The mood was bittersweet at St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School on Friday when classes ended not only for the summer, but forever.
The Tecumseh school has been slated for permanent closure as a result of the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board’s restructuring plan.
“I’m feeling overwhelmed with emotion, but also I’m feeling very great pride,” said Linda DiPasquale, the school’s principal.
“It was very important to me to close a school of such excellence and history and richness in tradition with honour and dignity … We’ll always carry the Sabre spirit in our hearts.”
St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School students take part in a procession on school grounds on the school’s last day of classes before permanent closure. Photographed June 27, 2014. (Dan Janisse / The Windsor Star)
At the 3 p.m. bell, DiPasquale and the school’s priest, Father Gary Goyeau, led students on a final procession around school grounds — with some students crying as they walked.
Wendy Daniel, head of the school’s parent council, said it was a tearful moment for many adults as well.
Parents and community leaders had passionately lobbied the WECDSB to save St. Gregory from the chopping block.
“I feel a lot of bitterness,” Daniel admitted on Friday afternoon. “We came to the table with quite a few proposals … And in the end, it didn’t seem to matter. The decision had already been made.”
A student of St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School wipes tears from her eyes on June 27, 2014. (Dan Janisse / The Windsor Star)
Along with the crying, there was much laughter and joyous capering on St. Gregory property.
“It’s a mixed feeling for the kids,” Daniel said — sensing excitement over the summer to come, and nervous anticipation of new school environments in the fall. “They’re losing friendships, no matter what.”
Throughout the procession, Goyeau carried a framed print of a prayer to St. Gregory — the patron saint of teachers.
“It’s a sad moment not only for the school community, but the parish community and the residential community all around us,” Goyeau reflected later. “This school has been a part of people’s lives for 56 years.”
Meanwhile, DiPasquale found herself continually mobbed by students for thankful hugs and goodbye embraces.
“The reason you see such a demonstration of love is because that is what resonates in our school,” she explained.
In September, she’ll be joining the administration of St. Pius X Catholic Elementary on Lacasse Boulevard in Tecumseh.
Students of St. Gregory School hug their principal, Linda DiPasquale, on June 27, 2014. (Dan Janisse / The Windsor Star)
The final decision to close St. Gregory — and three other Catholic elementary schools in Essex County — came down to a board vote on May 27.
Goyeau said he knows it was a hard decision to make. “I was sad about the decision. I was hoping that it would stay open. But it didn’t. So we have to move ahead.”
But Chris and Nicole Cozad — parents of five St. Gregory students — weren’t so sure about the Catholic school board’s justifications.
“It’s disappointing,” Chris said. “They have their reasons and their motivations. And they’re not necessarily in the best interests of the children.”
Nicole said she and her husband are still deciding on where they’ll enrol their children: 12-year-old Connor, 10-year-old Kylie, eight-year-old Cara, seven-year-old Kirstin, and five-year-old Cody.
Among the options they’re considering: St. Pius X, St. William Catholic Elementary School all the way in Emeryville, and also D.M. Eagle School in St. Clair Beach — a public school.
The sign on St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School in Tecumseh. (Dan Janisse / The Windsor Star)
“When you enrol your child in a school, you never really think of how it will affect them if it closes,” Nicole said. “Change is hard for kids. You can only do your best to help them transition.”
Nicole said September could be the first time her kids will be going to different schools from each other.
Connor, a Grade 7 student, said he knows his little brother Cody had looked forward to playing with him at St. Gregory.
Kylie said she’ll especially miss her friends and her Grade 4 teacher — Miss Sarah Samrah. “She’s very kind. And she didn’t give you that much homework.”
Principal Linda DiPasquale (left) and Father Gary Goyeau lead students on a procession around school grounds on June 27, 2014. (Dan Janisse / The Windsor Star)
Linda DiPasquale, principal of St. Gregory School, hugs a student on June 27, 2014. (Dan Janisse / The WIndsor Star)
A goodbye message at St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School on June 27, 2014. (Dan Janisse / The Windsor Star)
