Celebrating its 60th anniversary, St. Columba School in Oxon Hill, Maryland, held a picnic for its community on June 4 complete with food, music, games and a moon bounce. This occasion, which was attended by parishioners, students, alumni, employees and teachers, coincided with Principal Christine Patton’s upcoming retirement after this school year concluded.
Since she graduated from St. Columba School in 1969 as a member of the school's inaugural graduating class, St. Columba has played a significant role in her life. She was married at St. Columba Church and sent her three children to learn at the school. Patton transitioned from volunteer to librarian, to teacher, and finally, to principal.
Patton had to return to school to become a teacher herself.
“I was working and doing hair, and my husband was keeping the kids on the weekends. So I was still keeping my hairdressing job and working evenings,” Patton said.
At one point, her schedule included her leaving St. Columba at 2:30 p.m, when she would then drive to Baltimore for classes that didn’t start until five or six in the evening. By the time she was leaving campus, she said, it was often past 10 p.m., and that’s not factoring in her weekend courses. Ultimately, it took her 10 years to receive her master’s degree at Notre Dame of Maryland University.
“It was a lot, but I was determined. I had a goal, that was my goal, and I wanted to do it,” Patton said, adding that her graduation was very emotional. In 2019, she began serving as the principal at St. Columba School just before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic that next spring. She worked with her faculty and staff as they navigated the uncertain times that followed March 2020.
Now, she said it is time for retirement.
“Times have changed, and I think younger blood will do great for this school. Traditions are wonderful, but I think that new outlook [is good],” Patton said. “I feel like I’m leaving the school in a good place.”
Her first big plan post-retirement is to visit Ireland with her three sisters, and she looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren.
To those considering where to send their children to Catholic school, Patton has her pitch for St. Columba.
“We’re a very family oriented school, very tight community, I have some teachers that have been here for 40 years, 35 years, 25 years, 20 years, and I’ve got new ones,” Patton said. “We all work together as a team, and we will know your children.”
Patton’s coworkers, including the rising principal, Jennifer Whelan, reflected on her legacy.
Whelan taught middle school science and fifth grade religion at St. Columba, where she has worked for 13 years and served as vice principal during the recently completed school year. She is originally from Greenbelt, Maryland, and she said the St. Columba School community has contributed to her staying for so long.
“The family atmosphere, the parents and community here are amazing, and you just feel like this is your new family. I didn’t know anybody coming down here, and they just accepted me,” Whelan said. “The culture here is just amazing.”
Whelan said that Patton set a great example of what a principal should do for their school.
“She’s really part of this community, and she just showed how important building values that we have, how important that is to a Catholic school,” Whelan said. “Everyone genuinely cares about each other, and that's how we help these kids grow.”
Whelan, who grew up attending Catholic schools, has a strong commitment to the faith. She attended St. Hugh’s School in Greenbelt, which is closed now, as well as Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg.
“It gives you the ability to teach the entire child…we are able to know them as a family. Being able to celebrate Mass with a group of people is at the core of who we are, and kids can come up and talk to you about real problems, and they can discuss faith,” Whelan said.
Fifth grade teacher William Vickers is a newer addition to the faculty, having been at St. Columba for two years now. Like many faculty members, Vickers is a former student of St. Columba School.
“I hope [my students] take away a sense of confidence in themselves [when they leave my classroom,] leaving this school year a little bit more confident than when they entered it. I try to instill in my students to be confident in everything you do. So if they can just leave the school year with that, I think I’ve succeeded,” Vickers said.
Patton has been a large part of his experience as a new teacher at St. Columba.
“She’s been phenomenal. She’s been so welcoming and warm and helpful in every way, especially for my first school year teaching. I’m constantly coming to her with questions during my planning period,” Vickers said.
The school picnic that day, VIckers said, is indicative of the community fostered at St. Columba.
“This is a very close and tight-knit community here, in which everybody knows each other, and it’s just really lovely to be around,” Vickers said. “We have an amazing community here, and I’m excited for what is in store for years to come.”
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