August 31, 2023

Catholic school students look forward to new year

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

CHICOPEE – With great hope, anticipation and prayer, close to 3000 Catholic school students headed back to class across the Diocese of Springfield at the end of August. There are 12 elementary and two Catholic high schools in the diocese.

The new year brings with it a new principal and a new assistant principal at St. Stanislaus School in Chicopee. St. Stanislaus School began classes on Aug. 24.

“To see all of these smiling faces come through the door was amazing,” said Katherine Rorrio, the new principal at St. Stanislaus School. Rorrio’s two children also attend the school.

“I went to the school here, and graduated 8^th grade from here. My first teaching job was here, 20 years of teaching first grade. I am also a member of the Basilica across the street, so for me it was coming home,” Rorrio said.

Longtime educator Helen Marie Choiniere is the assistant principal at St. Stanislaus School.

“I went to Catholic school myself as a child and I developed a very close relationship with Jesus and Mary. It feels like an honor to be in a position of helping Jesus and Mary lead a Catholic school,” Choiniere said.

Chris Bersaw is the new principal at St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Adams. He said Catholic schools are special for many reasons.

“First of all, the smaller class size is a big deal. Teachers have a lot more time to focus on each student,” Bersaw said.

“Obviously our Catholic identity is a big part. We do morning prayer over the loud speaker. A lot of those things make it a special environment,” he said.

Students began classes in Adams, Wednesday, Aug. 30.

“We learn about Jesus and God, and all of the teachers are really nice,” said St. Stanislaus Kostka grade five student, Kenley McConnell.

According the National Catholic Education Association, Catholic schools across the country saw an increase in enrollment during the pandemic. Since then, schools largely have been able to retain those new families nationwide and locally.

St. Stanislaus in Adams has 10 new students this year. Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield has added 13. St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Springfield, St. Michael’s Academy in Springfield, and the Academy of the Little Flower in South Hadley have all added students for the 2023-2024 school year.

While the overall enrollment in the diocese is down from the 2022-2023 school year, it remains higher than before the pandemic. Catholic schools remained open and in person during the pandemic while most other schools were remote or hybrid.

Superintendent Maria Wagner said Catholic schools offer an “excellent education infused with the teachings of Christ.” This will be Wagner’s first full academic year in the Diocese of Springfield.

 “Catholic education is crucial because it gives kids an identity to be Catholic. It means to love your neighbor as yourself, as God loves you,” said Wagner.

For more information about Catholic schools, go to diospringfield.org

A video version of this story will be featured on this weekend’s edition of “Real to Reel,” which will temporarily air Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on WWLP-22NEWS from Sept. 3 through Nov. 19.