After nearly 60 years of educating young women and nurturing treasured traditions, on Wednesday, November 13, the Class of 2021 was the last Connelly class to partake in one of Connelly’s most treasured traditions—the Ring Ceremony. The beloved school will be closings its doors in June 2020, much to the dismay of students, faculty, staff, alumnae and the Catholic community.
In a beautiful ceremony complete with red roses, shiny rings and radiant young women, the senior class presented their junior sisters with their class rings, which were tied with a burgundy ribbon around a single red rose. The ceremony is a meaningful milestone to the juniors, as well as symbolic, as it celebrates the juniors and their transition from underclasswomen to upperclasswomen. Junior class president Gabriela Mercado gave a heartfelt message that expressed her feelings about the impending closure of Connelly, yet also showed great fortitude as she named the many things she is thankful for in light of the school’s situation. She is a shining example of the high caliber students that Cornelia Connelly School shapes, and has shaped, since 1961. She spoke fondly about her school, her classmates and the responsibility of being the last students of Cornelia Connelly School. With a maturity beyond her years, she spoke of the many things she is thankful for.
“Most of all, I am so thankful that I have been able to share the experience of becoming an upperclassman with a group of girls that I love, that we will be left with fond memories of Connelly, and that even in light of bad news, God has given me so much to still be grateful for. Those of us gathered here are the last students of Cornelia Connelly School. It is a great responsibility. We have been tasked with finding how our current situation can contribute to our personal growth and make us stronger. Together, the job of all members of the student body is to continue to live in the spirit of Cornelia Connelly. We must take the lessons we have learned here and apply them as we continue to make our way through our lives. Moving forward, in our actions and in our hearts, we must always strive to be Connelly girls who lead, serve and inspire the world around us.”
