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Holy Family begins school year with flag raising ceremony
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Neighbors | Submitted.Deacon Ray Hatala led Holy Family students and families in prayer by making the sign of the cross during the traditional flag raising ceremony during the first day of school.
By TIM CLEVELAND
As it has since the late 1970s, Holy Family School opened the new school year with a traditional flag raising ceremony on Aug. 25. The tradition began when a new principal began her tenure at the school.
“Sister Charlotte Italiano was principal for 28 years at HFS (1977-2005),” Holy Family marketing director and mother of three HFS students Tina Kali said. “She started the tradition of the flag raising ceremony and prayer because she was a new principal and wanted to begin a warm tradition of welcoming all families back to school on the first day. The wonderful tradition has continued for 38 years. Students believe that it is fun and parents look forward to it as a sentimental way of seeing their children enter the next grade and walk into the school building yet again.”
The flag raising ceremony was attended by all the students at Holy Family School, plus the teachers and other faculty and several families of students. The school’s parking lot was filled to capacity. Each year, the flag raising is done by someone different, such as a few Boy Scouts or one or two students. This year it was eighth-grade students Paige Brockway and Chloe Housteau.
“I was nervous. I was hoping that the flag would not be upside down when I raised it,” Brockway said. “I was also excited to be back at school and to be part of the flag raising ceremony.”
The ceremony began with Deacon Ray Hatala and Principal Kathleen Stoops leading everyone in a prayer. Then, Brockway and Housteau raised the flag up the flag pole.
“The flag raising was wonderful!” Kali said. “It is special to see the students progress to the next grade and to welcome the school’s newest students, mostly in grade Kindergarten.”