Before its 155th anniversary, one of Hamilton鱿鱼视频app oldest Catholic schools will be closing for good. On May 27, the school is planning a closing ceremony which will include a Mass, music and a tribute from its 178 students.
In 1855, St. Mary鱿鱼视频app was one of the first Catholic schools established in the city by the Sisters of St. Joseph. At that time, the city was home to many Irish Catholic families who were recent immigrants to Canada.
The original St. Mary鱿鱼视频app building was built at Mulberry and Park Street, but it has had more than one site and function over the years. A French language school, as well as an all-girls and all-boys school, have also been a part of the St. Mary鱿鱼视频app legacy.
In 1950, construction for the current building began. But it was nine years later when all St. Mary鱿鱼视频app students came under one roof.
In 1993, 63 nuns of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton stopped teaching at the school because there were fewer nuns and a shift in the congregation鱿鱼视频app pastoral work.
Principal Jerry Crapsi said the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board cited declining enrolment and saving money as the main reasons for the closure and the school鱿鱼视频app consolidation with St. Lawrence School.
Students, teachers and parents alike were shocked and took the news very hard, but are 鈥渃oming to grips with it,鈥� Crapsi said. It鱿鱼视频app not only because of the school鱿鱼视频app history, but also the fact that St. Mary鱿鱼视频app acts as a 鈥渃ommunity hub鈥� and serves so many community functions.
The school also houses a popular community centre. Close to 1,500 people make use of Jamesville Community Centre鱿鱼视频app programs. It will remain open for three years.
Teacher Christina Scheben said her Grade 7 students felt 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥� by the speed of the decision and 鈥渄isappointed鈥� that they wouldn鈥檛 be able to graduate from the school next year. Scheben, a five-year veteran at the school, said students were in a 鈥渟ombre鈥� mood the day after the trustees voted at the end of March to close down the school.
Sampaio says it鱿鱼视频app the 鈥渇amily feeling鈥� that she will miss the most.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app kind of like a home away from home,鈥� the 14-year-old said.
Over the years, St. Mary鱿鱼视频app played an important role in the community as it helped the children of new Canadians from Portugal, Italy and Asian countries learn English. Scheben believes St. Mary鱿鱼视频app current work with the city鱿鱼视频app diverse multicultural communities will remain part of the school鱿鱼视频app history.
鈥淭he legacy of the school is that it鱿鱼视频app helped those who need it,鈥� Scheben said. 鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app given them a really good start to life in Canada.鈥�
Hamilton's St. Mary's School to close after 155 years
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}After the doors close at St. Mary鱿鱼视频app Elementary School in Hamilton, Ont., Grade 8 student Joana Sampaio will swing by the school鱿鱼视频app playground to meet up with the friends she first met in Kindergarten.
It will be a chance for them to reminisce about their time at St. Mary鱿鱼视频app.
It will be a chance for them to reminisce about their time at St. Mary鱿鱼视频app.
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