It is finally here! After months of preparation, prayer, planning, hiring, painting, organizing, cleaning, and countless hours of work throughout our campus, we are ready to welcome our Crusaders back to Holy Cross for the 2026 to 2027 school year!

This week brought incredible energy back into our building as our faculty and staff officially returned to campus. Classrooms that sat quiet throughout the summer are once again filled with teachers preparing lessons, organizing materials, decorating bulletin boards, collaborating with colleagues, and most importantly, preparing to welcome their students.

We began our time together in the best way possible, gathered as a faculty and staff for Mass. As a Catholic school community, beginning our year together in prayer reminds us that everything we do must remain centered on Christ and the mission He has entrusted to us. Following Mass, our newly established Home and School Association welcomed our faculty and staff with a wonderful homemade breakfast. We are incredibly grateful for the parents who have volunteered their time to strengthen the connection between our school, parish, teachers, students, and families.

Our teachers also had the opportunity to see their newly renovated Teacher Workroom. This project was made possible through the generosity of Mrs. Andrea Lewis and was dedicated in loving memory of her late husband. We hope this beautiful new space provides our teachers with a comfortable and welcoming place to plan, collaborate, recharge, and prepare for their students throughout the year.

As we prepare to begin another school year, we are especially excited to welcome the newest members of our Holy Cross family: Mrs. Clarissa Patterson, Early Learning Center Director; Mr. Sean Cannon, Third Grade Teacher; Ms. Brittany Rogers, long term Fifth Grade Teacher; Mrs. Courtney DeWitt, First Grade Teacher; Mrs. Sheri Healy, Second Grade Teacher; Mrs. Raven Armiger, Pre K 4 Teacher; and Ms. Samantha Minio, Morning Care Director and Kindergarten Aide.

Each of these educators brings unique gifts, experiences, and talents to our campus, and we are grateful that God has led them to Holy Cross. Please help us make them feel at home as they begin this new chapter with our school community.

We also have some bittersweet news to share regarding our music program. Miss Swartzentruber, our music teacher, has decided to move in a different direction for the upcoming school year. We are incredibly grateful for all she has done for our school, our students, and our music program. Miss Swartzentruber brought tremendous joy to our campus and generously shared her musical talents with our community. She will certainly be missed, and we wish her all the very best in her next chapter.

We are pleased to welcome Miss Caitlin Hernandez, who will serve as our long term substitute for this position. Caitlin’s background in choir and music will be a wonderful asset as we work to ensure that our music program continues to thrive and provide meaningful experiences for our students. Please join us in welcoming Caitlin to the Holy Cross family when you see her around campus!

It Is Almost Time, Crusaders!

With our teachers back in their classrooms, we are now counting down the days until our students return!

Monday, August 24 will be our Supply Drop Off. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to bring school supplies to campus ahead of the first day and help make that exciting first morning a little easier.

Thursday, August 27 is the first day of school for our Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Crusaders! We cannot wait to see our hallways filled with students again and officially begin another year of learning, growing, serving, and living our faith together.

Friday, August 28 will complete our first week as we welcome our Pre K students to campus for their first day of school. Once our youngest Crusaders arrive, our Holy Cross family will officially be together again!

There is something incredibly special about the beginning of a new school year. It is a fresh start filled with new friendships, new teachers, new challenges, new opportunities, and countless possibilities. As we open our doors once again, we pray that each child who enters them knows that they are loved, valued, and called by God to use their unique gifts for something greater.

Please keep our students, teachers, faculty, staff, and families in your prayers as we begin the 2026 to 2027 school year. May the Lord guide our work, bless our classrooms, protect our students, and help each of us to truly see one another through His eyes.

We are ready for you, Crusaders! Welcome back to Holy Cross!

God Bless,

Mrs. O’Mara
Principal