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HomeNewsArchivesNEW CATHOLIC PRINCIPAL, BOARDS, ENDOWMENT

NEW CATHOLIC PRINCIPAL, BOARDS, ENDOWMENT

A $500,000 endowment for Catholic schools, a new Sts. Peter and Paul School principal and the formation of two school boards were announced Tuesday by Catholic Bishop George Murry during a wide-ranging news conference.
Murry said the endowment is a gift "from Territorial Court Judge Alphonso Christian, the Jesuits of the Maryland Province, the Redemptorists of Baltimore Province and 20 local and off- island supporters of Catholic education."
Interest from the endowment will be used to provide scholarships for students whose families want them to have the benefits of a Catholic education but cannot afford the tuition, the bishop said. One scholarship will be in the name of Judge Christian, who Murry said has "taken a leadership role in promoting Catholic education."
Murry announced the appointment of Brother Lawrence Lavallee as principal of the Sts. Peter and Paul School. He will replace Sara Connell, who will retire in June after five years of service to the school. "I am grateful to Mrs. Connell for the example of excellence she set at Sts. Peter and Paul," the bishop said.
Lavallee, a member of the Marist order, is an experienced educator who has an extensive background in teaching and educational administration, especially at Catholic schools. Murry said it is his hope "to attract more priests and religious brothers and sisters to teach in our schools."
The bishop also announced the creation of new school boards for the territory's two Catholic high schools — Sts. Peter and Paul on St. Thomas and St. Joseph's on St. Croix. The boards consist of alumni, parents and others committed to Catholic education, Murry said. A mandate for the boards, he said, is to "actively participate with the principals in building a strong future for our schools, one marked by faith, academic achievement and discipline."
"Many of the leaders in our community attended Catholic school," the bishop noted, adding, "We have an obligation to produce for the future."

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