The 2025-26 Academic Year Holds Promise and Hope
Donahue Academy opened its doors to about 600 students on August 11. A successful Back to School Day event, on Friday, August 8, set a tone of promise and hope for returning and new families and employees. Students visited their classrooms, met their teachers and classmates, and dropped off their supplies. Parents returned to campus later that evening to enjoy fellowship and hear announcements from administrators.
In his opening presentation, Dr. Marc Snyder, Principal, not only covered the school’s divinely inspired vision, mission, and identity, but also celebrated the launch “of a school within a school,” with the new modular unit’s inauguration. Mr. Wil Hampton, Director of Advancement, also built on the themes of promise and hope by launching this year’s Donahue Fund campaign, which will help the school close the financial gap for the just-completed modulars.“Last year about 30% of the Donahue Families contributed to the fund; we would like to increase that participation,’’ Mr. Hampton said. He then asked every family to consider a donation of $1,500 this year. “If Donahue families and friends could do that, we would reach our Donahue Fund goal and be able to begin work on the next phases of development,” he concluded.
On the first day of school, Monday, August 11, Fr. David Vidal greeted students as they arrived. Mrs. Vanessa Ramirez, (a new) Grade 2 Teacher, shared the sense of promise and hope for the school year when she said: “My first day was filled with joy, jitters, and blessings. From morning prayer to meeting my students, I felt God’s presence guiding each moment. I’m also grateful for the chance to be part of my students’ faith formation toward First Communion this year.” The students also expressed enthusiasm. “I think I’ll like the Logic Stage; it is like a totally new dimension,” said Gabriel Labonte, now in Grade 6. Returning students were gleeful to reunite with old friends and make new ones. In Grade 5, Anna Singla, Catalina Caton, and Phoebe Watts were delighted to discover that they were not only in the same classroom once again, but also sitting together. In Kindergarten, Tessa Watts was happy to discover she will be sharing the learning table with Emma Uhlmann, an old friend from town and new Donahue student as well as other new students.
The days’ blessings were sealed by Fr. Vidal and Fr. Mark Rukpaul who visited and blessed each of the classrooms for the new school year.
