Saint George Catholic School

TODAY IS ERIE GIVES DAY!
Consider giving to Saint George Catholic School today and help us continue building a bright future for our children! Your gift helps support our classrooms, teachers, and the students we serve each day.
Every gift makes a difference and every dollar helps.
Give from the heart. Give to Saint George.
https://www.eriegives.org/organization/st-george-school-erie

Dear Erie Catholic Family,
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Lisa Norton, a beloved longtime educator and former principal of St. James School, following a courageous battle with cancer.

For more than three decades, Lisa dedicated herself to the students, families, and mission of St. James. She was a teacher, a principal, a colleague, a mentor, and a friend—and her impact reaches far beyond the walls of the classrooms and school she so faithfully served.

Lisa also holds a special place in the history of the Erie Catholic School System. She served as principal of St. James from 2016–2020 and helped lead the school during the earliest years of our system. Her commitment to Catholic education and, most importantly, to the children entrusted to her care leaves a lasting legacy within our Erie Catholic family.

For those who knew and loved Lisa, we know this loss is deeply felt. We ask our Erie Catholic community to join us in praying for her husband and family, her former colleagues and students, and the entire St. James community during this difficult time.

In our Catholic faith, we grieve with the hope of Christ and the promise of eternal life. May Lisa now rest in the loving arms of our Lord and may the countless lives she touched through her many years of service carry her memory forward.

For those wishing to honor Lisa’s memory, donations may be made to St. James School ✞ or Friends of the Erie County Library.📚🩷

"Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. And grant her peace." 🕊️

We love you Lisa.

Erie Gives Day is just ONE WEEK away! Mark your calendar!
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11th is Erie Gives Day – a wonderful opportunity to support Saint George School!
This year, you can direct your gift to the area that means the most to you:
Classroom Initiatives
Student Chapel & Faith Formation
Performing Arts
Family Assistance Fund
Cheer Program
No matter which cause you choose, your generosity helps enrich the lives of our students and strengthens the Saint George community.
Give online:
https://www.eriegives.org/organization/st-george-school-erie
Prefer to donate by phone?
Call the Erie Gives Phone Bank at (814) 454-0843 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on August 11th.
Need assistance?
We're happy to help! Stop by Saint George School anytime on August 11th, and we'll assist you with making your donation.
Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference. Thank you for supporting our students, teachers, and school community!

Celebrating Mr. Steve Spizarny's Retirement
On Friday, June 12, 2026, Saint George School said farewell to one of our most beloved educators as Mr. Steve Spizarny begins his well-deserved retirement.
For 22 years at Saint George School and 36 years in education, Mr. Spizarny has inspired generations of students through his passion for history, dedication to Catholic education, and genuine care for every child who entered his classroom. His lessons extended far beyond textbooks, helping students grow in knowledge, character, and faith.
Known for his dedication, commitment to excellence, and unwavering support of our school, Mr. Spizarny has left a lasting impact on countless students, families, and colleagues. His influence will continue to be felt for years to come through the lives he has helped shape.
Over the years, Mr. Spizarny has collected many wonderful memories at Saint George School. When asked about his most memorable event, he recalled the time Mr. Schroeck playfully hid his classroom cleaning broom and then posted random photos of it throughout the school, turning it into a mystery that brought plenty of laughs and smiles. His funniest memory came courtesy of Michael Thompson, Class of 2022, who hid a speaker in the classroom ceiling and played the Rocky theme song for an extended period of time, leaving everyone wondering where the music was coming from!
While we will miss seeing him in our hallways and classrooms, we are grateful for the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind.
Mr. Spizarny, thank you for your 36 years of service in education, your 22 years of dedication to Saint George School, and the countless ways you have made a difference in the lives of others. We wish you many blessings, happiness, good health, and new adventures in retirement.
Congratulations, Mr. Spizarny! Thank you for everything.

Last Day of the 2025-2026 School Year & "Movin' On Up!"
On Friday, June 12, 2026, we celebrated the final day of another incredible school year at Saint George School!
The day was filled with happiness, gratitude, and conversations about the many memories that filled our halls throughout the year. We gathered together one final time as a school family for our last school Mass of the year, giving thanks for the many blessings, friendships, lessons, and accomplishments that made this year so special.
We're also sharing some fun photos from our last day of school, including one of our favorite Saint George traditions—"Movin' On Up!" Each student proudly held up the number representing the grade they will enter for the 2026-2027 school year, while their teachers joined in by showing the grade they will teach in the fall. It was a wonderful reminder that our students are always growing—not only in grades, but in heart, spirit, character, knowledge, and faith.
As we close another wonderful school year, we extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to Principal Bradish, Assistant Principal Ehrenreich, our families, teachers, PTO, parent volunteers, office staff, custodial staff, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, school nurse, guidance counselor, substitute teachers, Fr. Brian, Fr. Brandon, and Fr. Phil for helping make this year such a success.
As we say goodbye to another school year, we also bid a fond farewell to two special members of our Saint George family. Today marked the final bus run for Mr. Ken as he retires after 10 years of safely transporting Saint George students and 30 years of service with the Erie School District. We are grateful for the care, kindness, and dedication he showed our students each day, whether driving to and from school, field trips, or summer program adventures. We wish him many happy and healthy years of retirement!
We also extend our heartfelt best wishes to Miss Irwin as she begins an exciting new chapter in her life. As she prepares for her upcoming marriage and continues her teaching career, we thank her for the positive impact she has made on our students and school community. She will always be a cherished part of the Saint George family, and we wish her every blessing and much happiness in the years ahead.
Congratulations to all of our students as they move on to their next grade level! We are so proud of all you have accomplished and can't wait to see the amazing things you will achieve next year.
Wishing everyone a safe, happy, relaxing, and blessed summer!

A Very Special Farewell to Mr. Ken
Tomorrow marks the final bus run for a very special member of our Saint George School family. After 10 years of safely transporting Erie Catholic students and following a 30-year career with the Erie School District, Mr. Ken is officially retiring!
For a decade, Mr. Ken has greeted our students with a smile, gotten them to and from school safely, and become a familiar and trusted part of their daily routine. Beyond his daily routes, he has also driven countless students to field trips, summer program adventures, and special events, helping create memories that will last a lifetime. Along the way, he collected many stories of his own- including his favorite funny memory of a student who tried to bring home a chair the school was throwing away by carrying it onto the bus!
Today was an emotional day as students and parents showered Mr. Ken with cards, signs, kind words, and heartfelt wishes. The love and appreciation shown to him is a reflection of the impact he has made on so many.
When asked about his time driving for Saint George School, Mr. Ken shared, “I have been blessed to transport great kids with great parents.” Those words perfectly capture the relationships he has built over the years and the gratitude he feels for our school community.
As he begins this exciting new chapter, Mr. Ken looks forward to traveling, spending more time with his grandchildren, and continuing to enjoy his other part-time job.
Mr. Ken, thank you for the miles, the memories, the kindness, and the care you've shown our students each and every day. You have been so much more than a bus driver—you have been a friend, a role model, and a valued member of our Saint George family.
We will truly miss you, but we wish you nothing but happiness, good health, and wonderful adventures ahead.
Enjoy the ride, Mr. Ken- you've earned it!

Lunch With Principal Bradish
Back in December, Danny was the lucky winner of our Christmas Store Raffle prize- a special "Lunch with Principal Bradish!"
This week, Danny finally redeemed his winning invitation and enjoyed a special one-on-one lunch with Principal Bradish in the principal's office. When it came time to choose his meal, Danny knew exactly what he wanted- his favorite Arby's Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, a side of curly fries, and a big Dr. Pepper to wash it all down!
Over lunch, Danny and Principal Bradish shared great conversation, lots of smiles, and a fun break from the school day. Danny’s cheerful personality, kind heart, and great sense of humor made him the perfect lunch guest. It was a well-deserved treat and a memorable experience for one very happy raffle winner!
Principal Bradish shared, "Congratulations, Danny, on being our Christmas Store Raffle winner! We are so glad you enjoyed your special lunch. You are a great representative of Saint George School, and thank you for the wonderful memory. As I reflect on my first year as Principal, this lunch is certainly one of the memories I'll cherish. Thank you for helping make my first year at Saint George School so memorable!"

Kindergarten's End-of-Year Field Trip!
The Kindergarten students from Saint George School had an amazing time celebrating the end of a wonderful school year with a field trip to the expERIEnce Children's Museum!
Throughout the day, students explored exciting hands-on exhibits and activities that combined learning and fun. They participated in engineering challenges, practiced counting and sorting at the Wegmans grocery store exhibit, experimented with bubbles, strengthened fine motor skills, solved problems, and discovered new ways to learn through play.
Most importantly, they worked together, shared smiles, encouraged one another, and made special memories with their friends.
We are so proud of our Kindergarten students and all they have accomplished this year.

A Special Storytime Visit!
Our 2nd grade students were delighted to welcome Cynthia Stefanik, grandmother of one of our students, Aubrey, for a very special author reading!
Mrs. Stefanik shared her adorable new children's book, Doodles Picture Day Disaster, inspired by her granddaughter. Picture day is supposed to be simple... but Doodles had other plans! The laugh-out-loud story had our students smiling, giggling, and eagerly following along from beginning to end.
To make the visit even sweeter, each child received a blue raspberry lollipop after the reading. The fun didn't stop there- students proudly showed off their bright blue tongues for a memorable class photo!
We are so grateful to Mrs. Stefanik for spending time with our students, sharing her love of storytelling, and inspiring young readers- and maybe even a few future authors! Thank you for making this a special and unforgettable day for our 2nd graders!
Doodles Picture Day Disaster is perfect for children ages 4–8, and we're excited to hear that more Doodles adventures are coming soon!

Stepping Back in Time at Drake Well Museum!
Our 4th and 5th grade students from Saint George School enjoyed an exciting educational adventure at the Drake Well Museum and Park in Titusville, PA!
Students stepped back in time as they explored Pennsylvania's rich oil industry history and discovered what daily life was like from the 1850s through the early 1900s. From learning about the world's first oil well to experiencing historical exhibits and demonstrations, the trip brought history to life in a memorable way.
Field trips like these provide wonderful opportunities for hands-on learning and help students connect classroom lessons to the world around them. We are grateful for a day filled with discovery, learning, and fun!