News at St. Catherine's
Jones Honored on St. Catherine's Day
Senior Taylor Jones was honored as the representative from the Class of 2009 who best embodied the virtues of the school's patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria.
When Taylor Jones did not see her name on the varsity soccer roster her freshman year, she thought it was a major setback.
Now a senior at St. Catherine’s, Jones knows better. In fact, she believes it was a key to her success at St. Catherine’s as it created a sense of determination within her.
And that trait is among the reasons Jones was selected by her senior classmates as well as faculty as the student from the Class of 2009 who best embodies the ideals of the school’s patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria. Those ideals are knowledge, faith, courage, determination and hope.
Jones is the senior class president and a varsity captain for both basketball and soccer. She is also a peer advisor and plays in the orchestra. Jones has served on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Junior Board for three years, holding officer positions. She has worked as a counselor at Camp Wannacure, a camp for children with diabetes and is a member of Jack and Jill of America.
The announcement of the St. Catherine’s Day honoree is a secret with only the honoree and a few faculty members knowing. After Jones was introduced during Wednesday’s service at St. Stephen’s, she addressed her classmates.
“The trauma of these personal failures often pales in comparison to challenges faced by others both within and outside of our school community, and certainly the challenge to her life that Catherine of Alexandria faced,” Taylor told the entire student body, faculty and staff during her speech. “Many of us are also faced with personal or family challenges.
“These are tests in which we use the determination born of both our failure and our successes. We use the knowledge gained in our classes. We apply the faith in God and in the virtues taught to us by our family and teachers. We call upon the courage always to do what is right, and we hold out the hope instilled in us by the success of those who preceded us here at St. Catherine’s.”
Throughout the years, being chosen as the St. Catherine’s Day representative has been considered one of the highest honors and significant distinctions at the school.
The tradition of St. Catherine’s Day began as a play about the life of the legendary saint, written by founder Virginia Randolph Ellett (Miss Jennie) nearly ninety years ago and performed annually by students. Miss Jennie chose the patron saint of the school when the school was purchased by the Episcopal Dioces of Virginia in 1919.
By 1940, St. Catherine’s Day became an annual event. The service evolved into what it is today in the early-1970’s.
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Now a senior at St. Catherine’s, Jones knows better. In fact, she believes it was a key to her success at St. Catherine’s as it created a sense of determination within her.
And that trait is among the reasons Jones was selected by her senior classmates as well as faculty as the student from the Class of 2009 who best embodies the ideals of the school’s patron saint, Catherine of Alexandria. Those ideals are knowledge, faith, courage, determination and hope.
Jones is the senior class president and a varsity captain for both basketball and soccer. She is also a peer advisor and plays in the orchestra. Jones has served on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Junior Board for three years, holding officer positions. She has worked as a counselor at Camp Wannacure, a camp for children with diabetes and is a member of Jack and Jill of America.
The announcement of the St. Catherine’s Day honoree is a secret with only the honoree and a few faculty members knowing. After Jones was introduced during Wednesday’s service at St. Stephen’s, she addressed her classmates.
“The trauma of these personal failures often pales in comparison to challenges faced by others both within and outside of our school community, and certainly the challenge to her life that Catherine of Alexandria faced,” Taylor told the entire student body, faculty and staff during her speech. “Many of us are also faced with personal or family challenges.
“These are tests in which we use the determination born of both our failure and our successes. We use the knowledge gained in our classes. We apply the faith in God and in the virtues taught to us by our family and teachers. We call upon the courage always to do what is right, and we hold out the hope instilled in us by the success of those who preceded us here at St. Catherine’s.”
Throughout the years, being chosen as the St. Catherine’s Day representative has been considered one of the highest honors and significant distinctions at the school.
The tradition of St. Catherine’s Day began as a play about the life of the legendary saint, written by founder Virginia Randolph Ellett (Miss Jennie) nearly ninety years ago and performed annually by students. Miss Jennie chose the patron saint of the school when the school was purchased by the Episcopal Dioces of Virginia in 1919.
By 1940, St. Catherine’s Day became an annual event. The service evolved into what it is today in the early-1970’s.
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
