Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OMPH School) held its Eighth-Grade Graduation Mass and Ceremony at the close of the 2021-22 school year. In speaking to the graduates, deacon Jim Lawson talked about special memories he had from the time he spent teaching their class during the school year. Specifically, Lawson told a story of how the class "built" an ideal friend who encompassed the Fruits of the Spirit - a friend with traits such as kindness, generosity, patience, and gentleness. During the Mass, the graduates presented roses to their parents as a token of their thanks.

The following awards were presented during the ceremony: President's Award for Educational Excellence - Naomi Dresch, Benjamin Janke, and Michael Sheaffer; President's Award for Educational Achievement - Gabriella Chirico, Makenzie Hutnyk, Gabriel Lamison, and Alexis Mazur; The Doctor Laukaitis Award - Naomi Dresch and Michael Sheaffer; The Thomas J. Mohr Memorial Scholarship - Alexis Mazur and Peter Touloumis; The Andrew and Helen Zipfel Scholarship Award: Alexis Mazur;and The Reverend Patrick McGarrity, C.Ss.R., Scholarship Award: Michael Sheaffer.

OMPH School also held special ceremonies for the preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten classes. Under the leadership of preschool teacher Miss Armstrong, preschool aide Mrs. Rann, prekindergarten teacher Mrs. Edmiston, and prekindergarten aide Mrs. Hoover, the preschool classes demonstrated what they had learned throughout the school year. Each child read a page from the classroom book he or she helped to write. The students also recited lessons and received certificates.

The kindergarten class held a moving-up ceremony at the close of the school year. Family and friends joined the class for the ceremony, which included poems and songs presented by the children. The students were presented with certificates of achievement for their hard work throughout the year. The children are led by kindergarten teacher Mrs. Gerhard and kindergarten aide Mrs. Lauer.

OMPH School, located in Ephrata, encourages and teaches reverence, respect, and responsibility. The school offers full-day preschool, full-day kindergarten, and classes for students in grades one through eight. For more information, call 717-738-2414 or visit http://www.omphschool.com.