New high school to be sited on Granite Street

By Raymond L. Delisle
Diocesan Director of Communications

The new diocesan high school has a name and a location. St. Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School will be on Granite Street, according to Bishop McManus.
The bishop wrote to students and families of Holy Name and St. Peter-Marian Junior/Senior Central Catholic High Schools on Thursday announcing that the merged school will be known as St. Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School and that it will be located at the current Holy Name campus on Granite Street.
“In the final analysis, it makes much sense that we turn to our patron for the diocese, Saint Paul, who not only was the apostle to the Gentiles, but offers us inspiration as he proclaimed the Christian faith with missionary zeal so that all people may know the Good News of Christ,” the bishop wrote. “Therefore, in this same missionary spirit and proclamation of the Gospel, our new name will be Saint Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School,” he said.
In making his decision regarding the location, he wrote, “Given the new science lab, recently renovated auditorium, better gymnasium, and elevator accessibility, to name a few advantages, we will have some excellent assets at our disposal for the new school to utilize immediately as we prepare for not just a first-class education but extracurricular programs as well.”
Bishop McManus also noted that since a decision has now been made regarding the location, the diocese can begin to market the St. Peter-Marian school campus on Grove Street, noting that this “will help finance short- and longer-term renovations at Saint Paul.”
The staffing process is now under way for St. Paul’s and will be accomplished in two phases, the bishop noted. Teachers who are interested in administration are applying this week for various department head positions. The Catholic Schools Office anticipates that those positions will be filled by mid-March.  
The application process for the teaching positions will begin in the next few days, it was announced. The head of school, Michael J. Clark, along with assistant principals, Sandra Pollette and Timothy St. John, will review the applications and make decisions on or about April 1.
The number of staff positions is being based on a total enrollment of 500 students for grades 7 through 12. Should that number be higher, more positions will be filled, it was announced.
David Perda, superintendent of Catholic Schools, said, “I want to express my gratitude to the many people, particularly the students, their families and the dedicated staff in our schools, who are helping bring so many puzzle pieces together in a short period of time. In a matter of weeks we have announced senior staffing, including, athletic director, school location, name, processes for staffing, enrollment and financial aid.”
“We’re excited that we were able to come to an agreement and we are grateful for the Catholic Schools Office’s commitment to its teachers,” said Kate Harris, president of the Diocesan Educators, Lay Teachers Association (DELTA) and a teacher at Holy Name. “Teachers are eager to get to work combining the best of what St. Peter-Marian and Holy Name have to offer. We hope that families are encouraged by the familiar faces that will be returning to the school in the fall,” she said.
Superintendent Perda continued, “While it is natural for people to be nervous when we were faced with so many unknowns, I hope and pray that the Catholic school community is preparing to embrace what we see as an exciting future for our students at the new St. Paul school.”
Parents are being encouraged in the bishop’s letter to enroll online and apply for financial aid, links for which can be found at the Catholic Schools Office website at schools.worcesterdiocese.org. The cost of tuition, including activity fees, has been announced at $8,800 for grades 7 and 8, and $9,500 for grades 9 through 12.
Bishop McManus added, “My promise is this: everyone is preparing to make this the best school while making it as affordable as possible.”

– Editor’s Note: The complete letter, along with a list of other resources regarding the school merger, can be found on the homepage of the Catholic Schools’ website, schools.worcesterdiocese.org.