VERO BEACH | St. Helen School in Vero Beach — as in all Catholic schools — strives to provide an excellent education that incorporates faith, academics, service and leadership, encouraging children to incorporate their faith into their everyday activities as a witness of Christ’s love.
In 2025, the school launched a Spirit Squad, a faith-filled club for students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. “The Spirit Squad brings together students who want to use music, movement and joyful energy to praise God and build school community,” said Debbie Irish, St. Helen principal.
“The Spirit Squad has quickly become an important part of our school culture reinforcing that our joy, spirit and celebrations are rooted in Christ,” she said. They are “making good things happen,” and it is “very mission-based.”
One of those missions was making blue ribbons to wear to bring awareness to type 1 diabetes during November, especially since one of the club members has the disease. Third-grade Spirit Squad member Gus Albert, holding a blue ribbon in his hand, said, “We also have a walking rosary on Tuesdays and pray every single day.”
Whenever the Spirit Squad performs, they wear a T-shirt with “God’s Got My Back” printed on the back, which is the title of a Christian song by songwriter Forrest Frank. “When they perform, they point to the back of their shirts,” Irish said.
When asked “Do you have any advice for troubled children today?” Gus said, “Instead of arguing, we can take deep breaths and try to figure out the problem and pray, and I receive Communion every day.”
At the Dec. 15 school Mass, Father Matthew DeGance, St. Helen’s pastor, reminded the students of the importance of the Eucharist. “You know, children, this is a gift given us once a day, and I hope you do appreciate it.”
Eighth-grader Cru Bireley, an altar server and lector, said, “Daily Mass is really important to me because it is an opportunity for all of us to just connect with God to start our day,” adding that, “The answer to everything is always found in God.”
As part of the 2025 jubilee year, the eighth-grade class made a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens and St. Peter Church in Jupiter. “In preparation, students participated in a general confession helping them approach the pilgrimage with open hearts and a spirit of reconciliation,” Irish said.
Other eighth-grader JoAnna Kathman said, “It felt like a big weight was lifted off of your shoulders, and you feel like you are in such a better state of grace.” Her advice to troubled children is to “Turn to God and just trust in him because he has a plan for us.”
St. Helen’s middle school students participate in weekly Eucharistic adoration in the perpetual adoration chapel. Religion teacher Natalia Illuzzi said, “I take them to adoration weekly because I think they are so busy with the hustle and bustle of their lives,” and it is important for them “just to be silent and look at Jesus in the blessed Eucharist, and just talk to him.”
“Adoration changes your life, and we go to adoration every week or about 20 minutes, usually on Monday,” said eighth-grader Kerrigen Powell. That is “a small sacrifice that creates a big change,” she said, adding, “God is a love that just embraces you, and when you find that, you can be truly happy.”
For more information on St. Helen School, visit www.sthelenschoolvero.com, follow on Facebook and Instagram or call 772-567-5457.
