”When the saints go marching in!”
That was the song the second grade students sang at St. John the Baptist school in Plattsmouth while they paraded through the hallways and classrooms on Friday.
Every year, in celebration of All Saints Day, also known as the Feast of All Saints celebrated on November 1st, teachers and students watch as the second graders march through the school dressed as their favorite saint. The Parade of Saints has been a long-time tradition at St. John the Baptist and one that students look forward to as second graders.
According to Angelica Prestridge, second grade teacher, The Parade of Saints is part of a larger classroom religion project for students. The project includes researching their favorite saint and presenting interesting facts they have learned about their saint.
“It’s a fun way for the kids to learn about their faith and the lives of holy figures from history,” said Prestridge.”We also have a “Saint of the Day’ in the classroom which gives the students exposure to many great saints.”
Prestridge said the first step in the project, and probably the most important step, is the conversation that happens at home with parents. Prestridge said at the start of the project she will tell her students to go home and ask their parents if they were named after a saint. Students who are named after a saint, either first or middle name, will sometimes choose that saint to research for the project. Or, sometimes a student will choose a saint whose feast day is the same as the child’s birth date or baptismal date.
Second grader Zoey Koelzer chose Mary as her saint because her middle name is Marie, and both of her grandmothers are also named Mary.
Second grader (left) Zoey Koelzer, with and her classmate Vivian (right), dressed up as St. Mary for The Parade of Saints.
“I love this project because it is such a fun way to learn about our saints and it brings faith back into Halloween, said Donette Koelzer, Zoey’s mother.
Halloween, also known as All Hallow’s Eve, is the eve of All Saints Day when we celebrate all of the saints in heaven both known and unknown.
Koelzer said they explained to Zoey that family and friends who have died could be some of the saints they celebrate. That is why it is important to pray for loved ones who have passed away, especially on All Souls Day, added Koelzer.
“We also told Zoey that we are all working toward sainthood, so that one day we can be in heaven with Jesus,” explained Koelzer.
Saints are important to the Catholic Church tradition and teachers like Prestridge help students learn the history of the Catholic faith through the stories of saints. Prestridge, who has taught second grade at St. John the Baptist for six years, says it’s an honor to teach children about these holy men and women.
“I have the privilege of helping our second graders discover the great lives of our saints,” said Prestridge. “But equally important is helping them see that holiness is possible for everyone.”