Enrollment at St. Xavier Catholic School in Junction City is still underway and numbers are up from last year with a week to go until school starts.

Shawn Augustine, St. Xavier Principal explained that the school has already enrolled over 150 students for this school year.

“Parents are continuing to come in and enroll their kids as we speak today and so those numbers could even push the 155 range and possibly even up to 160,” said Augustine.

Augustine also reported that they currently have 47 students enrolled in pre-k for either part-time or full-time. He did add that they do still have some openings available for half-day pre-k students on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and afternoons, as well as Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

When students return to school for their first full day on August 18th they may notice a few changes including new energy-efficient fluorescent lights in the gymnasium to go along with the regular upkeep and painting. Augustine did add that they are beginning to look into replacing the roof of the school, that could take place either this year or next.

There will also be seven new teachers at St. Xavier this school year, which is consistent with the number of teachers the school has to hire for each school year according to Augustine.

Last year the school underwent a massive fundraising campaign to ensure funding to keep the junior and senior high open. Augustine said that the school is pretty much set through the next three years, and they have a plan to continue to raise more.

“We have talked with our new Pastor, Father Gale Hammerschmidt, about possibly doing a phone-a-thon to work to get even more money donated through alumni, which we’ve never really tapped into our alumni resource before. I think that will help us even more to continue our tradition here at St. Xavier Catholic School.”

Last year the school hosted an alumni basketball game which did raise about $10,000 for the school.

Augustine said that he is ready to have the students and teachers back in the school and excited,”to see where this school year takes us.”