September 23, 2023

By Keith Benman
Contributing Writer

Trinity Catholic School in Massena has a new principal, but she’s not new to the school or Catholic education in the diocese.

Hired in June, new principal Marianne Jadlos has been a teacher at Trinity Catholic for the past four years. Before coming to the Massena elementary school, she was principal for four years at Holy Family, in Malone, and for five years at St. Mary’s, in Canton.

“I’m a passionate Catholic school advocate,” she said on a recent afternoon at Trinity Catholic. “Children need to learn about God. And parents need schools that will help their children learn about God and the Catholic Church.”

Jadlos is taking on the principal’s job at Trinity Catholic following the retirement of Joyce Giroux, who was principal for five years.

Trinity Catholic School enrolls 106 students in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade. It is one of seven diocesan Catholic elementary schools in the diocese and one of only two in St. Lawrence County.

Strengthening academics and getting the word out about the school’s mission and offerings are Jadlos’ top goals.

“I would like to highlight the school so people realize what a treasure it is here in Massena,” she said. “I would like people to get excited about the Catholic faith and that starts with the kids.”

This year, Trinity Catholic will be celebrating its 40th anniversary as Trinity Catholic. The school was formed in 1983 out of the consolidation of other Catholic schools. There will be a birthday bash October 15th, which will include a Mass at Sacred Heart Church celebrated by Bishop Terry LaValley and a barbecue afterwards. Former faculty and students are being invited. That will include sisters and priests who taught there.

Other events like the annual “Day of Giving” in November and the annual Gala in the spring will also continue. Those two events are key fundraisers for the school.

The biggest challenge for the school remains enrollment, Jadlos said.

“Enrollment is a necessity,” she said. “We need children in the school, and we need Catholic parents to put their children in the school.”

Having said that, she notes some non-Catholic parents enroll their children in the school and they are always welcome.

Tuition often seems like a barrier for many parents, but Jadlos points out the diocese and other groups administer scholarships which can defray the cost.

Basically, Jadlos says she just wants more people to experience the religious education she and her family have enjoyed.

Jadlos went to first through 12th grades in Catholic schools in the Rochester area. Her husband, Greg, went to St. Mary’s school in Potsdam. Two of her children graduated from St. Mary’s Potsdam and the other two from St. Mary’s Canton.

Her firm belief in Catholic education stems from her own days as a student, particularly in high school.

“I loved those high school years,” she said. “I liked the small classes. I liked the teachers. I liked the going to Mass. I told my parents I was very grateful they sent me to Catholic schools.”