One school of thought

With the closing ceremonies and final graduations in their rearview mirror, administrators from Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti High School are now focusing on the start of a new school year and the dawn of a new era.

On Wednesday, the classrooms and hallways of the Goretti building at 10th and Moore streets will house boys as well as girls, bringing an end to a combined 119 years of single-sex Catholic high-school education in South Philly.

When the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced plans to merge Neumann and Goretti in 2003, faculty members and students of both schools greeted the news with decidedly mixed reactions.

Many bemoaned the loss of unique traditions and community institutions, but all of those misgivings are behind them now, maintains Neumann-Goretti President Rev. Michael Olivere.

"I think it’s a lot easier to digest because we’re in here now," Olivere said while sitting in the school’s new conference room, which is furnished with several tables and chairs from Neumann’s old building. "Everyone is on board and ready to make this work. But you have to allow for a period of adjustment."

The faculty and staff from both schools remained largely intact, with only five teachers lost in the merger. Several of the longer-tenured teachers opted for retirement, Olivere added.

The school hired a new assistant principal for student services, Paul D’Amore, after former Neumann disciplinarian Steve Henry took a job in the North Penn School District in July.

D’Amore, who taught English at Monsignor Bonner High School for the past two years, believes his newcomer status will be an asset to the school in this year of change.

"I’m not partial to either side — Neumann or Goretti," D’Amore said. "It’s a little challenging to come in and try to learn the histories of both these schools, but it’s fun, too. There’s a lot of great people here."

The assistant principal said he will take a progressive approach to disciplining the coed student body.

"They’re all unique young adults. I want to work with them and get to know them. I’m not here to work against them," he said.

While most of the teachers’ faces haven’t changed, the building itself has undergone some long-overdue renovations that should be finished when the students return next week.

All of the classrooms were painted and fitted with computer stations, although the school is waiting on a grant from Comcast Cable that will facilitate the running of T1 connection lines throughout the building.

Several older conference rooms were converted into classrooms that required the school to knock down or build walls, and new desks also were added.

Two bathrooms have been refurbished on each floor — one for the boys, one for the girls — and the parking lot has been repaved.

The lot was a point of contention months ago, as some teachers openly worried if there would be enough spaces for both schools’ faculty members.

"There are more than enough spots for our teachers and our staff, but there is not room for students," Olivere said. "We will, in fact, discourage them from driving to school."

He added that the school building is within walking distance of many students. Police might help direct traffic during dismissal for the first few weeks of school.

Days before opening, boxes and paintings still littered the first-floor hallway, and Olivere was searching for a spot to build a shrine to St. John Neumann, utilizing a wooden statue that was moved from the old building.

The president said he also would like to add a statue of the saint outside the building, next to the existing statue of St. Maria Goretti.

Goretti’s name, which formerly adorned the side of the building that faces South 10th Street, was replaced last week with black signs that feature the new school’s name, Latin motto (Virtus-Simplicitas-Fortitudo-Scientia) and shield.

Olivere said the renovations are intended to reinforce the idea that the schools are forging a future together in a new building.

"People may not have agreed with this move or how it was done, but the reality is that we should be grateful that we still have one Catholic school down here," he said. "It’s not 1950 anymore."

The student population of 1,220 will make Neumann-Goretti one of the archdiocese’s largest high schools, Olivere added.

Administrators are working hard to make the transition easy on students. For starters, the boys and girls will stay on the same schedule that each school had been following for the past three years.

Black V-neck sweaters will be available to both boys and girls, and girls will have the option of wearing pants this year.

For the first time in either school’s history, students also will have to wear regulation shoes, an initiative that is expected to garner some backlash, according to Luis DeVelasco, assistant principal for student affairs.

"Oh, I’m sure they’ll all complain," he joked good-naturedly, but added that "almost every high school that has a uniform has regulation shoes. We regulated our uniforms little by little over time, and this is something we had been looking at doing for a while."

The administration intends to retain all of the traditional events enjoyed by both schools, including the annual Thanksgiving football game against South Philadelphia High, although some functions will have to be adjusted for the new environment.

The teachers also have attended workshops on teaching philosophies, since they used different approaches when the schools were separated by gender, Olivere noted.

Though the president projects a unanimous front in efforts to work out any kinks, some with ties to the school said otherwise.

"This is a marriage with problems," said a former teacher who wanted to remain anonymous. "There are differences of opinions over how things should be done, day to day, but what can we do?"

The teacher did not leave the school as a direct result of the merger.

Another source cited lingering tensions between the Neumann and Goretti employees.

"Look, no one is denying this is going to be tough," Olivere asserted in response to the detractors. "I do believe, however, that everyone is now committed to making this work."

Internal rumblings aside, the school will put on several displays of unity to kick off the school year, beginning with a lavish ceremony Sept. 8.

Olivere, principal Patricia Sticco, student government members and dignitaries will join for a prayer service at McNichol Field, 2600 Moore St., before a Fairmount Park trolley whisks them to 10th and Morris streets.

The group will be greeted by members of the Quaker City String Band, who will serenade students and staff as they march to the new school building.

The rest of the student body will be waiting in the school’s auditorium, where the new school flag will be unveiled as the old Neumann and Goretti flags are retired.

An Olympic-style flame-lighting ceremony will cap off the opening festivities.

The school also will host a community block party Sept. 19, complete with music, food and tours of the building, to officially establish Neumann-Goretti’s presence in the neighborhood.

Introductory course

Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti High School will hold several ceremonies to commemorate its first year:

* Dignitaries will join school president Rev. Michael Olivere, school principal Patricia Sticco and student council members for a prayer service on Sept. 8 at Neumann’s old practice field, McNichol Field. A trolley will transport the group from 26th and Moore back to 10th and Morris streets, where members of Quaker City String Band will play music on the block-long march to Neumann-Goretti. The event will end with a flag ceremony and torch lighting.

* Cardinal Justin Rigali will officially dedicate the new school with an opening Mass on Sept. 13.

* Olivere and Sticco will be installed as the school’s president and principal during an invitation-only prayer service on Sept. 17.

* Neumann-Goretti will host a block party Sept. 19 that will be open to the community. The event will feature music, free food and tours of the building.