Wheeling Central students begin new school year with renovated school, gymnasium

The Wheeling Central Catholic High School (CCHS) doors opened wide last week to welcome students back with much more change than usual. Not only did students receive new homeroom teachers and lockers, but they also experienced, for the first time, the school’s new look, complete with beautifully renovated hallways, new carpeting, and a new entranceway at the northwest corner of the school.

Most importantly, for the first time in the school’s history, students enjoyed air-conditioned classrooms — a much welcomed change, especially with last week’s soaring temperatures and oppressive humidity.

“The school really looks nice,” said CCHS senior Michael Duplaga on the first day of class. “And the air-conditioning is great.”

“On the first day, I was amazed about how different the school looked,” said senior Katarina Stiglich. “The lockers were the same but the ceiling and lighting changes made the school look so different.”

Thanks to financial support from the Most Rev. Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, CCHS now has the look and feel of a new facility. All three floors of the school are brighter and more pleasant for staff and students.

Extensive renovations were also completed at the gymnasium, including the installation of a new, ergonomically designed and ADA-compliant retractable bleacher system. Other changes include installation of new windows, enhancements to the gym’s entrance doors, and renovations to the women’s locker room.

Principal Joe “Doc” Viglietta says the school must continue to progress for the sake of the students. “Everything we do here is for the benefit of our kids,” said Viglietta. “We are so very grateful to Bishop Bransfield for all of his support. We had an excellent school before – but now we have an exceptional one.”

And much more change is on the way. In summer 2008, Viglietta says renovation work will begin on the school’s cafeteria – transforming it into a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose “cafetorium” that will more efficiently feed Central’s 420 students and better accommodate school meetings, Cathedral gatherings, and school theatrical productions. Individual classrooms will also be renovated over the summer months.

“We look forward to involving our Central alumni and local community members in this capital campaign so we can all be a part of this wonderful opportunity to create the very best learning environment possible for the Central students of today and those of tomorrow,” said Viglietta.

To celebrate the start of the new school year, CCHS recently held its annual blessing ceremony for all students and staff members. CCHS Chaplain Rev. Dennis Schuelkens and Rev. Christopher Turner, assistant pastor of St. Michael Parish, administered the blessings.

Wheeling Central’s foundation dates back to the mid-19th century. The CCHS of today formed through the merging of a boys’ school — originally founded as the Classical and Mercantile College in 1865 and then reorganized into the Cathedral Boys’ School and later into Central High School — and the St Joseph Academy girls’ school, which was also established in 1865. In 1960, these two schools became one at the current school site, as a co-institutional establishment. In 1970, CCHS became co-educational with boys and girls sharing classrooms.

Wheeling Central is one of seven Catholic high schools in the educational system of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.