Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School will bring back to life "Sister Act," a 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith and Harvey Keitel, for the Nevada Day parade.
In celebration of the school's 50th anniversary and the church's 150th anniversary, students from the school as well as many in the church's youth group and adults are busy putting together the stage for what should be one of the premier floats in this year's parade.
The 2008 parade theme is "Movies and Television " Celebrating the Stars from 1864 to 2008." Grand Marshal of the parade is 1950s movie starlet Kathryn Crosby, widow of Bing Crosby.
St. Teresa School principal, Chris Perdomo, will "perform" as Sister Mary Clarence. Father Chuck Durante of St. Teresa Catholic Church will sing snippets of "The Bells of Saint Mary's," and Sister Marie McGloin, will be herself " the real nun of the float.
Constructed on a flat-bed trailer, young children will be sitting on pews on the trailer, while older youth in the choir will walk alongside the float.
"We have about 30 kids participating in this, along with parents," said Perdomo. "It's going to be fun."
Perdomo said the collaborative effort of parents, school and church staff has everyone excited.
"We will be singing 'Oh Happy Day,' 'My God,' and 'I Will Follow Him,'" Perdomo said. "We'll actually be lip-synching to the CD.
"But this is a wonderful way to get our school out in the public. St. Teresa School was recently voted 'Best of 2008 for Parochial Schools,' and that means a lot to us."
Perdomo also said decorations for the float have been donated. The float has been under construction for about a week at the garage of Gordon Gagnon, who along with Katie Larkin have been busy getting items attached and secured on the float.
Also helping with the float has been youth from St. Teresa Youth Group, with youth minister Doug Stewart.
The Nevada Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday on North Carson Street, beginning at William Street. It will feature floats, bands, community organizations and more.
- Contact reporter Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.