With the end of the school year just three weeks away, it’s time for some bittersweet goodbyes – both to our seniors and to three special teachers who have demonstrated what it truly means to be a Celtic. We wish these teachers all the best in their future plans!

Mrs. Mary Colbert (English Department) has been at Providence for 41 years, and her time here has included teaching; coaching softball, basketball, and volleyball; and even working in the main office. As Mrs. Colbert told me in an email, “41 years of Provi can produce many memories,” but some highlights include being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for volleyball, moderating Book Club and poetry slams, going to Chicago with her freshman English classes to watch live performances of Romeo and Juliet and eat at Rock-n-Roll McDonald’s, and painting a mural inspired by The Outsiders on her classroom wall.

In her retirement, Mrs. Colbert plans to “do lots of reading, referee some volleyball, read, visit my sons who live in Nashville and Florida, read, make my sisters take me out to have some fun, read, get a dog finally, probably exercise more, and drop by Provi every once in a while.” Still, she will miss her “second home.”

Mrs. Mary Beth Harris (English Department) has been teaching at Providence for 21 years and is also a Providence graduate. “I have so many great memories of teaching at Providence,” Mrs. Harris told me in an email. “I have a great department and excellent English teachers who have become my friends over the years.” Mrs. Harris especially loves teaching seniors and helping her students connect literature to their own lives. Some of her best memories of teaching, however, are from when her four sons attended Providence.

In her retirement, Mrs. Harris plans to spend more time with her family. “My husband and I love to travel, so we are planning to visit some new places,” she said. She will also volunteer at her favorite charities: the Ronald McDonald House, Gigi’s Playhouse, and the Hydrocephalus Association. Of course, she also plans to read lots of new books!

Ms. Moira Olivetti (Theology Department) has been at Providence for the past 32 years and is a graduate of the class of 1981. “My favorite memory would be the Liturgies and all-school sponsored events that bring people – ‘The Providence Catholic Family’ – together,” Ms. Olivetti told me in an email. She especially appreciates how the Providence community incorporated the Augustinian Values of truth, unity, and love into all they do.

In her retirement, Ms. Olivetti plans on working at a pharmacy. She will also be volunteering in the area, both at her parish and at local charities.