3/9/2024 Email

I prefer to not leave my house before 7 a.m. Ever.
Unless I know that it will be worth it. Yesterday, it was.
I traveled to Portsmouth Catholic Regional School to their Supporters Breakfast and Circle
of Saints Ceremony, where I ran into old friends and met new ones. The program itself was
jam-packed, with a performance of a Willy Wonka excerpt by the Drama Club, a parent
testimonial, and the induction of retired and revered teacher, Dick Campbell, to the Circle
of Saints. The mayor was on hand, too, to proclaim March 8, 2024 “Richard Campbell Day”
in the City of Portsmouth!
Donna Henry, the beloved principal as well as an alumna, was the emcee, and her love for
the students and the school shone through her words. There was even a special appeal for
support by Bruce the Moose – no relation to you-know-who.
What happened at the end, though, is what I am still thinking about. The entire student
body entered the gym quietly and orderly and lined up on the perimeter, making a square
around the guests. The youngest children were in front of my table, and as they began to
sing, one little girl, the littlest in fact, was nodding her head in time and tapping her foot. My
tablemates were charmed – some were laughing, and some were crying. As the students
walked out, the little girl started blowing kisses, and we, of course, were blowing them
back.
God Bless,
Margaret
Margaret Keightley
Executive Director
Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond
P.S. My family and I are heading out on vacation, so you might be hearing from Moose next
week, unless he is too mad at us for leaving him behind.