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Corpus Christi in Falls Church to become two parish schools

Zoey Maraist | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Corpus Christi School in Falls Church, one school with two campuses, will become St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School and St. Philip Early Childhood Education Center July 1, 2018. COURTESY

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Corpus Christi School in Falls Church will become St. Anthony of
Padua Catholic School and St. Philip Early Childhood Education Center starting July
1, 2018. Since the school’s inception in 1990, the early childhood education
center and the school for students in grades K-8 have been divided geographically
between the two parish campuses.

Now, each school will be led by its own pastor and supported by
its parish. The early childhood education center has 184 students; St. Anthony
campus has 213.

In a statement, Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said, “This
new direction will give the students and parishioners an even closer
relationship as they journey forward in faith. The Office of Catholic Schools
will continue to support both schools in their mission and especially during
this time of transition.”

“I support the direction of both St. Philip and St. Anthony in
their desire to promote Catholic education for their respective parish communities,”
said Jennifer Bigelow, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Arlington.
The decision was made after two years of discussion between the school and the
Office of Catholic Schools, she said.

“For a pastor to try and care for two campuses has been a
challenge,” said Nora Buçaj, principal of Corpus Christi. From a pastoral perspective,
it was more beneficial for each to be responsible for his own campus, she said.

For the remainder of the school year, little will change while
they prepare financially and logistically for the divide, said Buçaj. A bus
ferrying students between the two campuses will continue. The tuition rate, as
it was before, will not be based on one’s parish.

A town hall about the coming changes will be held next week for
school parents and parishioners. Buçaj broke the news to the middle schoolers and
saw the eighth graders realize they would be the last graduating class of
Corpus Christi. The seventh graders then realized they would be the first
graduating class of St. Anthony. “They ended up feeling more positive (about
the change),” she said.

“I’m excited that it will help each campus based on its own
needs, and will build upon the success that each campus has had to further grow
and extend its mission of Catholic education,” said Buçaj.

Ann Stitch, preschool director, echoed that sentiment. “We’re excited
to be just the early childhood education center going forward, being able to
focus on events for the little ones,” she said. 
“We’re giving them a firm foundation in the faith and we’re hoping they
continue to go on to the elementary campus.” 

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