Opening of parochial schools marked by high hopes, 2 new principals
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- They arrived with shoes shined, hair combed, shirts tucked in place, and for most of them, smiles on their faces, as Staten Island Catholic school students began another year of classes.
Dominique Carillo, 8, smiles for her mom Tammy as she embarks on her first day of school at St. Ann's in Dongan Hills. (Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)While the school year that ended in June saw concern over rising tuition costs and enrollment, yesterday's start of the academic year was marked by optimism and a fresh start.
Two schools, Holy Rosary in South Beach and Our Lady Help of Christians in Tottenville, begin the year with new leadership.
At Holy Rosary School, Richard Kuberski, a retired police lieutenant, started his first day as principal by greeting students, faculty and parents by name and proudly showing off improvements made to the school building over the summer that include a new chapel, an after-school room for the extended-day program, a music room and art room, a waiting room for parents picking up students, and a new front entrance plaza.
"What do you like about the first day of school?" Kuberski asked third-grader Iris Procacio. "All of it!" the 8-year-old replied.
Parents say goodbye to their children at Our Lady Help of Christians school Wednesday morning.Parents John and Randi Latona of South Beach arrived to pick up 5-year-old John, who started kindergarten at Holy Rosary. Kindergarten students had orientation and early dismissal. "What's your teacher's name?" Mrs. Latona asked John. "Remember, it rhymes with music," she offered helpfully.
Kindergarten teacher Florence Fusic, who was listening to the exchange, offered a smile. "We read the 'Night Before Kindergarten' and we played with Play-Doh and I told them if it changes color, it means it will be a good year for them," she said.
A similar scene unfolded at Our Lady Help of Christians, where Principal Michael Saldarelli, a retired public school administrator, spent his first day greeting students and parents.
He said the school is waiting for an update on yellow-bus service for seventh- and eighth-graders, who usually ride the bus but either walked or arrived by car for the first day.
Siblings Vincent and Genna and mom, Giovanna Celentano, walk to Our Lady Help of Christians.St. Joseph-St. Thomas School in Pleasant Plains; St. Clare's School, Great Kills, and Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Huguenot, also are affected by the city's decision to eliminate yellow-bus service for 11- and 12-year-olds.
"Our parents are very upset," said Irma Cummings, principal of Our Lady Star of the Sea. She said more than 130 seventh- and eighth-graders from her school who usually would be riding yellow buses had to walk or be dropped off.
"Many of our kids have to walk along Arthur Kill Road, where there are no sidewalks. One of my students told me how he had to walk across the deserted West Shore Expressway overpass just to get to a bus stop, where he finally caught an MTA bus that was packed with older high school kids," she said.