The Eagle Gymnasium had a distinct aura as parents walked in the night of Sept. 3, and it wasn’t the feeling of sweaty gym clothes and exercising children. More than 100 parents still reeling from the first week of school, some also missing the beginning of the college football season, arrived to an aroma of chocolate.

They came to support and help kick off the parent portion of the United We Thrive K-8 Education Center Capital Campaign. Parents, faculty and staff enjoyed wine in specially-made stemless glasses etched with the Valley Catholic School logo. As they milled around and visited, they also enjoyed cheesecakes, truffles and a chocolate fountain.

The SSMO Foundation presented some history about what the Sisters have built on the campus over the last 123 years and many details about the progress toward the construction of the new school and the fundraising success to date. They also heard from Mary Kiefer, a first-grade teacher who spoke about what it will mean to them and the students to be housed in the new building, and Valley parent Werner Nistler delivered a moving testimonial about the value of a Valley Catholic education and how parents can think of the new school as another home for their children. “Just as you do when searching for a new home for your family, don’t you want your children to be in a safe, well-equipped, well-lit and beautiful place when they are not at home?”

See a full gallery of photos here.

Posted by Thomas Kohler in General