I've had a homecoming of sorts this month. As you're probably aware, Tyburn Academy has moved to the former St. Mary's School, where my children attended elementary school. Although I didn't really remember which room had been which back in the early '80s, my children sure did.

“You're in Sister Dolores' room,” said Meghan, when she saw my desk. It's good to be back there, in what many have referred to as “a real school.”

While we certainly were a real school at the old campus, it is a welcomed change to have so much space, although we've all agreed that we might be getting a little more exercise running through the much longer halls.

The school was opened in 1961 with kindergarten through eighth grade, under the guidance of St. Mary's pastor Monsignor James Cuffney. I've heard from many neighbors in the Clymer Street area, who are happy to have the school fully occupied again.

The staff and students' families spent most of the summer moving. Many of our students took advantage of the amount of work to be done, digging into the move to get their required community service hours out of the way before school started. Parents, volunteers and board members pitched in, carrying, painting and repairing. No one really counted the boxes of books, but I'm sure there had to be several hundred.

As always, the Tyburn community is busy. Our soccer season is in full swing, with both the boys' and girls' teams participating in Section III meets under the direction of coaches Andy Collier and John Latanyshyn. After the success of last year's pep rally, another is planned for Oct. 15, before the final meet.

After losing a large class of musical talent at last year's graduation, music teachers Dave Correll and Larry Dapolito are working to build up the choral and instrumental program again. Our principal, Jeanne Hogan, finally has an office all her own. Biology instructor Janet Cuthbert and chemistry teacher Frank Antonacci are thrilled with the larger science lab, in the former school kitchen. Guidance Counselor Jackie Komanecky is happy to have room to display all the handbooks and posters for the juniors and seniors starting to make their college plans. Our librarian, Geri Pelc, has almost single-handedly tackled those boxes of books, and most are now in place on the shelves.

New to the curriculum this year are classes in current events and culture, and Father Munjalu from St. Mary's is putting his newly-acquired degree from Le Moyne College to good use as our economics instructor.

Thanks to the efforts of Tyburn friends Mary Ann Turek and Yolanda Malandruccolo, we were able to celebrate Mass in the new chapel shortly after the first week of school. Stained glass windows, made for the old chapel by the Rev. Innocent Kurkowski, have been installed in the chapel, along with the Stations of the Cross. A dedication of the chapel was celebrated Monday, Oct. 1, with the Rev. Frank Lioi officiating. The chapel has its own confessional now - I'm sure the priests are happy that they no longer have to hear confessions in the nurse's office!

This year's senior class includes exchange students from three continents. Cecilia Jimenez is from Mexico. Marcos Ferreira is from Brazil, and Jeong Seop Park, or Austin, as he prefers to be called, is from South Korea. Cecilia, who lives with me, left a large family at home and is adjusting to a more or less quiet house, while both boys have moved in with big families and are adapting to having four younger siblings. All three have been quickly welcomed into the student body and are beginning to settle into speaking English full-time.

Not content to just count the miles accumulated on the move from Wallace Avenue to the south side, travel plans abound. Some of the seniors are already racking up frequent flier miles, exploring college possibilities. The class held two car washes this summer, getting ahead on fundraising for their senior trip at the end of the year. Thirty-two students and their chaperones will visit New York City for three days later this month, seeing a Broadway show and whatever else we can cram into 53 hours. Plans are also under way for a trip to Paris and Lourdes over spring break.

Tyburn is always happy to welcome the involvement of the community. All are welcome to attend the pep rally, after school Monday, Oct. 15. You're cordially invited to our ziti dinner Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Knights of Columbus on Market Street. The athletic community will welcome Syracuse University Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim to help them honor Gino Alberici at the annual Knights of Columbus Sports Banquet Thursday, Oct. 18, at Sacred Heart Parish Hall.

And the event everyone's been asking about, our Fall Open House, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28.

The public is invited to tour the school and join us for cider, doughnuts and coffee.

Barbara Murphy is the school nurse and does publicity for Tyburn Academy.