Pinecrest Academy Celebrates 10 Years

By ERIKA ANDERSON, Staff Writer

Published: September 18, 2003

CUMMING—Arlene Gannon’s favorite memory of Pinecrest Academy isn’t the dedication of new buildings or in the adding of new students.

“We were at All Saints, and the archbishop joined us for a rosary. It was the crowning of the Blessed Mother, and I just kept thinking, ‘I cannot believe, here I am, a nobody, kneeling with the great archbishop of Atlanta, honoring our mother. It was a really beautiful moment.”

On Sept. 5, Pinecrest students, faculty, parents and supporters gathered to celebrate the private Catholic school’s 10th anniversary.

Of humble beginnings, Pinecrest Academy has grown tremendously in its 10 years. Under the direction of the Legionaries of Christ, the school opened in 1993 with 29 students, holding classes in a former Fulton County elementary school in Crabapple. The school then relocated to All Saints Church in Dunwoody, where, by the beginning of its fourth year, enrollment had increased to the facility’s maximum capacity of 153 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. In August 1998, the school began its sixth year and its first on the 53-acre Cumming campus in a six-building, 16-classroom facility.

In its ninth year, Pinecrest’s student body exceeded 600 students and had outgrown the 28 classroom modular campus. The 2001-2002 school year opened with a three-story middle school building and an athletic and assembly building.

This year, the school’s 10th , opened with a third building which houses the boys middle and upper school. The school includes approximately 800 students from pre-kindergarten through ninth grades with a faculty and staff of over 115 people. The upper school will expand by a grade each year until there is a full high school in 2006.

At the anniversary celebration, the Pinecrest pride was everywhere. The event began with a morning parade. Students lined up along the Pinecrest sidewalks and cheered as the Paladin cheerleaders led the way. A float, surrounded by student “secret servicemen” wearing sunglasses and suits, held Archbishop John F. Donoghue, as well as several Legionary priests, Pinecrest president Bill Guilfoil and founding member John Gannon.

People then made their way into the gymnasium for Mass.

In his homily, the archbishop spoke of his special relationship with Pinecrest.

“Today is a very special day for several reasons. First, anytime I am able to come to visit I consider special, for I have always felt a close friendship for your school, for the Legionaries of Christ and for all your parents, who have worked so hard to make this school fine and beautiful, a place which just by itself gives much glory to God, who has given us so much to be thankful for,” he said.

He said that Pinecrest is an academy of Christ’s teaching that in life, people must deal with things that are both new and old.

“And that’s what Pinecrest Academy is all about,” he said. “Here at this school, we have something that is very new, and I am not talking about the school itself. The things we have that are very new—are you—your minds, your hearts, your souls. I don’t think the oldest student here is more than 16 or 17, and in terms of human life, that makes you new.”

“On the other hand, there are old things around here as well, and I am not talking about your teachers or parents or me, although we are all getting along,” he said, greeted by a chuckle. “I am talking about the truths that you are here to learn, especially the truth of our Catholic Faith. None of them are new. They are as old as Christ, and even older, because some of them go back to the seven days when God created the earth and when He created man.”

The archbishop concluded his homily with gratitude.

“I am always grateful for the opportunity to come here to Pinecrest Academy and I am grateful for the faculty, parents and students who have worked so hard to make this school a reality,” he said.

At the end of the Mass, Guilfoil introduced the founding families in attendance, which included his own family.

“God’s grace has been so good to this school and we are so grateful,” he said.

He also acknowledged the many faculty members who had been with the school since Pinecrest’s beginning, and told the students that they are the school’s hope.

“I don’t think the future of Pinecrest Academy is in the buildings,” he said. “The real future is you, the students, and in what you, as graduates of Pinecrest Academy, are going to go out and do in your families and society. The future of Pinecrest Academy is very bright.”

After a presentation from students about the history of Pinecrest, Doug and Brenda Tollett, some of Pinecrest’s biggest benefactors, came forward for the announcement of the boys middle school dedication. After spending time in prayer, the Tollets chose to name the building after John and Arlene Gannon.

Arlene Gannon, who was Pinecrest’s first principal and now serves as director of formation, said she was “shocked” by the announcement. Her husband, John, was equally moved.

“This is an honor we really appreciate, not only for ourselves, but for all the families and friends of Pinecrest who worked so hard for this school,” he said.

Mrs. Gannon said that in looking back on Pinecrest’s 10 years, one thing is obvious.

“It says to me that God wants it. He wants this school,” she said. “We try to cooperate with him, but this shows us his work, not our work.”

Mrs. Gannon said that she has learned about her faith and herself while serving at Pinecrest.

“I have learned what it means to serve the church. I’m doing this out of love for the church,” she said. “Pinecrest means that many families have benefited from Catholic education and hopefully they will love the church even more because of it.”