was the inaugural Baccalaureate Mass and ceremony for the school that opened this year on the campus of Our Lady of Divine Providence in Metairie.

And, the school for exceptional students with varied needs in kindergarten through high school named its first valedictorian and salutatorian 

Before Mass started in the church, graduates and their families were treated to a slideshow of student memories. The participants practiced social distancing by sitting in 10 families of six spread throughout the church. 

In addressing the graduates, principal Shannon Bland thanked God for his loving providence and blessing upon the students. She also gave thanks for the encouragement of parents and teachers, including those from former Holy Rosary School, which many of the seniors had attended previously. 

“They have completed one milestone on the journey that God has created them to be on,” Bland said of the graduates.

Father Mike Mitchell, the school’s chaplain and pastor of Our Lady of Divine Providence Parish on whose campus the school is located, was happy to see the graduates and their families after the two-month hiatus due to COVID-19. 

“You did it. Great job!” he told them. He took a costume head of a phoenix – the school mascot – out of his prop bag and sang “We are the Champions,” popularized by Queen, only using slightly different words: “No one can stop you, because you are the graduates ... of St. Thérèse!”

Father Mitchell told students their years of perseverance – some had to relocate campuses several times – and the help of friends, family and God combined to help them complete their high school graduation.

“You made history, not because you are the first class of St. Thérèse, but because you did it through all that struggle,” he said. “Because you did it, all the people need to congratulate you.”

School for all learners

Bland describes St. Thérèse as a loving school with small classrooms allowing faculty to give individualized attention while meeting students where they are and helping them academically and emotionally “so we can provide a Catholic education for students, no matter what their exceptionality is. That’s the most incredible part of St. Thérèse.”

St. Thérèse’s high school curriculum offers two options where students’ abilities can shine: a “TOPS” track for those attending a traditional college or a “Jump Start” track that awards certificates of learning accepted by a junior college or a job.  

Online learning was in place when the COVID crisis hit. Two weeks before the remote learning began, students were instructed on how to use Google Classroom, so the transitionwasn’t too difficult. Modifications were made along the way as needed, Bland said.

As far as activities missed due to the coronavirus, St. Thérèse already adapts activities to students’ needs. The school replaced its real junior/senior prom with a “Parking Lot Prom,” complete with a disc jockey, T-shirts, school mementos and a graduation photo several days before the graduation Mass. Social distancing was maintained by students wearing a “fathead” oversized cutout of themselves dressed in their graduation caps.

Office of Catholic Schools’ superintendent Dr. RaeNell Houston and associate superintendent Martha Mundine attended the ceremony. Houston congratulated the graduates and said not even COVID-19 could stop St. Thérèse students.

“You guys, the Class of 2020, you are a dream come true for me and for Archbishop (Gregory) Aymond,” Houston told the students. 

She called St. Thérèse a beautiful place where students’ minds, hearts and faith grew.

“Your hard work and dedication have finally paid off, despite how many challenges came your way,” Houston said. “As you move into the next phase of your journey, remember, like St. Thérèse, to keep Christ at the center of your life. Love him with your whole heart; trust him with your life. St. Thérèse teaches you to remember not only who you are, but whose you are. Above all things, we are children of God.” 

Students felt loved, accomplished

“The teachers help you a lot,” said St. Thérèse graduate Wendell Barnes, who joined the school in January with the help of the Office of Catholic Schools working Catholic Charities’ Isaiah 43 program coordinators and the archdiocesan Catholic Community Foundation to make it happen. 

Barnes has been accepted into Delgado Community College and hopes to study art, music and theater to pursue an acting career. “I was scared at first, but I made new friends and got more personal attention here (as opposed to his former public school),” he said.   

Student Alyssa LeBlanc said she wanted to stay at St. Thérèse until she was age 83.

“It’s a great school,” said the former Holy Rosary student, who hopes to pursue a career in cooking or animal science. “They have your back. The teachers are fantastic and will help you any way they can and stay after school to help you. … It feels like home to me. It is amazing and extraordinary to be the first graduating class. Other grades look up to us – that’s one of the most exciting things.”

Bland assured students that the school and faculty would always be there for them whenever they are needed and hoped they would continue to embody a true St. Thérèse student who will “show up and participate.”

Houston encouraged them to “let your light shine in all you do, glorify our Father in heaven, and I hope that nothing will stand in your way.”

Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarionherald.org.