AUBURN – Beginning today, St. Dominic Regional High School will hold a three-day celebration to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Auburn school, and the formal launching of the G. Michael Welch Tuition Assistance Program.

The program is to help families afford to send their high schoolers to St. Dom’s, and is in memory of longtime principal Michael Welch who died in September at the age of 61, following a long illness.

Annual tuition at the Catholic prep school is $6,500, $6,000 for a student who receives a parish subsidy.

The actual cost of educating each child is $10,000, said admissions director Ryan Gleason, so every St. Dom’s student is receiving a subsidy.

Now about 30 percent of the school’s 310 students receive a needs-based subsidy, Gleason said. The school wants the number of students receiving help to grow. “The need is out there,” he said. School leaders are enthused about helping more students in Welch’s name, he said.

To celebrate the new program, there’ll be a Mass at 12:45 p.m. today at the school gym. The hour-long service will be followed by a student pep rally.

On Saturday there’ll be a spaghetti supper in the school gym from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

And on Sunday there’ll be a presentation and social time from 2 to 4 p.m. in the gym. Maine’s Roman Catholic Bishop Richard Malone will attend the Sunday social, Gleason said.

The public is invited at all three day’s events.

– Bonnie Washuk

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