April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
Mainstay of Catholic High is moving on
After serving in leadership at the school since 1980, first as principal and later as president, Sister Carolyn is moving on.
A graduate of CCHS, Sister Carolyn also taught math at the school during the 1960-61 school year. She has also taught at Sacred Heart School in Troy, and has served in leadership positions at Catholic schools in Syracuse and Utica, as well as regional superior for the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet.
Special time
Sister Carolyn called the school's commencement one of her favorite times of year. The graduation, steeped in tradition, includes the senior girls wearing white gowns and the boys wearing tuxedos."It's rewarding every year seeing the students walk across the stage," she said.
For her, CCHS will always be a special place. "I've loved it," she said. "It's close to my heart. It's something very special to me. It's a part of me."
Changes
Over the years, the school has seen some changes. When Sister Carolyn first arrived, the school had a dress code rather than a uniform. "It was very difficult to enforce," she said. "It was subjective."After consulting with parents and the faculty, she instituted a uniform. During the past 20 years, it has changed slightly to reflect the changes in fashion.
Another change are the pressures students confront. "The issues facing teens are different," she said. "They're living in a difficult time."
Sister Carolyn said that Catholic schools, like CCHS, can give teens the tools they need to handle those pressures. "Catholic school gives them an edge," she said. "It helps them in making moral decisions."
Support
Another change that Sister Carolyn has witnessed is fund-raising. When she graduated in 1952, she said, "I don't remember having fund-raising drives."As president, however, Sister Carolyn has been responsible for the major fund-raising efforts for the school. For example, she oversaw the $3 million capital campaign that provided the funds to renovate the school and build a second gym.
But while things have changed at CCHS, the school is steeped in tradition. May crowning, retreats and the graduation ceremony are something all graduates of CCHS have experienced, she said.
Sister Carolyn said she will miss the people of the school most. "There is a family spirit," she said.
(Sister Carolyn will not move immediately on to a new position. During the upcoming year, she will be on sabbatical, have time for spiritual renewal and will volunteer. During the following year, she will look for a new job, possibly, she said, teaching math.)
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