COLORADO SPRINGS. In the last month, life has changed for Americans. Our current situation of social distancing and stay-at-home orders has, at the very least, disrupted plans and, at the worst, has completely changed lives. Life for those who attend St. Mary’s High School has, of course, also been affected. As plans are shifting, one thing remains consistent for those associated with St. Mary’s — the community.

COLORADO SPRINGS. If life were going according to schedule, this week St. Mary’s High School students would have been working to stay focused as they approached spring break. On Wednesday, most would have participated in the sacrament of reconciliation, and Friday they would have celebrated Mass together before parting ways for the last break before the end of the school year. Instead, students have been at home this week, continuing their studies through online learning as the COVID-19 virus has, at least temporarily, changed the face of life in the US.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Two events that happen only once every four years — the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and Leap Day — occurred on the same day this year, Feb. 29. Yet, the United States’ most exclusive marathon was especially memorable for Colorado Springs runner Stephen VanGampleare, a 2008 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, who qualified for the trials for the first time. Van Gampleare finished 58th out of 175 men with a time of 2:20:15 at the trials, which were held in Atlanta.

COLORADO SPRINGS. On Jan. 24, St. Mary’s Athletic Hall of Fame inducted Paul Weatherly, class of 1974; Lanny Whiteside DeRoeck, class of 1990; Andy Nigro, class of 2004; Rachael Broerman Friedrich, class of 2007; and Andrew Cornella, class of 2011. The St. Mary’s Athletic Hall of Fame honors those who have made outstanding contributions to St. Mary’s athletics.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Four years ago, the 57 seniors who made up the St. Mary’s High School class of 2016 left a big mark on the school and the surrounding community.

Catholic Schools Week will be observed Jan. 26-Feb. 1 this year. The annual All Schools Mass, which will be celebrated by Bishop Michael Sheridan, is Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. at St. Dominic Parish in Security. Following is a listing of the various activities planned by schools in the diocese for Catholic Schools Week. 

COLORADO SPRINGS. Christmas break has begun for students at St. Mary’s High School, but in the weeks leading up to break, the students were busy spreading the love of Christmas throughout the Colorado Springs community. Some of these holiday service projects are long-standing, while others are new, but through them all, the St. Mary’s students showed that they are inspired by their faith to live out the love of Christ to those around them.

COLORADO SPRINGS.  In his quest to invent the light bulb, Thomas Edison was quoted as saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” St. Mary’s sophomores and Corpus Christi alums Cameron Baker and Justin Fauson can relate. They experienced many failures as they worked to use 3D printing technology to support two local multiple sclerosis practices. However, just as Edison did, Baker and Fauson persevered, and now their design will help area multiple sclerosis (MS) patients better understand their disease.

COLORADO SPRINGS. As area eighth graders are contemplating their high school choices, St. Mary’s High School invites them to join the Pirate student body for a day during one of the school’s upcoming Eighth Grade Shadow Days.

The first shadow day of the 2019-2020 school year is Wednesday, Oct. 23. Parents can join in that day, too, with a parent open house from 9-11 a.m., when they will hear from current students about the St. Mary’s difference.

COLORADO SPRINGS. When Americans think of poverty, lack of material needs is usually what first comes to mind. Yet, humans can experience poverty in a number of different ways. That is the premise of a project undertaken by Father Joe Dygert’s Catholic Social Teaching class at St. Mary’s High School. When three current seniors reflected on their experiences with the project last year, they found their perspectives changed as they encountered the homeless of Colorado Springs through the project.