Alyssa Shadik
BY ALYSSA SHADIK
Gabriel Richard
On Sunday, Aug. 22, Gabriel Richard Catholic High School held its annual Burgundy and White Day. This event was not held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Burgundy and White Day tradition is typically held on the Sunday prior to the first day of school for the student athletes, parents, and coaches. The event begins with Mass and is followed by various announcements from the staff, a message from athletic director Coach Daiek, as well as team and individual pictures for each Fall sport. It concludes with hot dogs and lemonade for everyone. The Fall sports teams in attendance this year included Boys Football, Soccer, and Tennis, Girls Volleyball and Pom, and Coed Cross Country.
This year, Mass was led by Father Bob of Our Lady of the Woods Parish in Woodhaven. Our Lady of the Woods parish is part of the Detroit Archdiocese Downriver Vicariate Family 3 of churches which supports Gabriel Richard Catholic High School. Other churches in the family of churches include Sacred Heart Parish (Grosse Ile), St. Cyprian Parish (Riverview), St. Joseph Parish (Trenton), St. Roch Parish (Flat Rock), and St. Timothy Parish (Trenton). Father Bob is a welcome addition to the Gabriel Richard community.
One of the major announcements made at this year’s Burgundy and White Day is a new program that the school will be leading. Gabriel Richard will be hosting Victory Day on Saturday, Sept. 11. This event provides an opportunity for cognitively and physically impaired children to play football or cheer for their team.
Victory Day was started in 2010 by our new football defensive coordinator Coach Aaron Segedi. Each child will be mentored by a GR athlete that will help them during the day. We also expect to have three marching bands from the area participate in the event. You can learn more about this exciting event on its website: www.victorydayfoot-ball.com.
Another announcement was the sale of discount cards by the athletic department. Cards are sold for $20 each with the goal of raising $10,000 to support the continued construction of a new weight room for the students and the community as a whole. The brand new weight room floor is being installed, and the goal of these funds is to purchase additional weights to supplement the weights that the school already owns. Contact the Gabriel Richard Athletic Department if you are interested in purchasing a card with discounts from local restaurants.
Additionally, families were reminded of other upcoming fundraisers. On Sept. 18, the school will be hosting the annual Founder’s Day Golf Outing. Although foursomes are sold out, sponsorships and auction basket donations are still needed. On Sept. 25, the school will be bringing back the school’s Trivia Night. This is open to adults 18 year and older. The event is hosted by Mr. Lopez and costs $35 a table to participate. Tables are almost sold out for this event.
On Nov. 30 (Giving Tuesday), the school will once again hold the social media fundraising event called Burgundy Tuesday. On this day, students will be able to use their phones before each class to reach out online to ask for donations to the school. The goal is to continue to raise money towards the purchase and installation of air conditioners in each classroom.
Burgundy and White Day was an excellent way to kick off the school year. It was the first step towards a return to normality that many students and members of the community are excited to see return.
Student writer Alyssa Shadik is a junior at Gabriel Richard High School.