Students at St. Francis Prep ushered in the new school year Wednesday morning, celebrating their first day of the academic year after a long summer.

St. Francis Prep, located at 61-00 Francis Lewis Blvd. in Fresh Meadows , is the largest non-diocesan Catholic high school in the United States and welcomed back its 2,500-strong student body on Sept. 3.

Principal Patrick McLaughlin said he is excited for the new school year, stating that back-to-school season is particularly exciting for freshman who are embarking on their journey at St. Francis Prep.

“It’s a new beginning for everybody,” McLaughlin said. “It (back-to-school) gives us a chance to start from the very beginning talking about two things – how they’re going to be successful in high school and also how we try to get through

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