The Julie Billiart School community gathered at its newest campus in Brecksville Sept. 27 for a liturgy celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost.
The new campus – the former Chippewa School – was purchased from the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District and renovated by Julie Billiart.
Lannie Davis-Frecker, Julie Billiart president and CEO, said they spent about $5 million to renovate the 1960s-era building. Among the biggest expenses were adding air conditioning and new windows.
Davis-Frecker said this is Julie Billiart’s fourth campus. About 50 students in grades K-4 are attending classes this school year. Grades 5-8 will be added next year.
“We have a capacity of 132 students in the building,” said Davis-Frecker. There are about 430 students across all four campuses who are served by about 150 staff.
As students took their places in the gym for Mass, Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost greeted them and the other guests.
“God is good all the time,” the bishop said. “And all the time, God is good,” the students responded.
“I am so happy to be here. Thank you for inviting me,” Bishop Woost said.
He asked the students what they liked most about Julie Billiart. The answers included things like their teachers, friends, “specials” and religion class. Some also mentioned the spacious playground, recess and gym class as other things they liked.
The bishop explained that God will always be with them. He said God shows us signs of his love and his presence in their parents, friends and the good things that are happening at Julie Billiart School. He also told them that love, peace and joy are signs of God’s love for them.
The students sang enthusiastically during the liturgy and applauded after each song. They also participated in the Mass by reading petitions and bringing up the offertory gifts.
After Mass, the bishop and a small group of people walked across the hall to the school chapel, which he blessed.
He explained what was happening, noting that the water used to bless the chapel is the same water used for baptism. “By blessing this chapel, we are asking God to make it a special place of peace,” Bishop Woost said.
Davis-Frecker said students enjoy visiting the chapel. “Sometimes they ask to go there for some quiet time if they’re having a difficult day, or to pray,” she said. Religion classes also may meet in the chapel from time to time.
Julie Billiart, which is celebrating its 70th year, provides educational services to children with learning and social differences in grades K-8. It has campuses in Lyndhurst, Westlake, Akron and Brecksville.
Jason Wojnicz, chief strategy officer, said the Brecksville campus will launch a new program next year called “Begindergarten,” a special kindergarten readiness program for 5-year-olds who need additional support in order to transition successfully to kindergarten.
He said Begindergarten will teach and develop kindergarten-ready skills for academic and social preparedness to help build a solid foundation for elementary school learning. The idea is to allow the children to be more prepared for future academics. Wojnicz said the program will be facilitated by an intervention specialist with additional support including speech, occupational therapy and classroom aides.
Learn more about Julie Billiart School here.