WELCOME, BROTHER DAVID, TO CAPE GIRARDEAU

~Correction: The principal's full name is BROTHER DAVID ANTHONY MIGLIORINO.

Notre Dame Regional High School and the community welcome a new principal. Brother David Anthony comes to Cape Girardeau from St. John the Baptist School in St. Louis.

His presence underscores the importance of religion to the school. Brother David belongs to the Franciscan order and wears the traditional robes of a friar.

He doesn't mind answering students' questions about his robes or his order. It gets the students talking about religion and creates a religious presence on campus.

He replaces Sister Mary Ann Fischer, who retired last year. She had led the high school since 1988.

He plans to keep a very visible presence at the school, where he will be visiting classrooms and hanging out in hallways. He wants to be the kind of principal to know every student's name, not just when teen-agers get in trouble.

That's certainly a refreshing approach at the secondary level that should work well in helping him learn both the high school and the community.

Brother David feels strongly that if there was ever a need for parochial schools, it is now. Parents seem to agree. Notre Dame continues to flourish in its expanded quarters. About 30 new students were added to the rolls this year, bringing the enrollment to more than 400.

We welcome Brother David to town and wish him well in his new position and for the continued success of Notre Dame.