WASHINGTON — Saint Peter School (SPS) students gathered on November 14 to participate in the 37th Annual Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive. At final count, 186 boxes of food were loaded onto the truck destined for The Father McKenna Center. Donations were gathered from SPS families and neighbors as well as parishioners from St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s churches. “The Greg Gannon Food Drive is consistently one of our students’ favorite service activities, and their commitment grows with each school year,” said Saint Peter School Principal Karen Clay . “Greg Gannon’s mission has encouraged generations of SPS students to put their faith into action. We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to participate once again and look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration for years to come.” “The relationship between St. Peter and the Greg Gannon Food Drive goes way back to when my father and all of his siblings went to St. Peter back in the 40s,” said Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive Executive Director Rick Gannon . “It is truly fitting that their efforts to collect the food to help those in need is a great one, with the food ending up at the Greg Gannon pantry at the Father McKenna Center. Thank you to St. Peter School for your continued efforts and supporting our fight against food insecurity.” For more information about St. Peter School community engagement and academic offerings, visit stpeterschooldc.org . # # # EDITOR’S NOTE: Click here for photos available for publication .

WASHINGTON—Saint Peter School (SPS) will host two Open Houses this fall for prospective families on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, December 6, 2024, from 9-10:30 a.m., at 422 3rd Street SE. Families considering SPS for elementary or middle school will have the opportunity to learn more about the school’s teachings and academic offerings; meet some of the school’s current families, faculty, and staff; and tour the school. RSVP is helpful but not required. Remarks begin at 9 a.m. with a tour to follow. “Saint Peter School has the distinct privilege of serving families steps from our nation’s capital by providing high-quality Catholic education centered on academic excellence and faith formation,” said Saint Peter School Principal Karen Clay . “Not only do our students matriculate into the region’s preeminent high schools, they do so with great humility, grounded in their love of God and community.” The cornerstones of Saint Peter School’s teachings include the following: Faith Formation : Saint Peter School students regularly celebrate Mass and come together for events to mark the special liturgical seasons of the Catholic Church. Academic Excellence : In 2019, Saint Peter School was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School, as one of 50 non-public schools in the country to be recognized as "Exemplary High Performing,” and our award-winning faculty and staff underpin this success: On May 12, 2023, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Jean Zwald won the Archdiocese of Washington as a Golden Apple Award. On October 13, 2023, Principal Clay was named The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Distinguished Principal of the Year. Community Service : Saint Peter School follows the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching through its Student Council and Student Families program.  The application deadline for the 2025-26 school year is Friday, January 31, 2025. Decision letters are mailed on Friday, February 14, 2025. For more information about the admissions process, visit stpeterschooldc.org or contact Admissions Coordinator Jeanette Trujillo at jtrujillo@stpeterschooldc.org or 202-544-1618.

370 Gifts Collected for Everyone Home DC!

Students collect 117 boxes of food for The Father McKenna Center

SPS Brings Home Three Trophies and 13 Medals from the CYO Cross Country Championships

WASHINGTON—St. Peter School (SPS) will host two Open Houses this fall for prospective families on Friday, November 3 and Friday, December 1, 2023, from 9-10:30 a.m., at 422 3 rd Street SE. Families considering SPS for elementary or middle school will have the opportunity to learn more about the school’s teachings and academic offerings and meet some of the school’s current families, faculty, and staff. No RSVP required. “St. Peter School’s reputation for academic excellence and faith formation places us among the most sought-after Catholic schools in the region,” said St. Peter School Principal Karen Clay . “Our talented faculty and staff prepare students for the academic rigors of high school, our leadership and service programs build well-rounded young adults, and the support of our loving parent community makes this all possible.” “We are incredibly blessed with award-winning faculty and staff and a dedicated parent community that always go the extra mile for our students,” said Pastor-Principal Advisory Board President Eric Bergren . “As a result, St. Peter School consistently graduates some of the most compassionate, well-rounded, and academically gifted young leaders in the region.” The cornerstones of St. Peter School’s teachings include the following: Faith Formation: St. Peter School students regularly celebrate Mass and come together for events to mark the special liturgical seasons of the Catholic Church. Academic Excellence: In 2019, St. Peter School was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School , as one of 50 non-public schools in the country to be recognized as "Exemplary High Performing,” and our award-winning faculty and staff underpin this success: On May 12, 2023, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Jean Zwald won the Archdiocese of Washington Golden Apple Award . On October 13, 2023, Principal Clay was named The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Distinguished Principal of the Year . Community Service: St. Peter School follows the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching through its Student Council and Student Families program. The application deadline for the 2024-25 school year is Friday, January 12, 2024. Decision letters are mailed on Friday, February 16, 2024. For more information about the admissions process, visit stpeterschooldc.org or contact Admissions Coordinator Jeanette Trujillo at jtrujillo@stpeterschooldc.org or 202-544-1618. # # #

By Catherine Buckler Photo Credit: Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard October 13, 2023 Students from St. Peter School on Capitol Hill waving silver and blue pom-poms greeted their surprised principal Karen Clay at St. Peter’s Church on Oct. 13. Clay, who was entering the church under the pretense of a different event, found out that she been named as the 2023-2024 Distinguished Principal of the Year for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. ... Click here to read the full story on cathstan.org.

WASHINGTON—On Friday, October 13, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington (ADW) named St. Peter School (SPS) Principal Karen Clay as the 2023-24 Distinguished Principal of the Year. Nominated by her colleagues around the archdiocese, Ms. Clay’s recognition was unanimously supported by the ADW Catholic Schools Office. Senior officials presented the award in a surprise ceremony with students, faculty, and staff at St. Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill. “Ms. Clay, you are a model leader within the Archdiocese of Washington. You lead with passion and have built a wonderful community here at St. Peter Catholic School. You establish high expectations for your teachers, faculty and students. And you are an unwavering example of a Catholic Faith leader,” said ADW Secretary for Catholic Schools and Superintendent of Schools Kelly Branaman in her remarks during the award presentation. “We celebrate you today, not only for your leadership here at St. Peter but also for your collegiality, mentorship of other principals, and leadership you demonstrate across the Archdiocese of Washington in committees and collaborative work for the good of all schools.” “Under Ms. Clay’s leadership, Saint Peter School has continued to grow as a vibrant community with strong Catholic identity and academic excellence,” said St. Peter’s Church Pastor Fr. Dan Carson. “In her kind and caring interactions with every student, in her enthusiasm and celebration of the achievements of students and staff, and in walking with students and families through their hard times, Ms. Clay demonstrates daily her love and commitment to the children and families of Saint Peter School.” “Under Principal Clay’s leadership, our school community has flourished, and her focus on faith, leadership, and academic excellence prepares students to excel at the region’s premier high schools,” said SPS Pastor-Principal Advisory Board President Eric Bergren. “Ms. Clay fosters an environment where teachers love to teach and students love to learn. Her devotion to St. Peter School families shines through everything she does.” Background: Karen Clay has served as an educator in the Archdiocese of Washington for 12 years. Ms. Clay taught fourth grade and served as the assistant principal at Holy Trinity School in Georgetown, then served as the principal of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School in Camp Springs, Maryland, before transitioning to St. Peter School. She has an additional three years of Pre-Kindergarten to 4th grade classroom experience in a DC Public School on Capitol Hill. Ms. Clay holds a Master of Education degree (summa cum laude) in Administration & Supervision (also known as the Catholic School Leadership Program) from Marymount University; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and English from the University of Michigan; certification in Elementary Education (K-12) in the District of Columbia; catechist certification (K-adults) with the Archdiocese of Washington; and licensure in Administration II (K-12) from the Maryland State Department of Education. Ms. Clay fosters a school community based on Gospel values, and strives to promote the academic, social, and spiritual development of the students of St. Peter School. # # #

WASHINGTON — St. Peter School Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Miss Jean Zwald has been awarded one of only 10 Golden Apple Awards from The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. This is the first ever Golden Apple Award given to a St. Peter School teacher. “Miss Zwald has touched hundreds of lives here at St. Peter School, and her lifelong contributions to Catholic education make her worthy of the highest recognition,” said St. Peter School Principal Karen Clay. “St. Peter School’s reputation for excellence begins in Miss Zwald’s pre-kindergarten classroom, where children thrive with her love and care. We are grateful to have her as part of our school community.” The award, given annually to 10 Catholic school teachers in the Archdiocese of Washington for teaching excellence and dedication to Catholic education, is sponsored by the Donahue Family Foundation and includes a $5,000 check and a golden apple. Miss Zwald joined St. Peter School in 2006 after 17 years as an elementary/early childh