After 15 years of being a St. Rose of Lima School mom, Tuesday was the first day of the last year for Lori Lepizzera. Her son Michael is an eighth-grader and will be moving on to high school next fall.

For Lepizzera, this is a bittersweet time, although for Michael it means closing out one chapter and the prospect of opening a new and exciting one.

First days of school are like that. The focus is usually on kindergarteners who, often for the first time, realize they are separated from mom and dad and are on their own. There are tears, difficult moments when all the hugs and kisses are over. Then there’s the “good bye” and the pacifier, “You’re going to have a good time.”

And then there are the kids who mix instantly. They may find a friend, be awed by everything new, and to their parents’ chagrin seemingly become ready to leave the nest.

For Lepizzera, St. Rose has been a nest.

“It’s a little sad,” she said Tuesday morning as parents, students and faculty noisily filled the schoolyard. “I couldn’t think of a better community to be a part of.”

It hasn’t come easily for Lepizzera or Michael. For Michael, the summer has meant a lot of tutoring, “but I got it done.”

A single mother, Lepizzera said she has received a lot of financial and emotional support. She’s glad she has persevered. Her older son, Scott, is a St. Rose graduate. He went on to graduate from Hendricken and is now attending the Community College of Rhode Island with plans to transfer to the University of Rhode Island.

In those 15 years, Lepizzera has seen three school principals and three church pastors. She said the diocese has done a “fantastic job with the transitions” and with each change have come improvements.

“It has always moved forward,” she said.

Lepizzera is hardly alone in making sacrifices so as to send her children to a parochial or independent school. Enrollment at St. Rose, which includes pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, is 247, a couple down from last year. Parochial school enrollment in Warwick is steady or climbing, while public schools are experiencing a steady decline in enrollment, which for the first time in decades will drop below 9,000.

Lepizzera suggests the school community has a lot to do with it. She says when students see their parents involved, “they’re going to want to be involved.”

Kristen Meuse, president of the Parent Association, whose daughter Abby is a third-grader, is excited by the technological changes Principal Kim Izzi has introduced. She said that Accelerated Reader and STAR, two programs being used at the school, have served to engage students and parents.

“As a parent, I’m pleased that she has taken the school to that level,” Meuse said.

Izzi was faced with parents’ questions and herding the children into school. She introduced Father Matthew Glover, pastor of Saints Rose and Clement, who really needed no introduction, to the assemblage. Father Matt welcomed everyone and read a prayer. Later, he and Izzi visited classes and talked with students.

“We’re the youngest duo in the diocese,” he joked to a reporter.

Later, he and Izzi joined the eighth grade for a class picture. As the students lined up, Steve Andolfo, who retired as a Gorton Junior High teacher after 35 years of being a Warwick teacher, was asked what is the difference between the parochial and public schools. Andolfo has taught for three years at St. Rose and is the eighth-grade teacher.

“Kids are kids,” he said. “They have so much energy. If you can tap into that and get them to grab the brass ring.”

Andolfo said he loves both systems – the key is reaching the kids.

At that moment, he was reminded he best get into the picture. Andolfo didn’t hesitate.