O'Connell H.S. Breaks Ground for New Academic Center

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/21/02)

Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School Principal Alward Burch led groundbreaking ceremonies for the Arlington school’s new Albrittain Academic Support Center last Friday.

Burch publicly recognized the $1 million gift of Sydney and Gloria Albrittain, parents of six O’Connell graduates, to the school’s Jubilee Fundraising Campaign, "The Bridge to Continued Excellence." The Albrittain family was represented by Michael Albrittain, a 1980 O’Connell graduate.

The O’Connell Chorus opened the groundbreaking ceremony with "America the Beautiful." Class representatives formed a semicircle to observe the ceremony.

Diocesan Chancellor Father Robert Rippy relayed Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde’s greetings and blessings in his introductory remarks. A Gospel reading by O’Connell Chaplain Father Michael Taylor was followed by petitions read by senior class president Molly Bernhart.

On hand to wield gold-colored shovels to break ground for the new center were Father Rippy, Father Taylor, Burch, Monsignor James McMurtrie, diocesan episcopal vicar for parish development and chairman of the O’Connell Board of Governors, Sister Regina Joseph, assistant principal for academics, Dr. Timothy McNiff, diocesan superintendent of schools, Bernhart and Albrittain. Members of the school’s capital campaign committee and Board of Governors were also in attendance.

The ceremony concluded with the singing of O’Connell’s school song, with appropriate words for the day, "Through all the years to come, lighting our way, O’Connell High traditions with us will stay."

The Albrittain Academic Support Center, which should be completed by July, will include classrooms, a library annex and needed resource areas for students and faculty.

The Albrittains’ donation "started the ball rolling" said Ginny Finley, O’Connell’s capital campaign administrator. The diocese matched the gift with $1 million and O’Connell received an additional $950,000 from parish assessments. According to Finley, "$8 million has been pledged or raised" toward the campaign’s $10 million goal and overall challenge of $15 million.

The campaign goal is to ensure the school meets the needs of future generations of O’Connell students. In addition to the academic support center, plans include a new fine arts center, new student activities facilities, telecommunications and physical plant upgrades, a student financial assistance fund and a faculty professional development fund. It is hoped that all construction will be completed in time for the celebration of O’Connell’s 50th anniversary in 2007. 

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