Cardinal O’Hara High School has opened its doors to the students and staff of Our Lady of Angels Regional Catholic School, which experienced a devastating fire in July, writes Vinny Vella for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Staff from both schools had worked tirelessly over the summer to make the transition as seamless as possible for the 320 students from the school in Morton to the high school in Springfield.

Thankfully, having 14 grades under one roof is not a strain for Cardinal O’Hara. The school was built to handle 4,000 students, and the current student body is just 870. The staff’s efforts have been helped by parents who have organized into volunteer groups.

“We’re a family, all of us,” said Angela Merkle, whose son Luca is in fifth grade.

Volunteers have been organizing fundraisers and bringing donations including books, school supplies, and even old lesson plans.

Susan Lowe, who was just a week into her tenure as principal of Our Lady of Angels when the fire happened, has been heartened by the support.

“To see them step up reminds me why I chose this profession,” she said.

Read more about the two Catholic schools uniting in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.