Exciting News and Updates from PERCES
Welcome to Pittsburgh East Regional Catholic Elementary Schools, where we provide a superior school experience for all students in preK-8th grade through faith, service, and academics. Our mission is to empower confident, compassionate, virtuous, well-rounded individuals who make a positive impact in our communities and in the Church.
A Message from Our
Regional Superintendent

Happy Easter! The glory of the resurrection of our Lord cannot be contained to just one day on the Church’s calendar! The Church celebrates Easter for 50 days! We are an Easter people! Alleluia!


This year’s Easter Break was extended to allow our teachers and administrators to attend the 2024 National Catholic Education Association Convention (NCEA), held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. This event is held annually the
week following Easter and brings together Catholic Educators from around the nation and world. The convention was last held in Pittsburgh in 2014.


Teachers and administrators had the opportunity to join at the table of the Lord with their colleagues each day. Bishop David Zubik was the principal celebrant for both the opening and closing Masses of the convention. Bishop William Walterscheid celebrated Mass on Wednesday. Priests from around our Diocese concelebrated the Masses with local Deacons assisting at the altar.


Each day was filled with opportunities to grow in our ministry and profession. World class speakers hosted breakout sessions daily, with a wide range of topics. Educators could choose from the topics that most interested them during each session. Keynote speakers included noted Catholic Speaker, Singer and Storyteller Steve Angrisano as well as a panel discussion around the power of Faith Formation in our schools. Three Diocesan high school students participated in the panel.

 

Between sessions, teachers had the opportunity to browse the exhibit hall, spend time before the Blessed Sacrament in prayer and connect with colleagues from across the region, the Diocese and the nation! It truly was a wonderful week!


Our students have now returned to the classroom for the final stretch of the 2023-2024 school year! A highlight of Spring is the celebration of First Eucharist and Confirmation in our parishes. Please keep all our young people in prayer as they prepare for this milestone on their faith journey! April and May will also bring us musicals, field trips, academic competitions and many other activities! We are looking forward to a great end to the year!


May God Bless and Protect you always.



 

  

 

Jonathan Cuniak,

 

Regional Superintendent for PERCES
A Look into the 2024 NCEA Convention
NCEA 2024 took place April 2-4, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. It is one of the largest private-education conventions in the country and this year was held in partnership with the Diocese of Pittsburgh. 
 
NCEA brings together Catholic educators from across the nation to share ideas and explore cutting-edge research and educational technologies. 
Principal Nikole Laubham (Divine Mercy Academy) and Principal Jeanie Werner (Saint Therese) enjoying the NCEA conference together!
Mr. Cassidy, teacher at Sacred Heart Elementary, shared his amazing musical talents at the NCEA conference. 
Mary of Nazareth teachers at the NCEA Convention
Sacred Heart teachers are ready at the NCEA Conference!
Divine Mercy Academy students' artwork displayed proudly at NCEA Conference.
Know a family who might be interested in Catholic education? Tell them about PERCES! 
St. Bede Students Learn about
Palm Sunday
In STREAM, first grade learned about Palm Sunday and made HANDmade Palm Fronds. They had so much fun with this activity!
Sacred Heart 8th Graders Plant Trees Around the Neighborhood
There are now beautiful new trees planted on Emerson and Alder Streets by Sacred Heart hard-working 8th grade students. Even after they graduate this year, they will be able to come back and visit and see this wonderful addition they made to our community. Thank you to Tree Pittsburgh for providing this opportunity to students. Even on this chilly, rainy day, students had fun and learned so much. 
Holy Family Students Perform
Passion Play
This Passion Play has little dialogue. It's a play done with Christian songs like "Mary, Did You Know?" and "At The Cross" and "King of Kings" depicting Jesus' last days.  Each significant detail of His last days is depicted by the students singing these very moving songs. There is a daytime "dress rehearsal" for students and an evening performance.  
Mary of Nazareth Students Pie the Principal
Mary of Nazareth third graders had the opportunity to "Pie the Principal" since their class collected the most donations during "Coin Wars." Mr. Quattrone was a great sport!
Divine Mercy Academy Students Enjoy Fellowship at Sedar Meal
Some DMA students (past and present) had the pleasure of attending a beautiful evening at Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish’s Seder Meal. It was an incredible opportunity for them to participate in this meaningful event, deepening their understanding of the significance of the Passover and fostering connections with our faith community. The joy and reverence experienced during the Seder and Mass, followed by the warmth of fellowship during the potluck dinner, truly exemplified the spirit of community and unity that we cherish at DMA.
St. Therese School Cheerleaders are back to back Diocesan Cheerleading Champions!
 The Diocesan Cheerleading Competition was held on Saturday, March 23 at Steel Valley High School.  All 4 of the St. Therese cheerleading squads earned first place trophies: Junior Varsity Non-mount, Junior Varsity Mount and the Varsity Mount squads.  Thank you to their coaches: St. Therese teacher, Nicole Mance, St. Therese alumni Courtney Ross, Jaqueline Logan, Paige Rock, and Danielle Hahn. Great job to all involved!
Coming up Soon... 
Have questions? Reach out to us at speckm@perces.org or call (412) 643-4640

201 Penn Center Boulevard Suite 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15235

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