New parish complex strengthens neighborhood ties |
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Written by LAURIE STEVENS BERTKE, Chronicle Writer
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Friday, 03 October 2008 01:00 |
TOLEDO—Many residents living in the west Toledo neighborhood surrounding Blessed Sacrament supported the parish in its capital campaign to build a new school over the past six years.
With help from those neighbors, parishioners, alumni and other friends, Blessed Sacrament celebrated the dedication of its $5.3 million middle school and neighborhood center in April. The facility has classrooms for students in grades six through eight, a science lab, a computer lab and a gym large enough to host CYO games. Improvements have also been made inside the elementary school building, and total enrollment has jumped to 330 — an increase of 48 students.
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| Jeremy Burke, a kindergartener at Toledo Blessed Sacrament, jumps rope
with the help of first-grader Emily Ulrich and lunchtime monitor Joan
Krempa during recess in Close Park, across the street from the new
middle school and neighborhood center. (Chronicle photo by Laurie
Stevens Bertke) |
As the parish marks this new chapter in Catholic education, it is again reaching out to its neighbors — this time through a new organization founded to promote community spirit and keep the neighborhood safe and beautiful.
Based in an office in the new building, the Greater Close Park Neighborhood Organization is overseen by a board of 11 neighboring parishioners and non-parishioners. The organization has applied for nonprofit status, and recently received a grant to hire a part-time executive director.
Madonna Moody, chair of the board, says their goal is to make everyone feel welcome, regardless of their involvement in the church or school. "We are all in this neighborhood, and this is for everyone," adds Mrs. Moody.
Father P. Martin Donnelly, a board member and the pastor of Blessed Sacrament, says the Catholic community was very deliberate in deciding to include a neighborhood center as plans for the new building took shape in recent years.
"We wanted to minister to the neighborhood — we wanted to reach out into the neighborhood and share with them what we have," he explains.
He says the neighborhood organization was instrumental in securing $75,000 in grants to build a new playground in Close Park last summer. It also organized a block party and supports the Block Watch groups that convene in the meeting room of the neighborhood center, which is available for use by all area residents.
"Blessed Sacrament has always been sort of a center for the neighborhood," notes Fr. Donnelly, who grew up nearby and graduated from Blessed Sacrament in 1952. "But I think we’re just more visible and more active in the neighborhood than we had been before."
The completion of the new school has also energized the parish community itself.
"It’s a leap into the future — we have one," Fr. Donnelly says pointedly.
"I think people are encouraged, and the morale is up, because this building that they talked about for so many years is finally in place," he adds. Planning for the school began under pastor Father Robert Reinhart, and continued in the three years since Fr. Donnelly became pastor.
Most students got their first glimpse inside the new middle school when they returned for classes Aug. 14.
"The kids are so excited," says Principal Kathy White. "They just love everything about it."
Blessed Sacrament has 130 students in grades six through eight stationed in the new building this year, and the elementary school students also use the computer lab and gym in the air-conditioned facility.
A parking lot has been transformed into a green space with sidewalks between the old and new school buildings.
Mrs. White notes improvements have also been made to the original school, parts of which date back more than 80 years. New tile flooring has been installed in classrooms, hallways have been redecorated and lockers have been repainted. The basement lunchroom was moved to the old gym, which is still used for athletic practices, and the preschool has moved into the elementary school from a building next door.
Mrs. White believes all the improvements have given everyone a higher level of pride in their school.
New students are entering all grade levels, and the school has started accepting students using tuition vouchers through the Educational Choice Scholarship Program.
When the principal began her position at Blessed Sacrament three years ago, most grades only had one classroom.
"Now we have two of everything, except second, third and eighth [grades]," says Mrs. White.
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Last Updated on Monday, 22 December 2008 11:15 |
