Giant pencils. Textbooks. Super Mario lunchboxes. Saint Peter.
With these in hand – and heart – students in Bishop Schad Regional School eagerly greeted their special guest, Bishop Dennis Sullivan, on the first day of school Sept. 7.
“We were all blessed by his presence,” said Sister Olga Cano, MDPVM, principal of the Vineland school. “His visit is something special. We love his support.”
The Camden prelate visited the PreK-8 students and others the week of Sept. 7, as thousands of students, teachers and staff of South Jersey’s Catholic Schools returned to classrooms across the Diocese. Bishop Sullivan lead morning prayer services and also visited classrooms in Saint Joseph Regional School, Somers Point; Saint Michael the Archangel Regional School, Clayton, and Saint Mary School, Williamstown.
In Vineland, the Bishop’s visit also kicked off the school’s 100th year. Beginning in 1921 as Sacred Heart Grammar School, it kept that name until merging with nearby schools in 2007 to become Bishop Schad Regional.
The day began with cars lining up outside the school at 7:15 a.m., and as kids wearing face masks were dropped off by loved ones, they had their temperatures checked before heading off to engage with friends or get acquainted with new classrooms and teachers.
“It’s the beginning of so many things – new teachers, new classmates, new subjects,” said Susan Bencie, fifth-grade teacher.
During the service later in the morning in Sacred Heart Church, Bishop Sullivan pledged his prayers for the students and faculty, and urged the youth to “give it all you’ve got” this academic year.
In learning, “We grow in what we know, what we love… [and] as a child of God,” he said, adding that “studies are hard, but the reward is great.”
Emma Shannon, a senior in Camden Catholic High School, can relate. During school orientation Sept. 3, she talked about one of the greatest rewards of attending a Catholic school: the sense of community.
“I remember when I shadowed in my eighth-grade year,” she said, reflecting on the decision to attend Camden Catholic years ago. “The thing that stood out the most to me was the way everyone was so welcoming. No matter who you are, you’re always going to find someone who is looking out for you.”
That sense of familiarity was on display on the first day of school Sept. 7 in Woodbury Heights, where fifth- through eighth-grade students were greeted with “Good morning!” and “Welcome back!” from staff and clergy at Saint Margaret Regional School.
Helping the students as they piled out of cars and buses, school Principal Sister Michele DeGregorio, FMIJ, said she was “looking forward to strengthening our community and our family atmosphere” in the new academic year.
“I am hopeful that the kids will have more of an opportunity to interact in a way that they couldn’t last year” due to COVID-19 restrictions, she said. “That’s important to their growth, both socially and spiritually.”
“We are just trying to be positive as we move forward,” she continued, as Father Joseph Pham, pastor of the nearby Infant Jesus Parish, greeted families with a friendly, “God Bless You!”
Joining in the excitement of the first week of school was Dr. Bill Watson, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools, who joined Bishop Sullivan on the visit to Vineland.
“We are excited to be back in school, in person, again this year. The same care for one another that drove our successes last year is present once again,” he said. “Our Catholic schools maintain the traditions that are the foundation of our successes while offering innovative programs to meet the needs of today’s students. Together, we will take each day as a gift and do our best to learn and grow together, just as we always do.”
Managing Editor Jennifer Mauro contributed to this report
MORE SCENES ON BACK TO SCHOOL
The Catholic Star Herald visited numerous locations during the first week of school. Check out the videos at youtube.com/catholicstarherald
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