For some youngsters in private schools, summer vacation ends today and classes will be in full swing at most of these schools by next week. A majority of the private schools in the South Hills are part of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, 111 Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown, which serves 117 schools, pre K-12, in six counties. Tuition varies.

Most enrollment figures here are approximate; generally, student totals will not be final until after the school year starts.

High schools:

Bishop Canevin

2700 Morange Road, Pittsburgh, 15205 (Oakwood); 412-922-7400

Web site: bishopcanevin.org

First Day: Aug. 29

Students: 525

What's new: Addition of a chemistry lab. Renovation of the library and student locker rooms. Teachers in religion and math. A technology coordinator. Expanded teaching staff in business/technology and English. The school is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Serra Catholic

200 Hershey Drive, McKeesport, PA 15132; 412-751-2020

Web site: www.serrahs.org

First Day: Aug. 21

Students: 370

New: Revised leadership structure, including a new principal and president; five teachers in mathematics, science and religion to accommodate enrollment increase of more than 25 percent in last three years. Parents now have access to student progress due to expansion of computer technology; additional technology enhancements will be instituted during the year. Educational initiatives require students to participate in projects that include collaboration with different subject teachers.

Seton-LaSalle Catholic

1000 McNeilly Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15226; 412-561-3583

Web site: www.slshs.org

First Day: Aug. 25

Students: 540

New: Technological and cosmetic renovations to the library, classrooms, band room and auditorium. An artificial turf on the athletic field. At least five teachers in math, social studies, science and religion.

Elementary schools:

Ascension

430 E. 10th Ave., Munhall, PA 15120; 412-461-5536

Web site: www.ascensionkids.org

First Day: Unavailable

Students: Unavailable; grades PreK-5.

New: Unavailable.

Bishop Leonard-St. Mary of the Mount Academy

115 Bigham St., Pittsburgh, 15211 (Mount Washington); 412-431-4645

Web site: www.blsmma.org

First Day: Aug. 21 for K-8; Aug. 25 for preschool, ages 3 and 4

Students: 160

New: One SMART board, a computerized whiteboard. Various textbooks.

Bishop McDowell Regional

3198 Schieck St., Pittsburgh, 15227 (Baldwin Borough); 412-884-5676

Web site: www.bishopmcdowellschool.org

First Day: Aug. 21 for grades 1-8; Aug. 25 for kindergarten; Sept. 2 for preschool, age 3; Sept. 3 for preschool, age 4

Students: 100

New: Social studies series for grades K-6. Science series for grades 6-8.

Holy Child

220 Station St., Bridgeville, PA 15017; 412-221-4720

Web site: www.holychildparish.org

First Day: Aug. 21 for grades 1-8, Aug. 27 for kindergarten, Sept. 2 for preschool

Students: 160

New: Spanish textbooks for grades 7-8. Renovated cafeteria floor. Addition of interactive textbooks in core subjects for upper grade levels. Piloting of the Super Kids reading program in grade 1.

Jubilee Christian

255 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, 15216 (Mt. Lebanon); 412-561-5917

Web site: jubileechristianschool.org

First Day: Sept. 2

Students: 90, grades K-6

New: Computer systems placed in all classrooms. A lunch schedule that allows for smaller groups. Addition of innovative field trip choices. An art teacher will be hired after the start of school.

Mt. Lebanon Montessori

550 Sleepy Hollow Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228; 412-563-2858

Web site: www.mtlebanonmontessori.org

First Day: Aug. 25 for grades 1-6. Sept. 3 for everyone else.

Students: 175, 2-year-olds to grade 6;

New: Classroom materials for math and language. Improved individualized education. More teachers, resulting in a lower student-to-teacher ratio. A more targeted focus on love of learning by introducing additional educational materials.

Our Lady of Grace

1734 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, 15243 (Scott); 412-279-6611

Web site: www.olgscott.org

First Day: Aug. 25 for K-8 Sept. 8 for preschool

Students: 320 pupils

New:Computer network throughout the building. Thirty-five computers were added to computer labs. There are four new faculty members in language arts, math and social studies. The intermediate school department was restructured. A preschool expansion includes one added classroom, one added teacher and extra classes.

St. Agnes

653 St. Agnes Lane, West Mifflin, PA 15122; 412-466-6238

Web site: www.stagneswm.com

First Day: Aug. 21 for K-8; Sept. 2 for preschool, age 3 Sept. 3 for preschool, age 4

Students: 129

New: Replacement of roof and fire alarm system. Landscaping at the school's front entrance, which includes a reading and herb garden with picnic benches. The herb garden is open to neighbors. Language arts curriculum for grades 7-8. Two added SMART boards.

St. Angela Merici

1640 Fawcett Ave., White Oak, PA 15131; 412-672-2360

Web site: www.stangelamericischool.org

First Day: Aug. 21 for K-8; Aug. 25 for preschool, age 4; Aug. 26 for preschool, age 3

Students: 243

New: Added kindergarten room, one kindergarten teacher, and one computer teacher. All classrooms, including special ed, have flat-screen TVs. Installed a broadcast system so students can create there own educational videos, movies and other broadcasts. The school will initiate differentiated instruction, in which students will be taught at their individual level.

St. Bernard

401 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, 15216 (Mt. Lebanon); 412-341-5444

Web site: www.stbschool.com

Classes start: Aug. 21 for grades 2-8; Aug. 22 for grade 1; Aug. 26 for kindergarten; Aug. 29 for nursery school, age 4; Sept. 2 for nursery school, age 3

Students: 400

New: Desks and tile floor for the junior high. Math series. Added an extended day program, after school until 6 p.m. for grades K-8.

St. Elizabeth

1 Grove Place, Pittsburgh, 15236 (Pleasant Hills); 412-881-2958

Web site: www.steliz.com

First Day: Aug. 25 for grades 1-8; Aug. 27 for kindergarten; Aug. 28 for preschool, age 3; Aug. 29 for preschool, age 4.

Students: 400

New: Added French for grades 6-8. Adopted a new Scott-Forseman Math series in grades K-5. Cafeteria has a bright, new look. The school has begun work on a teaching science lab and looks forward to its grand opening during Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 25. It will be used primarily by middle school students to prepare them for high school science.

St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin

5200 Greenridge Drive, Pittsburgh, 15236 (Whitehall); 412-882-3353

Web site: www.ces-msa.org

First Day: Aug. 21 for grades 1-8; Aug. 25 for kindergarten.

Students: 388

New: Treasures reading series by McGraw-Hill for grades 1-2. One computer teacher. Grades 7-8 will have a second computer class weekly. On Sept. 14, approximately 200 students will sing the national anthem at the Pirates game at PNC Park.

St. Joan of Arc

6470 Library Road, South Park, PA 15129; 412-833-2433

Web site: www.mystjoan.org

First Day: Aug. 25 for grades K-8; Sept. 2 for preschool, age 3; Sept. 3 for preschool, age 4.

Students: 170

New: Harcourt's Storytown reading series for grades K-5. Relocated kindergarten classroom to be closer to preschool. Two teachers: preschool and grades 5-8 social studies.

St. Joseph Regional

1125 Romine Ave., McKeesport, PA 15133 (Port Vue); 412-678-0659;

Web Site: www.stjoesregional.com

First Day: Aug. 25 for grades K-8; Sept. 2 for preschool, age 3; Sept. 3 for preschool age, 4.

Students: 200

New: The school will welcome an estimated 23 new students from the former St. Michael School in Elizabeth Borough, which closed last year. Three SMART boards to be used in all classrooms.

St. Katharine Drexel

7001 Baptist Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102; 412-833-0223

Web site: www.stkatharinedrexelschool.org

First Day: Aug. 25

Students: 127 in pre-K-8

New: The school, formed by the June merger of St. Germaine and Nativity schools, is located at the St. Germaine facility. Preschool is offered at the two parish sites: Nativity, 5811 Curry Road, South Park, 412-653-1500; and St. Germaine, 7001 Baptist Road. Also: Remodeled school offices and music classroom. Addition of a second SMART board. Literature textbooks for grades 7 and 8. All other textbooks were upgraded. This first year will have a strong focus on meeting individual student needs.

St. Louise de Marillac

310 McMurray Road, Pittsburgh, 15241 (Upper St. Clair); 412-835-0600

Web site: www.stlouiseschoolpa.org

First Day: Aug. 21 for grades 1-8; Aug. 25 for kindergarten, with modified sessions

Students: 455

New: Complete library renovation. Librarian. Grade 7-8 math. Harcourt math series for grades 4-6. Full implementation of the Accelerated Reader program introduced last spring;.

St. Margaret of Scotland

915 Alice St., Pittsburgh, 15229 (Green Tree); 412-922-4765

Web site: www.stmargschool.com

First Day: Aug. 25 for grades 1-8; Sept. 2 for kindergarten and preschool, age 3; Sept. 3 for preschool, age 4

Students: 310

New: Social studies series by Houghton Mifflin for grades K-5. Preschool classroom has been moved down the hall, with the same teacher, because a second grade 2 classroom was added. Two new teachers. Desks in grades 2 and 8 were replaced. Brand new uniforms for cross country boys and girls.

St. Sylvester

3754 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, 15227 (Brentwood); 412-882-9900

Web site: www.saintsylvesterschool.org

First day: Aug. 21 for K-8; Sept. 2 for preschool, age 3 morning and afternoon classes, and preschool age 4 full-day class; Sept 3, for preschool age 4 morning and afternoon classes.

Students: 285

New: Music teacher for grades K-8. Grade 7-8 faculty has been expanded to provide music, physical education, health and computer classes for seventh- and eighth-graders who will attend these classes at the school for the first time. Previously, students traveled to Brentwood High School for the courses. Computerized report cards for kindergarten. Spanish curriculum for grades 6-8.

St. Therese

3 St. Therese Court, Munhall, PA 15120; 412-462-8163

Web site: www.sttheresemunhall.org

First Day: Aug. 21 for grades K-8; Aug. 25 for preschool, age 4; Sept. 2 for preschool, age 3

Students: 275

New: Math series for grades K-5; Simple Solution English books for grades K-8.

SS. Simon and Jude

1625 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh, 15220 (Scott); 412-563-1353, option 4

Web site: www.school.ssjpitt.org

First Day: Aug. 25 for grades 1-8; Aug. 27 for kindergarten; Sept. 2 for preschool, age 3; Sept. 3 for preschool, age 4

Students: 145

New: An instrumental music teacher. Art text books and prints for art appreciation. Music program for elementary students. The school is celebrating its 50th year of Catholic education.

Wilson Christian Academy

1900 Clairton Road, West Mifflin, PA 15122; 412-466-1919

Web site: www.wilson.cc

First Day: Aug. 26 for K-12; Aug. 29 for kindergarten readiness, age 4

Students: 280

New: Will implement a high school student council and an elementary National Honor Society. Fun Nights throughout the year for all grades, to teach students how to work together. Added teaching staff, and one new SMART board.