MILWAUKIE — As we finish our time at Christ the King School, the eighth grade class is grateful for beautiful everyday moments from our eight years here.

We now have a foundation for continued spiritual growth. Our year started with Msgr. John Cihak blessing our homeroom and teaching the middle school philosophy elective, which everyone chose to take.

Our parish seminarian, Chi-Nhan Vo, taught us how to be engaged in Mass and helped us pray the Liturgy of the Hours with fifth-graders and our religion teacher. We took turns with other classes hosting the Stations of the Cross and Mass, and we led the crowning of Mary.

In academics, the new middle school team has helped us develop as students and helped us in our moral formation by making room in the school day for us to work on projects like organizing Valentine’s Day party kits for the food bank, collecting materials for those in need during Lent, and making rosaries for the RCIA class.

Our teachers value their faith as much as they value their students. They joined in our recess games, ate with us at lunch, and played dodgeball during our Christmas party. They have also been very supportive as we prepared for high school.

Our eighth grade class is small, which allows us to be authentic and build strong relationships with each other. We have grown together as a strong community. Even though we are enthusiastic for the future, we do not want to part with the CTK family.

“I’m excited for high school,“ said Carly Spitulski, “but I don’t want to leave this place.”

The Baccalaureate Mass is set for Wednesday, June 15 with a graduation ceremony that evening at 7 p.m.

Obuchowski is a member of the Christ the King class of 2022.