OVER THE COURSE OF a single day in May, St. Norbert Catholic School in Orange celebrated its students, their families and the Blessed Mother.
May 15 began with a May Crowning; a Catholic devotional ceremony in which students honor the Blessed Mother. St. Norbert students and their families filled the church for the prayerful gathering. Students placed flowers at Mary’s feet, and selected students read Scripture passages. The celebration culminated with a student
placing a crown of flowers on Mary’s head.
At St. Norbert, that honor went to sixth-grader Alyssa Dauglash, the commissioner of religious affairs on the student council.
ALYSSA DELGADO PLACES A CROWN OF FLOWERS ON MOTHER MARY’S HEAD DURING MAY CROWNING. PHOTO BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“I was nervous, but it was such an honor to just put the crown on,” Alyssa said.
As commissioner of religious affairs, Alyssa performed Gospel readings and participated in schoolwide announcements throughout the school year.
“It was fun,” she said. “I got to bond with people that I usually don’t talk to.”
Alyssa’s older brother, Aiden, an eighth grader, said watching his sister place the crown on Mary’s head was a proud moment.
“It made me feel accomplished that someone from our family got to do that because I’ve always wanted to do it,” Aiden said. “It had a place in my heart.”
After the ceremony, families moved from the quiet of the church to the energy of the school courtyard for the annual Special Persons Day celebration. The event is designed to help families enjoy a meal together and feel comfortable and connected on campus, which, in turn, strengthens their involvement in school life, St. Norbert principal Joseph Ciccoianni said.
Families are encouraged to send any important adult—parent, grandparent, godparent, relative or family friend—so no student is left alone, Ciccoianni said. Adam Ernst, father of a seventh grader and a fifth grader, is among three generations of his family who attended St. Norbert. For him, the day carries a sense of continuity.
Ernst recalled Special Persons Day from his own childhood and said the tradition still carries the same emotional weight.
“We have people that we went to school with here who now have their kids here,” Ernst said. “So, it’s just a nice community school. Everyone looks after each other.”
As lunchtime wound down, families made their way to the auditorium for the final event of the day: the annual schoolwide musical production.
The performance is the result of weeks of preparation, with teachers coordinating rehearsals, students practicing choreography and vocals, and parent volunteers helping with costumes and stage setup.
This year’s production was titled “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and featured students singing popular tunes from across the decades.
The timeless, iconic songs performed by the students included the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” and Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock.”
All students from kindergarten through eighth grade participated, but the preschoolers watched so they can see what they’ll eventually be part of, the principal said.
Ciccoianni said the school intentionally combines the three events into a single day so families—especially working parents—don’t have to take multiple days off.