School bells rang across the Archdiocese of Baltimore on the morning of Aug. 26 as students returned from summer vacation for the first day of the 2024-25 academic year.
At School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, eighth grade students were tasked with opening doors and welcoming students.
“We like greeting everyone. It gets the day started and sets the mood for everybody,” said Dylan Testa, 13, who noted that was why she liked the School of Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. “I like that everyone supports each other and lifts each other up.”
Students were also welcomed by a few surprise guests. Auxiliary Bishop Adam J. Parker, Chancellor of Education Gregory A. Farno and Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens strolled up and down the sidewalk, talking with students, many of whom were clutching their parent’s hands or their backpacks, all with faces filled with anticipation and excitement.
“I wonder if my mother was this happy?” Farno asked aloud, as another smiling parent waved goodbye.
Principal Rosanna Czarnecki took the trio to visit several classrooms. Though many teachers said they would not assign any homework that night, Bishop Parker had no qualms about giving an assignment.
“Thank your mom and dad for sending you to a Catholic School,” said Bishop Parker, who shared the many benefits of a Catholic education, from talking about Jesus Christ and all his miracles to learning about the Bible and the sacraments.
Noting that the theme for the school year is “Give thanks with a grateful heart,” Hargens encouraged students to pause for a few minutes every day to be thankful.
“I give thanks in threes,” she said. “What three things am I thankful for right now? I am thankful for parents, for teachers and God. When you get in the habit, it is not hard to think of things.”
From the School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Bishop Parker, Hargens and Farno traveled to Cardinal Shehan School in Baltimore, where they welcomed students at an assembly held in the newly refurbished gymnasium. Much of the school building, according to Principal Jeanne Dolamore, had been refreshed with paint and new furniture, which the school acquired from the recently closed St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Hagerstown.
“We salvaged everything down to the last chemicals in the lab to be used in other schools,” Farno confirmed. “Nothing was thrown out.”
Though she had to make several trips to Hagerstown, Dolamore said it was worth it to see the difference in the classrooms.
“It does set the tone,” Dolamore said. “Students deserve a beautiful environment.”
Roshae Jones has been teaching middle school at Cardinal Shehan for 21 years. She has served under several different administrations and priests based at nearby St. Matthew and has always been impressed.
“The church has always been very supportive over the years,” she said.
Fifth grader Jaidan Cox, 11, admitted she couldn’t fall asleep the night before because she was so excited to go back to school. Classmate Jaydon Brown, 10, nodded his head in agreement.
“You adapt every year of school,” Jaydon said. “This year, some teachers are teaching different subjects. You adapt to the environment.”
Though her first grade students were not scheduled to start until Aug. 28, Jenna Coulbourne was excited about opening day.
“There is nothing like the sense of community in a Catholic school,” Coulbourne said. “It’s important to me. I am super excited to be part of it. “
The first day of school, according to Hargens, is a chance to begin again.
“I love the first day,” Hargens said. “To start learning and growing in faith.”
Email Katie V. Jones at Kjones@CatholicReview.org
To view more photos from the first day of schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, click through the slideshow below:
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