A week of pride for Catholic schools

Valley Stream’s two parochial schools opened their doors last week to prospective students and parents for national Catholic Schools Week.

Holy Name of Mary School, on South Grove Street, and Blessed Sacrament School, on Rose Avenue, both kicked-off the annual celebration with an open house following Sunday mass on Jan. 31.

At Blessed Sacrament School, student council members led tours for interested parents. There was also a chance to meet one-on-one with a staff members to discuss the registration process. “We’re hoping that they like what they see,” Principal Mary Earvolino said.

Earvolino explained that it’s not just about promoting academics at the school but the spiritual side as well. “That’s an important part of who we are,” she said, “and we can’t lose sight of that.”

The principals said it was very encouraging that many parents took home registration packets. She also said many of the school’s pre-kindergarten students plan to continue their education at the school as opposed to public schools.

The open house also included a blessing of the media center, which was recently renovated at Blessed Sacrament School. Earvolino said the wall between the computer lab and library was knocked down to make it one facility. New shelving was also installed. A parent did the construction, Earvolino said, and many new items were purchased through an anonymous donation.

Holy Name of Mary School had about 40 students in the upper grades leading tours that Sunday. Seventh-graders Nora Kassebaum and Kaitlyn Todaro, who have been attending school together there since their nursery years, said most people asked about the quality of education and the teachers.

“I love all of the teachers,” Kaitlyn said. “I think all of the teachers are really great and very inspirational.”

Kaitlyn added the 100 percent of the current eighth-grade class was accepted to the Catholic high school of their choice.