GASTONIA — It has been a hectic summer at St. Michael School as the building has been undergoing significant renovations for nearly three months in an effort to complete as much as possible before school starts Aug. 21.
“From the beginning, the goal of completing the major scope of work over the short period of one summer has been very ambitious,” said diocesan construction manager Emmett Sapp. “We are grateful to Southside Constructors, our general contractor, who was undeterred by the challenge and is going above and beyond the call of duty to get the school ready.”
Projects at the 77-year-old school include: renovation of the existing library to create a new state-of-the-art STEM Lab and Maker Space; renovation of the existing science lab to expand capabilities for hands-on learning and experimentation; renovation of the current technology infrastructure; a new special education classroom; restoration of the elementary school restrooms; new roof; and new rooftop HVAC equipment.
“This is a hectic but exciting and energetic summer,” said Principal Sheila Levesque.
“You can see the transformation of the facility and we are looking forward to the new instructional programs that we will be offering our students.”
Sapp noted that when school reopens there will be items still requiring finishing touches, but most of the work will be complete and students will be walking into a fresh and exciting new look throughout the building.
The $1.6 million renovation was funded through a combination of a $990,000 gift, a $500,000 grant from the diocese’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign, and another $110,000 expected to be raised through school fundraisers. The $990,000 gift comes from Shea Homes, a new home construction company in the Charlotte area. John Shea, a parishioner of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, said his family “believes in the education and values taught by the dedicated teachers at Catholic schools.”
The school plans to show off the renovations during Family Fun Day on Oct. 19, and during open houses on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
St. Michael School in Gastonia went through a $1.6 million renovation over the summer months. The project is expected to be fully completed early this fall. Father Lucas Rossi, pastor of St. Michael Church, said, “Each week I have made several visits to the school and have seen tremendous progress. The project has been immense and I know that God is guiding this work. I am very excited to bless our completely transformed school! Go Tigers!” (Photos provided by Diocesan Properties Office)
HUNTERSVILLE — Julie Thornley has been named principal at St. Mark School in Huntersville after working for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools for more than a decade at St. Ann School as a counselor and St. Patrick School as assistant principal.
Thornley, a member of St. Mark Church, has a degree in social work from George Mason University, with a minor in music education and a master’s degree in school counseling from North Carolina State University. She has a post-master’s certificate in school administration from UNC-Charlotte and was part of the Aspiring Principals program.
Thornley has worked as a behavioral therapist with at-risk youth involved with the juvenile justice system in alternative settings as well as a school counselor in public schools. She has also taught piano lessons for more than 35 years.
“It’s very exciting to be not only principal, but to be principal of a K-8 population,” Thornley said. “I started my education at a St. Mark School in Indianapolis and it’s neat that I’ve landed at another St. Mark School as principal.”
She said she’d like to see St. Mark School and parish become more closely connected, with more parishioners involved in the school and more students engaged in parish activities.
“My educational philosophy is rooted in my Catholic faith,” Thornley wrote in a letter introducing herself to the school community. “I believe that all learners possess strengths and gifts given to them by our Lord. With that belief, it is the duty of every educator to ensure that all students are given every opportunity to grow spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally.”
She stressed that she wants to put an emphasis on the students being united in the goal of being Jesus to others.
“Our priority is to grow spiritually as a community,” she said.
St. Mark School has more than 700 kindergarten through eighth-grade students.
— Kimberly Bender, online reporter