On This Date in Nativity History

26 August 1996

On this date, 26 August 1996, Nativity School opened its doors to its first group of students. Four years earlier, the new building for the Spiritual Formation Center had opened to house the parish’s religious education program. Nativity’s pastor, Father Sal Ciullo had the building designed so it could be converted into a school, which was always his top priority. His dream became a reality in 1996.

Sister Lisa and Father Sal prepare to cut the ribbon to open the door to students for the first time.

Sister Lisa, Father Sal, and Associate Pastor, Father Christopher Mould, greet the new students on their arrival for the first day of school.

The school opened with 235 students, and a faculty and staff of fifteen. Classes were offered from kindergarten through eighth grade, with specialized classes in art, PE, and music. Father Sal invited the Felician Sisters of New Jersey to send some of their members to staff the school. Although the Felicians were limited in the number of sisters they had available, they were able to send one sister as principal, one as a teacher, and a third to serve the parish through the ministry of religious education. The new principal was Sister Lisa Marie DiSabatino, formerly principal of St. Bridget School in Glassboro, New Jersey.