St. Pat's Class of 2019 graduates

This weekend in their high school gym, 73 St. Patrick's students marked an end to four formative years.

Many of them had been together since kindergarten, said vice Principal Alicia Larade. Ceremonies kicked off with the Grand March on Friday night, where students dressed up in their finest formal wear and had their last dance in the highschool gym.

After a mass the following morning, they received their diplomas in an afternoon convocation and were left to enjoy Dry Grad and other activities to ring in the next phase of their lives.

For emotional friends, family and staff, it was a tearful goodbye.

“It's actually quite amazing to see the change in the kids over the years,” Larade said. “I'm astonished at how fast it goes and what amazing young people they transform into.”

She added the graduating class was full of leaders committed to making positive contributions to the community, and that she hopes they enjoy the weekend.

“I want them to walk away with thinking about the time they got to spend with their classmates. I'll be one of the last times they spend as a class. I hope they make memories of just having fun and being kind to each other, enjoying the moment,” she said.