A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon to mark the renaming of Saint Francis Xavier’s early childhood center.

The center has been renamed the Saint Francis Xavier Fox-Liles Early Childhood Center.   St. Francis principal Darren Pollard said the renaming is in honor of two former teachers.

“Our early childhood center is being renamed after Margret Fox and Mary Liles.  They were both early childhood and Kindergarten educators for many years here at St. Francis.  Margret Fox started our program 40 years ago this year and brought in 3 and 4-year-olds and Mrs. Liles taught here for about 20-years.  Both of them passed away in recent years and it was a great idea that many of our parents had to rename the center in honor of their great work,” Pollard said.

The ECC is also expanding its hours this year to 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The St. Francis Parish and School are also celebrating 125 years of existence in St. Joseph this year.