The rites of passage that come with being a year older, spending time with their friends and getting to know their new teachers are just some of the things that generated enthusiasm and even a few cases of “the butterflies” as some 17,000 students returned to the classroom in the Catholic high schools and elementary schools of the Diocese of Trenton. Doors were opened wide the week of Sept. 1, ready to welcome students and begin a new 2014-2015 academic year in the 35 Catholic grammar schools and eight Catholic high schools in Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

According to school officials, students can look forward to new experiences in their studies through enhanced and updated technology programs and courses, participating in engaging science projects, developing skills through the language arts and learning about the beauty and richness of their Catholic faith in a Christ-centered environment.

Old Friends, New Initiatives

A sunny blue sky made for an auspicious first day for grades four through eight in St. Joseph School, Toms River, Sept. 4.

In the parking lot, teachers welcomed their students and had them line up on the blacktop by homeroom to await the official start time.

While some youngsters lament the end of summer, others found silver linings in its passing, getting back together with friends and looking forward to a new beginning. Their excitement and first-day jitters were reflected in their conversations and observed by their parents.

“I know my oldest daughter is nervous,” said Patti Gelosi, mother of students Victoria and Alexandra. “But she is also excited to be starting eighth grade. It will be a fun year.”

“It’s sad but good,” said her daughter Victoria. “I miss summer but am happy to be with my friends. I am excited to be in eighth grade because now I am a role model to the little kids and then I’ll be graduating.”

Her younger sister, Alexandra, spoke with anticipation about the year. “I look forward to seeing my friends and switching classes now that I’m in sixth grade,” she said.

Mary Plate, mother of Christopher, spoke enthusiastically about the year ahead. “My son will be in eighth grade, which sets an example for the younger children. The eighth-graders remember what it was like when they were younger, how they looked up to the older kids.”

When asked what he looked forward to most, Christopher said, he was especially anticipating science class, his favorite subject, one with the particular reputation of being fun because of the hands-on activities, such as building bridges, roller coasters and parachutes, which bring the laws of science to life.

“The teachers here make science so interesting and fun,” interjected Mrs. Plate. “Teachers here are excellent. Kids want to learn.”

Teachers shared their anticipation of new programs and initiatives.

Third grade teacher Charlene Kennedy said, “I am so excited for this school year. It is going to be a good year since we are implementing Branzulli Learning, which is designed to foster learning based on individual learning styles.”

“I am always happy to be back,” said eighth grade teacher Donna Urmey. “I look forward to seeing my students again.” An English teacher, Urmey looked forward to using the Collins Program to immerse her students in the writing process.

The school also welcomes three international students from China, who will spend one year in St. Joseph. Said vice principal Julie James, “This is the first year we have students from abroad. These students live with relatives nearby and are here to learn English and experience America.”

When the last bus pulled away, from a loudspeaker the song “Best Day of My Life” by the group American Authors signaled teachers to lead their students into the school.

As her homeroom found their seats, comments from sixth grade math teacher Patricia Cerami captured the spirit of St. Joseph School. “I love that we bring the students God’s love for them as they learn, that they know they are cared about,” she said. “Here they learn that through their knowledge they can fulfill God’s plan for their lives.”

Helping Hands

Along the Bayshore, Mother Teresa Regional School principal Thomas Sorci told how a generous anonymous donor who gave $50,000 to the Atlantic Highlands school added a spark to the start of the new school year. The donor also promised an additional offer to match funds raised by others. If the MTRS community can raise $25,000 over their yearly fundraising amount, the donor will match it, bringing the school’s fundraising results to an extra $100,000 a year.

“This has really invigorated the PTA and the whole school community,” Sorci said. “We’re hoping to attract more students to the school by offering additional scholarships.”

Sorci was pleased to tout the school’s “solid enrollment.”

“Our pre-K3 class is the largest it’s ever been and the retention rate between pre-K4 and kindergarten is strong now. We know there are a lot of families who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy and they are sitting on the fence deciding whether they can afford to send their child to a Catholic school. These small scholarships can make a difference in that decision.”

Sorci also enthused over the welcome addition of Father Carlo Calisin, parochial vicar in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands, who will become a regular presence around the school community.

“We are so happy to have Father Carlo because we want to increase the presence of the clergy in our school. Father Carlo will visit on at least a weekly basis, helping to promote Catholic identity,” Sorci said.

Technology teacher Tracey Platenyk is especially excited about the larger than expected technology-based grants from the state.

“We’ve purchased 15 Think-Pads and 10 tablets to add to the current equipment in my classroom,” she said. “We also plan to purchase laptops for the teachers. Every teacher will have a laptop and at least one computer, plus a ‘Mimiko’ board” (similar to a smartboard.)

Lynne Antol, who has been teaching in MTRS since its inception in 2005, noted that her curriculum also focused upon basic safety skills.

“We teach them about dialing 9-1-1 on a cell phone. Some (students) have never seen a landline phone, and they wouldn’t know what a phone book was,” she said.

Developing Lives of Faith

St. Paul School, Princeton, employed a rolling start to its school year with its students returning across four days by grade level. The Mercer County school, which had achieved the coveted nationwide honor as a “Blue Ribbon” institution in 2012, welcomed new and returning students Sept. 3.

Children stepping off yellow buses streamed through the Nassau Street entrance, while cars and minivans transporting students wound their way through parking lot cones.

Teacher Andrew Roberto greeted many of the students by name or with a “howya doin’, bud?”, and hearty handshakes. “My goal is to keep them active and safe at the same time,” the third-year physical education teacher revealed. About to stride through the doors of the school, sixth-grader Brendan O’Connell stole a look at the young instructor and confided, “Well, gym is fun…” when pressed for his favorite subject.

A few of the younger students, carting their color-coordinated backpacks and lunchboxes and clad in sparkling new sneakers, tightly clutched a parent’s hand in trepidation as they entered their new academic home, but not young Cameron Willet. The four-year-old, beaming widely as she walked into the school alone, merely shrugged as she was questioned about what she’d experience that day.

New St. Paul School teacher Lendy Gayan, who was to instruct sixth through eighth-graders in mathematics, was excited to work in the Catholic elementary school after seven years of work on the high school level. “I’m excited; I’ll plant the seeds in them for love of math in high school,” she promised.

More seasoned students also anticipated new adventures in education. Maddie Russell, who was happy about her final first-day at St. Paul’s. “I’m an eighth-grader,” she said with a wide smile. “We get to go on field trips.”

St. Paul principal Ryan Killeen observed, “We are all very excited about the year ahead for St. Paul Catholic School. This year SPS remains centered on our role as a parish school, called to develop active discipleship and provide opportunities for our students to live and develop lives of faith. We are thrilled to begin the second year of the Little Lion’s Preschool with full classes in our three-year-old and four-year-old programs.”

Killeen continued, “We undertook many large scale renovations this past summer including the addition of a second science lab, a new nurse’s office, new hallway lighting, cafeteria upgrades and extensive renovations to one of the student lavatories.  In academics we are implementing the first phases of our STEM initiative with the expansion of inquiry based science and integrated technology.”

Catholic Identity Front, Center

The first day hustle and bustle only intensifies in a video posted on The Monitor’s website which detailed Holy Cross High School’s first day. Principal Dennis Guida described his “favorite time of the school year.” He also mentioned the success of the Delran school’s Principal’s Appeal. “We have a refurnished locker room, a brand new lab and new initiatives in the science department,” Guida noted.

Guida cited the major difference between Burlington County’s only Catholic high school and other area public schools. “We begin the day with a prayer, we begin lunch with a prayer, we begin every class with a prayer,” he said. “That is the key significance of a Catholic school. It is grounded in Catholic traditions.”

The sign posted above the main hallway in the school proclaimed, “Jesus Christ is the reason for this school. He is the ever-present teacher, the model of its faculty, the inspiration of its students.”

Senior Kalynn Niroda appreciated how “we can embrace prayer and start the day off right and remember why we’re on this earth.”

Dominic Cesare, a Holy Cross teacher, saw the school teaching “good life lessons and values…. it shapes who you are.”

Matthew Baradise, a senior, summarized, “We can learn to serve others, volunteer and be a part of the community.”

Monitor staff writer, Christina Leslie, and correspondents Dorothy LaMantia and Rosemary Daniels contributed to this story. Jeff Metzner was the videographer.