I’m not really complaining about how fast the summer goes. Okay, I really am complaining about how fast the summer goes, but that’s not all I’m doing. As much as it comes as a shock to my system, the new school year is always and exciting and hopeful time. For St. Malachy School, the new school year starts this Monday. I am sure there will be some grumpy, sleepy faces as the children get out of bed on Monday morning, but I hope that they will soon get into the swing of school and be excited about the new year.
There has been a lot of work going on to prepare for this new year. As far as the building is concerned, several of the classrooms have been painted, and the building has been given a thorough cleaning and floor-waxing. There have been improvements to the computer room, and the upper floor bathrooms have had some serious work done. In addition, thanks to a generous donation, we are getting a new sign in the front of the school. That sign is news for the parish as well as the school, but it was through the school that we had the chance to get it.
Those are all very positive developments, but the building is not nearly as important as the people in it. And the people are the biggest story about St. Malachy School. First of all, we are blessed to welcome back a very strong faculty and staff. There will be a couple new names to learn, but those are through marriage. “Miss D” is returning to us this year, but we will have to get used to calling her “Mrs. G.” She became Mrs. Glover over the summer, and she is so happy in her new marriage that she is turning cartwheels – figuratively speaking. And before too much longer, Miss Fleckenstein will become Mrs. Chinchilla. So our school will be filled with love.
The biggest news about our new school year centers around our students. At a time when many schools are struggling to keep their heads above water, we have actually increased our enrollment this year. Our K-8 program is up from last year, even after graduating 17 eighth graders, and our pre-school program has really taken off. Pre-school is filled to capacity even after adding classes.
So if you come by Forest Grove Road on Monday, check to see if the St. Malachy School building is shaking. If so, it’s not an earthquake. Rather, it’s a building full of students so eager to start a new school year that the excitement is causing vibrations throughout Kennedy Township. The Blue Bombers are back.
Father H
