by Carole Anne Scott

During the week of April 12, the National Catholic Education Association's 100th convention took place at the Hynes Convention Center in the Prudential complex of Boston's Back Bay. This year's theme was "Heritage and Hope: Faithful Past, Faith-Filled Future."

In attendance were Catholic teachers from all over the world. The convention provided them with the opportunity to attend superb workshops, led by professional educators who spoke on a wide variety of topics, covering all aspects of Catholic education.

Teachers from both St. Andrew the Apostle and Sacred Heart schools attended the conference. The student councils and teachers participated in the opening procession and ceremony. Various administrators and teachers also volunteered to act as hospitality guides throughout the event.

Student choirs, choral groups, and bands from across the Archdiocese performed at the convention, providing great entertainment for participants and in some instances, for passersby in the Prudential Mall. During one lunch hour, a Gospel choir was performing spirited renditions of popular hymns.

Among those performing were students in Sacred Heart's Choir. Adding to the focus on the arts, the students' drawings were also on display.

The convention was so well attended that it was standing-room-only at the noontime Mass at St. Francis Chapel. Informative, interesting, and all-encompassing, the convention provided many learning opportunities for the faculty, along with a time to share experiences with fellow educators from many different regions.