Final school bell rings for students at Holy Family; Most kids look forward to new friends
Globe staff report
Posted May 30, 2002

SIOUX CITY - Several of the eighth-graders that graduated on May 22 from Holy Family School in Sioux City spent their first day off right back in school.

But rather than hitting the books, they were stacking them and hauling boxes as equipment and supplies were being packed up.

This year's class is the last eighth grade that will graduate from Holy Family's School. The school's Epiphany Center closed at the end of the school year.

"I am happy that we got to graduate from Holy Family. It was exciting, but also sad - knowing this is the last class," said Amanda Tastad.

She was one of about six eighth-graders that helped box supplies.

According to Principal Beth Calhoun, most of the materials will follow teachers who will work at Sacred Heart School next year. Other Catholic schools in Sioux City will use some of the items if there is a need.

"We had our usual final Mass on May 23 with our sixth- and seventh-graders," said the principal. "We also let them have a whiffle ball tournament of sorts toward the end of the day on May 24."

Many of the sixth- and seventh-grade students from Holy Family will attend Sacred Heart School next year.

For Christie Simon, seventh-grader, the closing of the center is kind of sad "because some people are going to different schools."

On the plus side, she is excited about the chance to meet new people at Sacred Heart.

Brittnay Dekker, seventh-grader, said she is sad about the closure because she has gone to the school since she was in kindergarten.

Her transition to Sacred Heart should be fairly smooth as she noted, "I know a lot of people who go there."

For sixth-grader Michael Alcaraz it was his first year at the Epiphany Center.

"I had fun here this year," he said. "I think it would be better to stay at this school because I'm used to it. But I will probably be able to meet some new people next year."

He plans to attend Sacred Heart.

Seventh-grader Alexis Wright said she didn't think the closure was fair and didn't understand why it had to happen.

"Everything is familiar here," she said. "And next year I might not be will all of my friends."

On the plus side, Wright pointed out that Sacred Heart School is actually closer to her house.

Principal Calhoun said the closing of the Epiphany Center was sad but they were all trying to focus on the positives of bringing more students together to give them better opportunities to develop socially, emotionally, behaviorally and intellectually.

"We have been through many changes over the past years and they have always made us better and stronger," she said. "We anticipate the same thing happening with this change to the Holy Family system. We look forward to further developing the middle school concept across the Catholic Schools of Sioux City."