SWEDESBORO – For Guardian Angels Regional School’s upper grades, the new academic year does not only mean new names and faces, but a refurbished building to call home.
On Sept. 3, Guardian Angels officially opened the doors to the new middle school campus in Swedesboro with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house. The lower school will continue to hold classes at its Gibbstown campus.
Located in the former Saint Joseph Catholic School building, the move marks an exciting new chapter for Guardian Angels. “We are delighted to introduce our middle school campus to the Swedesboro community,” said Sister Jerilyn Einstein, FMIJ, principal. “This expansion underscores our dedication to fostering academic excellence, character development and spiritual growth in our students as they progress through their formative years.”
The festivities began outside in the newly renovated back parking lot, with families, volunteers and faculty awaiting the arrival of special guests including Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan; Dr. Bill Watson, superintendent of Catholic schools, and Swedesboro Borough Council member Joanna Gahrs.
Father Edward Kennedy, pastor of Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Swedesboro, who helped spearhead the move, kicked off the event, offering gratitude to all of the workers and volunteers who spent countless hours and days transforming the school.
Dr. Watson recalled the day he learned about the new campus. “Sister Jerilyn called to tell me that the middle school was moving to Swedesboro, and I thought, ‘Great!’” Dr. Watson said. “I asked, ‘Are you going to be ready in 10 or 11 months?’” Sister Jerilyn said, ‘Well, we have to be.’”
The work on the building, which began in the winter of 2023, included renovations to the basement and kitchen area, updates to the bathrooms, and freshening up all of the classrooms. New flooring and windows were installed throughout the building, and fresh coats of paint provided a freshness to the hallways and classrooms.
“I just got the privilege of a guided tour by Sister Jerilyn, and the place looks awesome,” Dr. Watson told the crowd, specifically pointing out the students on hand. “You have a fantastic place to call home as your school.”
Elissa Checkley is the parent of a fourth- and fifth-grader at the school, and was one of the volunteers at the ribbing-cutting. “The new location, to me, is a new beginning.”
She shared that when she and her family toured the building in January, before construction had started, her girls were a little worried. “But when we walked through the doors in mid-August, it was a completely different place. I told the girls, ‘Just wait until you see it!’”
Borough Council member Joanne Gahrs, speaking on behalf of Swedesboro mayor Thomas Fromm and other council members, offered thanks for “bringing back a daily active Catholic education program. … This school holds very precious memories for me. Thank you again for bringing this building back to life,” said Gahrs, a graduate of Saint Joseph Catholic School.
After Bishop Sullivan led the group of guests and Sister Jerilyn in cutting the ceremonial ribbon, Sister Jerilyn welcomed all to tour the building and enjoy some light refreshments.
For the teachers on hand, including middle school language arts teacher Colleen Verto, the new classrooms offer opportunities to try different learning techniques. “Because the rooms are larger, there will be more opportunities to do small group work. This is especially important for the eighth-grade students as they transition to high school.”
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Another benefit of the move to Swedesboro is the school’s proximity to Saint Joseph Church, a worship site of Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, which is about a block away from the school.
“One of the reasons you pick a Catholic school is to increase your children’s faith,” said Jipby Kurichi, a parent of four at Guardian Angels, three of whom will attend classes in the new building. “So, for the kids to be able to go to church really warms my heart. In addition to going to Mass on Saturday night or Sunday, the additional time going with their friends and praying together is wonderful.”
Checkley also pointed to the new opportunity for the students to participate in Adoration at Saint Joseph Church, which she felt was a “a great opportunity for the children, especially those who haven’t gotten the chance to experience it yet.”
The school celebrated its first official school day the following day, Sept. 4. When Verto was asked how she thought the day would go, she said, “We are just going to put our seatbelts on and get rolling with the school year.”
Michael Bress is communications and marketing manager for the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools.
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