DYKER HEIGHTS — The morning air outside of St. Ephrem Catholic Academy was filled with excitement and anticipation on Sept. 3 as students reunited with friends and greeted their teachers at the start of a new school year.
“We are excited to welcome all of you back!” St. Ephrem Principal Michael Phillips said in a welcome message. “It’s you, the students and families that are truly going to make St. Ephrem even bigger than it already is.
“Thank you for your support, your love, and welcome home!”
St. Ephrem welcomed about 240 students through its doors on the first day. That includes 65 new students, 58 of which came from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy in Sunset Park, which permanently closed its doors in June due to a shrinking enrollment.
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“We were able to open up our community to OLPH this year and welcome in a lot of their families to show them that Catholic education, faith, and respect for others is within our community everywhere,” Phillips told The Tablet.
Phillips said it’s a great feeling to begin a new school year.
“I’m very excited to welcome them,” he said. “The smiles on their face as they were walking in today — it validated what we do in Catholic education, which is providing that safe, nurturing environment where everybody can succeed.”
Seventh grader Jocelyn Guillen, who previously attended OLPH, said she is excited for the new beginning at St. Ephrem’s.
“I’m looking forward to all of the academics and activities they have,” Jocelyn said. “I’m also looking forward to meeting staff and new students — the school just seems like a really good place to learn.”
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As students rushed into the school, many of them dropped off bags filled with classroom essentials, such as paper towels, tissues, hand wipes, and other necessary items to support their teachers. Afterward, they gathered in the school auditorium, where Phillips gave students another welcome alongside Father Robert Adamo, pastor of St. Ephrem Parish, who led prayer and offered his blessings for a successful school year.
Dorothy Rivera, an administrative assistant at OLPH, said she was happy to support her old student’s transition and is “thrilled” to see them continue their Catholic education. Although, she acknowledged the moment is bittersweet.
“I’m very sad that I won’t see them on a daily basis,” Rivera said. “But I have to say that this feels like a real family at St. Ephrem, so I’m very excited that they found a home here.”
