St. Peter's Elementary School closes its doors for the final time
By Dave Dellecese
WKTV.com
June 24, 2009
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The hallways at St. Peter's Elementary School have seen thousands of little feet pass through their hallways over the years.
But as of Wednesday, those hallways will remain empty, and the classrooms begin to gather dust, after students headed home and St. Peter's closes its doors for the final time.
"Well, I'd say it's very sad, because I've gone to the school for about four years and I love it," said Brandon Johnston, a third-grade student at the school.
Sister Therese Marie Kodz has taught at St. Peter's for seven years. She came from Holy Trinity after that school had closed down. Before that, she was at St. Mary's in New York Mills, which also closed. She found a new home, and family, at St. Peter's.
But now that, as well, has come to an end.
"It's very sad, because when you're closing a school, you're closing a family," Sister Marie said. "And by closing a family, people go in different directions. And many times you don't see them anymore."
It was in January when the Syracuse Diocese announced it would be closing St. Peter's, along with St. Mary's in Clinton, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica. The schools will then be combined into Notre Dame Elementary School - a move prompted by the need for economic cutbacks.
"When you first heard that the school was closing down, what were your thoughts?" we asked young Brandon Johnston.
"Well, sleepless nights,"the third-grader replied.
"They know that they're not coming here anymore," Sister Marie said. "Closing St. Peter's...the doors are closed forever. But Mrs. Hauck and I have been telling them to take St. Peter's in their hearts. Take a bit of St. Peter's to Notre Dame Elementary, or wherever they go, and it won't be so hard."
"They understand that yes, they won't be able to return here in the fall," said Principal Judy Hauck. "But they know they'll go on and make new friends wherever they go to school. But parents who have worked very hard and put in a lot of time and effort to keep this school open, keep things going, those are the people who are really...and I have to use the word grieving. I believe they really are grieving over this."
Principal Hauck says roughly 60% of the student population from St. Peter's will be moving on to the combined Notre Dame Elementary in the Fall. But when it comes to faculty, not everyone will have the opportunity to move on.
"It's more than just a loss of their family - and this is what we call ourselves...a family," Principal Hauck said. "It's also a loss of their income...their jobs. So it hits them doubly hard."
"I can't believe that it's finally the last day," Johnston said. "It's bittersweet."
WKTV.com
June 24, 2009
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The hallways at St. Peter's Elementary School have seen thousands of little feet pass through their hallways over the years.
But as of Wednesday, those hallways will remain empty, and the classrooms begin to gather dust, after students headed home and St. Peter's closes its doors for the final time.
"Well, I'd say it's very sad, because I've gone to the school for about four years and I love it," said Brandon Johnston, a third-grade student at the school.
Sister Therese Marie Kodz has taught at St. Peter's for seven years. She came from Holy Trinity after that school had closed down. Before that, she was at St. Mary's in New York Mills, which also closed. She found a new home, and family, at St. Peter's.
But now that, as well, has come to an end.
"It's very sad, because when you're closing a school, you're closing a family," Sister Marie said. "And by closing a family, people go in different directions. And many times you don't see them anymore."
It was in January when the Syracuse Diocese announced it would be closing St. Peter's, along with St. Mary's in Clinton, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica. The schools will then be combined into Notre Dame Elementary School - a move prompted by the need for economic cutbacks.
"When you first heard that the school was closing down, what were your thoughts?" we asked young Brandon Johnston.
"Well, sleepless nights,"the third-grader replied.
"They know that they're not coming here anymore," Sister Marie said. "Closing St. Peter's...the doors are closed forever. But Mrs. Hauck and I have been telling them to take St. Peter's in their hearts. Take a bit of St. Peter's to Notre Dame Elementary, or wherever they go, and it won't be so hard."
"They understand that yes, they won't be able to return here in the fall," said Principal Judy Hauck. "But they know they'll go on and make new friends wherever they go to school. But parents who have worked very hard and put in a lot of time and effort to keep this school open, keep things going, those are the people who are really...and I have to use the word grieving. I believe they really are grieving over this."
Principal Hauck says roughly 60% of the student population from St. Peter's will be moving on to the combined Notre Dame Elementary in the Fall. But when it comes to faculty, not everyone will have the opportunity to move on.
"It's more than just a loss of their family - and this is what we call ourselves...a family," Principal Hauck said. "It's also a loss of their income...their jobs. So it hits them doubly hard."
"I can't believe that it's finally the last day," Johnston said. "It's bittersweet."
