St. Rita Catholic School officially opened its brand-new playground in Alexandria this fall on the feast of the Archangels Sept. 29.
Father Christopher P. Christensen, pastor of St. Rita Church, along with past and present school officials, blessed and dedicated the new space in honor of Josephine Cunningham, the longtime admissions director who retired earlier this year.
“This space — sufficiently shaded and sufficiently open — is a big part of the day for our children at St. Rita School, providing a respite from work and study as well as a chance to be outside and play as children of God are made to do,” Father Christensen said during an outdoor celebration with the school community.
The playground, which consists of several play structures as well as a climbing turnstile, was donated by Johnny Taylor, whose daughter is an eighth grader there
Taylor, president and CEO of SHRM, an Alexandria-based international human resources organization, donated $205,000 to completely cover the cost of the new playground. The old playground was outdated and had some areas blocked off due to safety concerns.
“It’s an opportunity and a privilege to be able to share what God has shared with us,” Taylor said during the dedication.
He recalled how he and his daughter moved abruptly to the area and he struggled to find a school for her on short notice. Cunningham took the call when no one else would, Taylor said
“Thank you for being such a wonderful, wonderful place for my child. All of you parents know there is nothing more important in the world to you than making sure your children are taken care of, and loved, and educated, and provided for — and we have received it here,” he said.
Cunningham spent more than 20 years at the school as both an employee and a parent. Melissa Manaker, a former principal, spoke at length about the dedication and devotion her friend had to the school and the diocese.
“There are three things I think she can teach all of us,” Manaker said. “Magnanimity: she does everything for the Glory of God. The second part is hospitality. The Sisters of St. Joseph (who taught for decades at Saint Rita) are founded on a charism of hospitality and Josephine made sure you were known. And the last one is personal. And as Mr. Taylor said, she always took the call … she took care of you,” Manaker said. “For the diocese, she really put it out there this is what we are, and this is what we do, and she made sure every family had a home here at St. Rita.”
The students enjoyed the new playground and being treated to Kona Ice. The day coincided with the tradition of House games, a competition between the different middle school homerooms. The House of Gabriel won.
Parents expressed gratitude for the playground and for the work done by Cunningham.
“She was a warm welcome in the morning and a soothing goodbye in the afternoon,” said Elizabeth Fitton, who has four sons at the school, ranging from preschool to middle school.
“She knew everybody’s name and story,” she said. “She made you feel like you mattered, and your child mattered, and they were really well taken care of throughout the day and beyond.”
