LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents,
 
Welcome Back to another great year at SJA. We are looking forward to an amazing school year, as we celebrate our 95th anniversary of providing a Catholic school education in Hershey! We've come a long way since the one-room schoolhouse on West Chocolate Avenue (across from Hershey Auto). It's hard to believe we are beginning our third year in the new school!
Our theme this year is BLESSINGS 95 - that is 95 years of blessings, with the most amazing blessings right in our own new school. The diamonds surrounding the text represent the long journey that it takes for diamonds in the rough to shine like beautiful diamonds. That ' s the history of our school, coming from a one-room schoolhouse to the beautiful complex we have now, as well as the journey each student makes as they begin a new school year. Special thanks to M rs. Mindy for her artistic touch to the newly designed logo!
With our increased enrollment, we are happy to welcome our new faculty and staff to SJA. M rs . Krista Altland (full day Pre 3B), Mrs. Kim Beeghley (Pre 4A), Mrs. Janell Lausch (new lC), Miss Cassandra Buszta (2B), M r. Daniel Bogrette (7B, Middle School Religion) , Miss Amanda Ringenbach (Computer/STEM), Mr. Drew Lawler (Phys Ed), Mr. Jimmy Paige (Cafeteria Assistant), Mrs. Angel Rubinic (Cafeteria Recess), and Ebone Jackson (CAIU Counselor on Friday). The Pre 3B class is now full time and has moved to the current building from the previous building on the Areba Avenue campus.
We are very happy to welcome 60 new families to our SJA school community. We welcome 506 students to SJA, making us again the largest Catholic school in the Diocese of Harrisburg.
As you may have read in the letter from Mr. Daniel Breen, Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg, we may be getting back to "normal" after 2 ½ years of COVID . It will be a year of experimenting, since we moved into the new school during COVID . We plan to have everyone eating in the cafeteria, but we have to see how they will fit. We plan to have everyone at Mass together, but again, we have to see how they will fit. Having a third floor will also bring about many "experiments" for daily routines. We have much to look forward to, and many blessings for which we are most grateful.
We continue our Centennial Capital Campaign to raise funds to complete the rest of the third floor. So far we have use of 6 classrooms, a workroom, and 2 rest rooms. We have yet to complete the chapel for 500 persons, a science lab, computer lab, several more classrooms, and storage. To do that, we need time, talent, and treasure (mostly time and treasure!).
When you get your Parent-Student Handbook, you may want to review it, as we made some significant changes in the technology policies, as well as minor changes in other information. Teachers will be going over that with the students in the next few days.
Once again, if ever have any concerns, suggestions, or ideas, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are all one big happy family that works together as partners in "our" children's education. Our PTO and Board of Education are all open to new ideas.
HAPPY NEW SCHOOL YEAR!
 
Sister Eileen Marie, DM, Principal

ABOUT SISTER EILEEN

Sister Eileen is a dedicated, highly qualified principal
who is committed to providing a high quality education to our students
in a nurturing atmosphere that encourages life-long learning, critical thinking, and growth mindsets.

View Sister Eileen's Full Bio