First Posted: 3/9/2015

SCRANTON — In celebration of 60 years of teaching students and becoming a school for the community, the committee of Our Lady of Peace School organized an event called “A Night for Our Shining Stars” at the Leonard (formerly Moonshine Theater) in downtown Scranton on March 7.

Committee members, including principal Jane Quinn, art teacher Peggy Yanul, Marla Farrell, Margi Ratchford, Jenny Pannay, Mary DeNaples, Ann Kutz, Lisa Ragau and Maggie Pettinato, all parents of OLP students, organized the event to not only celebrate OLP’s 60 years but also to raise funds. The event cost $50 per person, and proceeds will pay for new windows for the school building.

“This is the first time OLP had a fundraiser,” said Andrea Parlanti, a physical education teacher for 39 years. Her daughter, Sharlann, graduated from OLP.

“All the parents helped OLP,” said Parlanti. “They are intricate in putting this together. All of the families are very supportive of OLP.”

“A Night for Our Shining Stars” featured a cash bar, a live auction and a silent auction. The silent auction had prizes, such as theme baskets and gift baskets. Food was provided by Bazil Ristorante in Clarks Summit. Ace Brewing Company from Eynon provided a beer and wine tasting and local band Mace in Dickson performed on the big auditorium of the Leonard.

After the band’s performance, Quinn went on stage to thank everyone who supported OLP and worked hard to make the event possible.

“We thank you so much for your cooperation,” she said. “Without your support, we can never have an OLP, and that’s something that must continue forever. It’s been a reliable school for 60 years, and let’s be hopeful that in the next 60 years, it will be just as reliable.”

Many of the event-goers were parents or grandparents of children who attend or have attended OLP. Some of them were students at OLP themselves.

“It’s outstanding that everyone is coming together for the celebration,” said Dr. John Farrell, class of ‘98. “It’s more than just a school.”

Farrell has two children who attend OLP, Willa, a sixth-grader, and Jack, who is in second grade.

Maureen Holmes, a one-time substitute teacher at OLP who is now a substitute teacher at Good Shepherd Academy in Kingston, has 10 children who graduated from OLP. She also has six grandchildren who graduated and four grandchildren who currently attend the school.

“It’s a wonderful school,” she said. “(This event is) a real tribute to the teachers and parents of OLP.”

The event also featured a student art gallery. The walls of the Leonard’s hallways were covered with artworks created by OLP students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Each class had different themes for their art projects. The first-grade theme was drawings of abstract selfies. The second-graders drew window scenes with crayons. Sixth-graders made bottle cap art projects and printmaking.Some of the artworks were based on artists such as Picasso, Monet and Seurat.