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Alexander, McArdle families have a lot to celebrate this year

CHARLOTTE — This graduation season is especially busy for two families who are celebrating three levels of graduations from Catholic schools.
The Alexander and the McArdle families each have students graduating from Charlotte Catholic High School, Holy Trinity Middle School and St. Gabriel School in Charlotte this month.

“It’s not the first time it’s happened, I’m sure. We’re probably not the only ones, but it’s unique that our families are celebrating these milestones together,” says Sally McArdle.

Their youngest children, Sean Alexander and Kate McArdle, started at St. Gabriel’s Cradle Preschool together and both are “bridging” to Holy Trinity Middle School together from St. Gabriel School.

“They’re good friends. We’ve already kind of warned the school to look out for them,” Sally McArdle jokes.

Austin Alexander and Kevin McArdle are graduating from Holy Trinity Middle School and are both headed to Charlotte Catholic High School.

Wesley Alexander and Jack McArdle graduated from Charlotte Catholic High School June 2. Wesley plans to attend Wake Forest University. Jack is headed to Virginia Tech to major in engineering.

Molly McArdle is a rising junior at Charlotte Catholic, and while she’s not graduating like her brothers and sister, she’ll receive her own celebration when she completes Charlotte Catholic High School next year.

Sally McArdle and her husband Pete are both graduates of Charlotte Catholic High School, and so too are Ralph Alexander Jr. and his wife Tanita. Ralph Alexander was inducted into Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame in 2016. Pete McArdle was part of the soccer team previously inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Giving their children a Catholic education, like they received, is important to the families.

“I came up in the MACS system,” Ralph Alexander says. “I felt it was a good system for me, so I felt it was good system for the kids. It was an easy decision for me. Our children have received a great education so far. Wesley’s done well in the system. He’s taken a lot of Honors and AP classes and has done well.”

Sally McArdle, who is also director of advancement at the high school, said it’s the sense of family and community that has been fostered through attending the high school that is also significant.

“We’re all products of Catholic education,” Sally McArdle said. “Charlotte Catholic’s sense of community is special. It’s like a family, and our family is part of the legacy.”

Having three graduation celebrations in a short amount of time means lots of dinners with family, plus cake and a party for the high school graduates. Both families say it’s a really exciting time to have the siblings achieving these milestones in life together.

“Having three kids move schools at the same time, it’s a busy time,” Ralph Alexander says. “Award ceremonies, baccalaureate Masses, middle school celebrations, graduation ceremonies, and bridging ceremony from the elementary school...
“It’s a busy time. But it’s fun to celebrate them all at once.”

— Kimberly Bender, online reporter