THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411080111
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
``This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!''
Last Friday couldn't have been more glorious, nor the rejoicing more exuberant than it was at St. Gregory's Catholic School as clerics, faculty, students, families and supporters gathered to dedicate Sullivan Hall.
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, head of the Diocese of Richmond and for whom the new one-story education building is named, was on hand and celebrated a dedication Mass in the main church.
Afterward the attendees proceeded to the front entrance of the new facility where, under a cloudless sky and balmy temperatures, they cut a ribbon and trooped inside to tour the new seven-classroom addition.
``We've increased the school by adding a third division (class) for each grade up to grade six,'' explained Sister Miriam Cottan, principal of the school. ``It has a dedicated science lab that has everything a college lab would have. We're very proud.''
Next September, she added, the school plans to construct two additional classrooms for grades seven and eight, which would enable St. Gregory's to offer three classes for each of those upper grades.
``No more than 28 students are in a class,'' she pointed out, ``and some are as small as 22.''
Sullivan Hall went up in a hurry. Ground was broken March 26, and construction began the following month. The building was completed and pressed into service Sept. 6 when school opened. Forterra Construction of Norfolk was the builder.
Between November 1993 and January 1994 the parish raised $530,000 toward the project, which totaled about $750,000.
John and Maria Stepanovich have two children, George, 11, and Deanna, 7, enrolled in the school. ``It just speaks for the pride of the Catholic community,'' said Maria Stepanovich.
``It's our first year here as we're new to the area,'' added John Stepanovich. ``We've been impressed with the dedication here at St. Gregory's.''
Debbie Llewellyn is the mother of Ryan, 9, and Colin, 5, who attend St. Gregory's. ``It's been a long time coming,'' Llewellyn said. ``I'm thrilled to have it because we have younger children coming up. And it was a real honor to have Bishop Sullivan here, too.''
Students shared the parents' sentiments.
``It was cool to see the bishop here,'' said sixth-grader Dennis Santos. ``My classroom is in the new building. We've got two computers.''
``Yea,'' added classmate Brett Schafer. ``CD ROM!''
The school's expansion is part of a nationwide trend, said John Langlois, president of Tele-Video Productions and founder and president of the Hampton Roads-based Catholic Elementary Education Foundation.
``Within the diocese, we have approximately 10,000 students enrolled,'' Langlois said. ``We've had increases every year since 1991. This year alone, enrollment increased 4.6 percent. Most schools have waiting lists and are adding on additions like this.''
St. Gregory's enrolls 702 students and 62 of them are new this year, a 9.7 percent increase over last year. They come from throughout the Hampton Roads area.
``It's thrilling,'' Bishop Sullivan observed. ``It's a very positive sign of the resurgence of Catholic education in the diocese and in Tidewater. All of our schools are filled now, and we have a new high school on the Peninsula.
``I'm very committed to Catholic education. It's for a lifetime. What happens in our schools leads to good citizenship, affects the life of the church, and provides leadership.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Bishop Walter Sullivan tours the new classroom wing named in his
honor at St. Gregory the Great Catholic School. ``It's a very
positive sign of the resurgence of Catholic education in the diocese
and in Tidewater,'' he said.
by CNB