While Catholic high schools have operated on a hybrid learning model and the overwhelming number of public school students haven’t been in a classroom since March 2020, Catholic elementary schools have been open for five-day-a-week learning since September.
Sister Catherine Masino, the principal, and Sister Carolyn Braun, the vice principal, are in their first year overseeing the school. While a grade or a classroom has had to go virtual at times this year due to a coronavirus case, the school has not shut down.
St. Cecilia did not have any open houses this year, but on Saturday welcomed new families to meet teachers, tour classrooms and receive information on uniforms and the after-school CARES program.
Sister Catherine is hoping to keep enrollment stable. At present, there are 556 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Families received carnations courtesy of Blake Florists and large chocolate chip cookies from Danish Bakers, along with treats and a goody bag with donations from Acker’s Hardware, Realtor Larry Aita, Univest, Tompkins and American Heritage Federal Credit Union.
As for the end of the school year, the 54 eighth-graders will have a graduation Mass and block party-like celebration. ••
