By Ryan Blessing
Saint Joseph School in North Grosvenordale celebrated a "grand" day on Sunday, September 8, by commemorating National Grandparents Day and celebrating the dedication of its new Bishop Vincent Hines Learning Center.
The school celebrated all "Grandparents and Grand Friends" at its breakfast fundraiser to start the 2019-20 school year. Putnam restaurant Jessica Tuesday's and the Chrzanowski family sponsored the breakfast in memory of Ronald Chrzanowski, who passed away last year and who was the grandfather of several students.
The Spirol International Corporation, of Dayville, sponsored the new learning center through a $30,000 donation from its Spirol Charitable Foundation. The learning center, headed by learning specialist Nancy Beeman, will help students of all grades. The school is home to more than 100 students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight.
Members of the St. Joseph School community joined Principal David Sizemore and the Very Reverend David Choquette at the blessing of the 900 square-foot center. Guest speakers included Spirol Charitable Foundation board member (and SJS grandparent) James Shaw and SJS Parent School Connection chairwoman Lindsay Lehmann.
Spirol International Corporation is based in Connecticut and makes fasteners for industrial uses and provides assembly expertise throughout the world. Its foundation has given almost $1 million to local schools and students since its inception.
The new learning center is dedicated to Bishop Hines, who was instrumental in developing and enhancing Catholic education in the Diocese of Norwich. Bishop Hines led the Diocese from 1960 to 1975.