The Long Green Line
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School celebrates traditional Irish families
By Elisabeth Nardi - Close-Up Correspondent for Salt Lake Tribune (March 16, 2006)

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Salt Lake City focused on representing the Irish tradition during the annual St. Patrick Day Parade. St. Vincent's is one of several Utah Catholic schools that recently participated in the parade held the Saturday before the actual holiday.

The Holladay school's float was decorated by parents and students. And in an effort to follow the parade's theme of "The Long Green Line - Celebrating Irish Families," St. Vincent parents decided to have the majority of the float decorated with Irish families that are associated with the school, said Josette Gaztambide, a parent volunteer. "We are trying to put people on the float that represent the Irish generations," she said. Gaztambide said students and parents like being part of the parade and it's good recognition for Catholic schools. "It promotes school spirit and the Catholic community," she said. "It really showcases the Catholic community here in Salt Lake City."

Principal Mark Longe said the float is completely parent-volunteer driven and the students who get involved with the float seem to really like the experience.

Genevra Rolf, associate superintendent of Catholic schools, said Catholic schools have been participating in the parade for several years. She said they wanted to have an increased presence at this year's parade as part of their campaign to increase enrollment. "We are just trying to make people aware that we are here and there is an alternative to public education," she said.

Most of the state's Catholic schools participated in the parade because it's a big celebration for Catholics, she said.
"It's the only thing we can participate in, this is sort of a Catholic thing," she said. "This is sort of our day and we want to be visible."

enardi@sltrib.com