St. Nicholas School in Passaic Celebrates 85 Years of Faith and Learning

That vision is supported by Sr. Cecilia, a Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate who teaches religion at St. Nicholas. “Our Religion curriculum aims to help foster each one’s growth in God’s tremendous love for him or for her and to be able to pass the faith on to future generations.”

St. Nicholas opened its doors and hearts to the Ukrainian immigrants that came to the U.S. in the early 1900’s to nurture the language, history and tradition, but also to provide them with an education and skills to succeed in the new world. In 2022, SNUCS doors and hearts were again opened to provide that security, peace of mind and a quality education for the Ukrainian refugees who fled their homeland as Russia waged war upon the Ukrainian people. 

However, St. Nicholas opens its doors to all races, ethnic backgrounds and believes it becomes richly tapestried as the embroidered ritual cloths adorning the icons in our churches.

According to Sister Kathleen, music has always been a vital tradition. “At one time the school boasted not only of a chorus but an orchestra as well. Our beautiful folk songs, carols, and sacred music are part of our rich, national heritage, and we have tried to preserve them for future generations”, she states.

Q: What constitutes the core of your identity as a Catholic school? 

Sister Kathleen Balancing Faith and Excellence. There is a poster that has been hanging in St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School for 30 years, as I was the one who put it there the first time I was missioned at SNUCS from 1996-2005, which I believe summarizes how we try to balance academic excellence with faith formation and values. 

It reads: 

‘Let it be known to all who enter here that Jesus Christ is the reason for this school, the unseen but ever-present Teacher in its classes, the model of its faculty, and the inspiration of its students.’ 

In addition, every Catholic school is to be founded on the following: FAITH, EXCELLENCE and SERVICE.

In the past four years, we have implemented a program entitled CHARACTER COUNTS at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School. This program is based on the 6 pillars of character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Our faculty/staff and students have ‘bought into’ these values. Visitors and professionals who come to visit note the warm family atmosphere that these values have made a difference in our students.

Q: Why Families Choose SNUCS?

Sister Kathleen.The traditional reasons of parents have been the small class sizes, discipline, faith-filled curriculum, individualized learning, family-like atmosphere. 

I would like to quote a parent who came last year because her child had been bullied in the other school, which I think is another reason families value most about sending their children to SNUCS, ‘We want to thank you for welcoming our child into your school with such care, respect and dedication. Thanks to your kindness and attention, my child has begun to smile again, something that is truly a gift to us. What your school offers is a clear reflection of God’s love providing a space where children can grow and flourish not only in knowledge, but also in joy and confidence.’

Q: Tell us about the history of the school. 

The school officially recognizes its founding as September 16, 1940. 

It is difficult to determine how many students have passed through St. Nicholas School in these 85 years as it should include not just those to graduated, but all those students who attended SNUCS for whatever number of years. If we were to say during all those 85 years there was an average of 100 students each year, we can say 8500.

At least 10 SSMI’s have served 10 or 15 years, along with lay teachers 10+ years in the 70’s-90’s. Presently on staff, there are three lay teachers who are with us 10 and 15+ years.

The 1960s were the heyday of enrolment at St. Nicholas School with the student population numbering two hundred and twenty-five in September of 1960. However, by the 1987-88 school year, the pool of children able to attend the parish parochial school had dwindled to seventy-nine, with a June graduating class of five. Still, the quality of education taught at the school by dedicated teachers was remarkable. The skills and abilities of St. Nicholas School graduates exceeded those of their public-school counterparts by leaps and bounds in the area of general studies and computer science.

During the final decade of the 20th century and the beginning decades of the 21st, school enrolment hovered around the 100 mark, some years better. Even the influx of a ‘new wave’ of immigrants has not pushed the enrolment to its former heights.

In 2022 we had 135 students as we opened our doors to those fleeing Ukraine and were averaging 95 to 100 from 2023-2025. However, several of the Refugees have chosen to move out of Passaic as their children have learned English and they were given a discount on tuition. This year, 2025-2026 we have 73 students, but believe we will increase as this has been a typical pattern in our history.

Many alumni have pursued religious vocations, including Rev. Josaphat Popovich, OSB, Rev. Augustine Molodwitz, Rev. Charles Mezzomo, Rev. George Worschak, and Rev. Steven Shafran.

Alumni Voices

Sister Anatol prepared the girls for the annual spring concert. She taught us ballet moves. We performed an entire ballet routine with costumes and flowers. Considering I wasn’t a ballerina, this was quite an experience. — Helen Maksymiuk Newmerzyckyj (Class of 1959)

My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Baker, inspired me by assigning the class to build a weather station which I did, from a milk carton. The second science project that year was creating a solar system from clay. From that day, I knew I would be a scientist. Advice: Set goals and follow your dreams. — Lydia Djatschenko Celuch (Class of 1969)

Not being born in America and coming to a school that taught Ukrainian to English translation classes, I had the support of Sr. John and Sr. Vera to get acclimated to the school, culture etc. which was invaluable! My memory of the school is one of peace, harmony, and love!’

Advice: Make friends, be kind to each other, enjoy those years tremendously because they do go so fast!!! — Theresa Ulczak (Class of 1974)

I remember feeling frightened before my 8th grade graduation. I was afraid to enter public high school because I thought I either did not learn or was not taught everything I needed to know while at SNUCS. Once I got to high school, I realised I knew so much more than the students who went through public elementary school. It was a pleasant shock to me and made me realise what a wonderful educational foundation I received by attending SNUCS. — Lecia Stec-Peltyszyn (Class of 1976)

Sister Dionisia emphasising rules of politeness. It wasn’t just «excuse me», but «excuse me, please» — Olya Zielonka Figol (Class of 1984)

Father Joe Szupa was our tour guide on our field trip to Philadelphia. He took us to all the famous sites one of which was the Philadelphia Museum of Art (the ‚The Rocky Steps‘). Afterwards he took us for the best Philly cheesesteaks in town. — Tania Zubaly (Class of 1999)

In 3rd grade Sister Kathleen blew up a ball covered with math problems. We’d throw around the ball and wherever our thumb landed is the math problem we’d have to solve. Math was never so much fun! — Nadya Leniw (Class of 2004)

One teacher who changed me was Pani Tanya Fedak. Math was never my strong suit growing up, but I feel as though she always pushed me to be a better, hard-working student in that subject. Now, with that foundation, I am a Junior Accounting Major at Ramapo College. One sentence of advice to current students would be to always make the most of their

opportunities in school, academically and socially. — Michael Mychalko (Class of 2019)

One teacher that changed me and a moment that changed me was: Mr. King and his lessons about high school. In 7th grade, Mr. King started talking about high school. I couldn’t believe that I was that old already. In two years, I would leave the school which holds all my memories, tears, and joys. I spent 10 years of my life here, and now I would leave my second home. I wouldn’t be able to see most of the people in my school again. But, life has to go on. SNUCS will always be in my heart and I’ll visit all the time. — Matviy Viznyak (Class of 2026)

By Oksana Loziak