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Students, parents learn more on St. Michael's Academy

Date: 2/17/2009

By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- Over three evenings last week, approximately 12,000 people attended the Diocese of Springfield's informational meetings concerning the shift from parish-based schools to a new academy format for Catholic education in the city.

And it wasn't just the parents of current Catholic school students who filled the auditorium at Cathedral High School.

At the Feb. 10 meeting, one of the first questions from the audience came from a father whose son wanted to move from the public schools to the new St. Michael's Academy next fall.

He wanted to know his son's chances of getting in next fall.

Mark Dupont, chief executive officer for Catholic communications for the Diocese of Springfield told Reminder Publications the education office had received several phone calls and "a handful of emails" from public school parents since the new academy format was announced on Jan. 23.

According to Catholic schools superintendent Sr. Andrea Ciszewski, FSSJ, her office has been busy fielding questions, both over the phone and at the meetings, from current Catholic school and public school parents about myriad aspects of St. Michael's. She said parents have been curious about all aspects of the new Academy, from class size to curriculum to the classroom learning environment to the level of enrichment programs.

"When the parents are questioning what the programs are, they want to know what their children will be learning," Sr. Ciszewski said. "We welcome these parents' questions."

It seems the Diocese move to create a "21st century Catholic education in Springfield," as Sr. Ciszewski described the academy concept at the Feb. 10 meeting, is drawing a lot of interest.

Some of that interest, according to Dupont, is also coming from potential sponsors and donors.

Dupont said that as enrollments at the five parish schools dwindled, the Diocese had seen some reluctance from donors to invest in programs.

He said that since the announcement of the new combined academy format, there seems to be more willingness among donors to give targeted monies to programs, even if those programs are no longer associated with a donor's parish school.

"Now that we have a structure, and the Bishop has given his blessing, we can go with a case statement to donors," Sr. Ciszewski said.

Under the new academy format, grades now housed in the city's five parish schools will be divided among three sites, with pre-kindergarten education housed in a portion of the former Cathedral High School convent on Wendall Road; kindergarten though grade five students attending school in the former Holy Cross School building on Eddywood Street; and grades six through eight attending a new middle school to be housed in the renovated science wing of Cathedral High School.

The middle school will have a separate entrance on Wendall Road, and a separate cafeteria. Students will share the high school gymnasium facilities and auditorium with the high school.

Sr. Ciszewski assured meeting attendees that all renovations to the three properties will be complete by the beginning of the school year this fall.

"What we can't do alone, we can do together," Sr. Ciszewski told the first meeting, referring to the academy concepts' plan to draw from the best parts of the programs and curriculums at the current five schools.

Under an agreement with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), St. Michael's Academy will maintain its accreditation for the 2009-2010 school year. The Academy will need to apply for reevaluation and reaccreditation for 2011.

"We know we need to do more innovation," said Sr. Ciszewski. "Education is not what it was 10 years ago, five years ago, three years ago."

In addition to the school's core mission of integrating gospel values into a strong academic education, Sr. Ciszewski told meeting attendees that the new Academy curriculum will include an increase and an integration of technology into the learning process, enhanced music, art, language, library media and physical education instruction, an increased use of science labs and a new enrichment program.

Though plans were not firm, she also said the Academy committee is formulating plans for a before and after-school program to accommodate the school's new hours.

St. Michael's Academy will be in session from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the 2009-2010 school year.

Tuition for parish-sponsored students in grades K-8 will be $2,550 for the first student, with discounts for siblings attending the Academy. Tuition for students without parish sponsorship begins at $3,150, with a similar discount plan for siblings. Tuition for preschool students ranges from $1,500 for three half-day sessions to $4,200 for five full-day sessions.

Dupont said that students attending any of the current five Catholic elementary schools will have priority placement in the new Academy, and that their tuition will be capped at $300 above the 2008-2009 parish rate, or $2,550, whichever is lower.

He encouraged parents of existing students to return admission applications by March 9. A deposit of $100 for the first student $150 for two students, $175 for three students is required to ensure placement for the 2009-2010 school year. Dupont said this deposit will be applied to the 2009-2010 tuition.

More information on the new St. Michael's Academy is available at www.diospringfield.org.