I sit here writing this with a heavy heart as I just found out that a beloved teacher, friend, mentor, colleague and so much more, has passed away from my small Catholic high school. Words cannot even begin to explain the impact that Ms. Bailey had on her students, her fellow teachers, and anybody who had the chance to interact with this wonderful woman. Always full of sass, she was extremely kind and had the intentions of her students in mind. She was tough, but that is because she cared so deeply about you and your success. Although I never had Ms. Bailey in class as a teacher, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t get to experience her glory. She was proud of her students, and I will always remember her bragging to her freshman homeroom about how wonderful her seniors, including myself, were. Ms. Bailey is the kind of person who defines what it truly means to be a member of the Spellman family. Always willing to lend a hand, she was a dear neighbor who will forever be in the hearts of all who knew her. She was a stickler for the rules, and never failed to catch you attempting to sneak an iced coffee through the front door every morning, or see you with tights ripped so much they couldn’t even be classified as tights anymore. If I ever forgot the order of the mods, I could just go up to the freshman wing during homeroom to find her shouting them for all to hear. Her eyes were kind and she cared so much about those around her. Ms. Bailey was the first teacher I met at Spellman the summer before my junior year, and I would never want to get my gently used uniform polos, sweaters, or kilts anywhere else.

Knowing that you come from such a small school that really cares about each other, even after graduation, is something special that not everybody can say they have. My small Catholic school has such a familial sense of community that I know I can count of them in a time of need. We all come together in times of sorrow, times of joy, and times of laughter. Spellman is my home, it’s where I come from. Every time I walk through those hallways it’s like I never left. I’ve had my ups and downs, and my most memorable experiences in those halls. I go back, and I’m home. I have formed such a strong relationship with the faculty, staff, teachers, and administrators in my two short years of learning behind those four old and outdated, but ever evolving walls. The generations of Spellman students change what goes on beyond those walls, but the sense of community and the relationships formed with your peers and superiors will remain the same. The legacy will continue to grow and I cannot be any prouder to be an alumni.

The next time that Dime-o-Mite collection envelope goes around your homeroom, instead of just passing it up to the person behind you or in front of you, I urge you to throw some loose change into it. I challenge you to dedicate your dimes this week to Ms. Bailey, as she has put her heart and soul into that collection for years now. Smile a little bit extra when you think about all the memories you have with such a loving and kind woman. We, the Spellman community, thank you Ms. Bailey, for all that you have done for us over the years. We cannot thank you enough and I know your legacy will live on for years and years to come.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.