END-OF-THE-YEAR SCHOOL PICNIC: Celebrating Community and a Successful Academic Year

All activities, food and fun are in motion for the End-of-the Year School Picnic, May 27th. The picnic is a beloved tradition at St. Peter School on the last day of school.

Parent volunteers, the Grade School Association (GSA), as well as returning eighthgrade graduates, will staff the activities, ranging from the snack booths, lunch, games, and the DJ station. The celebration of Mass always is part of the day. The decision whether to hold Mass in the church or outdoors, as was done last year, will be made later this month.

“Usually we have the classes broken down into small groups of 4 or 5 children with one volunteer accompanying them,” says Jenny Willingham, GSA President. “They rotate around the picnic for snacks, the train, and the photo booth. Some play on the playground and the older kids last year had a kickball game going. They have fun playing with their friends all day.”

The train is the same one used during the Parish Picnic and is an activity geared to the younger students. A parent volunteer drives it, while other volunteers help the students when they board and leave the train.

Mindee Miller, Picnic Chair, organizes, plans, and executes the activities of the day. She coordinates with the GSA and parent volunteers to make sure all goes smoothly and that all the needs are met. Last year, there were changes to the activities because of COVID-19 restrictions, but this year promises to be a traditional picnic.

“It’s a really nice sendoff for the kids before they go their separate ways for the summer,” Jenny says. “Some won’t get to see each other until school starts again. So they have a lot of fun having snacks, and lunch, and enjoying all the activities.”

Principal Cindy Venvertloh looks to the picnic as a way for the students to celebrate their school community, both with the celebration of Mass during the day, as well as with the activities throughout the school grounds. The schoolteachers also take part.

A call for volunteers will be sent out to the student body through Signup Genius, although parishioners who want to help may also contact Mindee Miller at mindee_miller@yahoo.com.

The school picnic on the last school day of the year allows our students to have a fun day together with their friends before summer vacation begins.

Our entire St. Peter School and parents gather for a glorious day to mark the end of the school year.