In anticipation of Catholic Schools Week 2013, we proudly present The Tablet’s annual Catholic Schools Week special pullout section. Click the links below for a message from the Superintendent for Catholic Schools, 2012 student test scores, a principal formation program and information on individual schools.

Superintendent’s Message 2013: Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens Are Raising the Standards

2012 NYS ELA and Math Test Results: Catholic Students Meet and Exceed State ELA and Math Standards

Foundations for Future Principals: St. Frances Cabrini Institute~Aspiring Principals Discernment Program

Catholic Schools Week Poll Results: What Do You Love About Your Catholic School?

Catholic School Still Pays Off Dividends

Elementary Schools/Academies:

Holy Angels Catholic Academy, Bay Ridge: A Forerunner in Catholic Education

St. Francis of Assisi, Astoria: Success For All

Our Lady of Fatima, Jackson Heights: A Jewel of a School

St. Ephrem, Dyker Heights: Providing Educational Excellence in a Catholic Atmosphere

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Forest Hills: Providing Skills for Long-Term Success

St. Bernard: Teaching with Love in Mill Basin

Holy Child Academy, L.I.: Three Schools in One

St. Francis Xavier: Servant Hearts Grow in Park Slope

St. Andrew Avellino: A Home Away from Home in Flushing

Most Precious Blood, Astoria: Every Child Is Special

Immaculate Conception, Astoria: Where Students Love Learning

Queen of the Rosary Catholic Academy: Growth and Success in Williamsburg

St. Joan of Arc: Fostering a Community of Learners in Jackson Heights

St. Bernadette: Marking 60 Years of Excellence in Dyker Heights

Our Lady of Mercy: A Hope-Filled School in Forest Hills

Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Finding God in All Things in S. Ozone Park

Immaculate Conception School, Jamaica: Preparing Students for a Changing World

Salve Regina Catholic Academy, E. New York: Largest School in the Diocese

St. Joseph Catholic Academy: A Nurturing Community in Long Island City

St. Mark School: Experience the Difference in Sheepshead Bay

St. Gregory the Great: Teaching Christian Living in Bellerose

St. Mel School: Flushing’s Hidden Gem

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy, Flatbush: Fostering a Peaceful World

St. Anselm, Bay Ridge: Embracing the Mission of Stewardship

High Schools:

The Mary Louis Academy: Preparing Young Women for College and Beyond

Fontbonne Hall Academy: Cherishing Our History As We Build the Future

 St. John’s Prep, Astoria: Education For the Whole Person

St. Francis Prep: A Wide Array of Possibilities in Fresh Meadows

Xavier H.S., Manhattan: Forming Men of Conscience

La Salle Academy, Manhattan: A Valuable Investment

Colleges:

Dominican College: Small Classes, Student Focused, Strong Academics

Thirty Degree Programs
At the Open House, prospective students can learn about Dominican’s 30 degree programs, academic and athletic scholarships, the Honors Program, campus activities and residence life.
There will be opportunities to meet admissions and financial aid counselors. Athletics coaches will also be available to meet potential students. Important information concerning the admissions and financial aid process will be available at the Open House. There will also be opportunities to discuss your potential options.
Reservations can be made online at www.dc.edu/openhouse; or by e-mailing www.admissions@dc.edu. For more information and directions, call 1-845-359-7800.
Dominican also has a number of specific programs that are custom-designed for working adults. The ACCEL program (for ACCELerated Evening Program) offers courses in the evenings, in eight-week modules over the course of the school year.
For those juggling work, family and other responsibilities, Dominican offers the flexibility and support to realize goals. There are master’s degree programs in nursing, physical therapy, business, occupational therapy, teacher education and teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired.
Plus, this year Dominican has introduced two new programs in education: a master’s of science in adolescence education and a master’s of science in adolescence education and students with disabilities.
Online business and liberal arts courses can help develop the knowledge and skills most important for future success. This fall, courses will be available in accounting, business law, introduction to literary form and introduction to statistics.

TMLA religion teacher, Sister Marie Mackey, C.S.J., speaks to students.

Preparing Young Women for College and Beyond

A Forerunner in Catholic Education

Our philosophy is simple: We are a place where inquisitive minds grow and faith is nurtured. The children will learn to grow spiritually and intellectually.
Our program follows New York State and Diocese of Brooklyn guidelines. Our students learn the core curriculum, including religion, math, social studies, language arts and science. Students are also educated in foreign language and computer technology. Students’ creativity will be unleashed and inspired through an appreciation of the arts, music and dance. Students are also fortunate enough to enjoy after-school clubs, such as dance and sign language at no additional charge to parents.
We believe in providing our administrators, teachers and students with the tools they need to strive for excellence. Our professional staff of educators has a combined experience of over 200 years of teaching and is constantly keeping up with the latest trends in education through professional development opportunities.

We are the future of Catholic school education and pride ourselves on being the forerunner in our area. With a strong board of directors and parent association, we have made significant changes in the last three years. In 2009, we added a full-day nursery program and early childhood motor skills center. We now boast a brand new technology center. With 20 new computers in the lab and SMART Boards in every classrooms (kindergarten through grade eight), we provide state-of-the-art technology. We have begun to upgrade to iPads and embraced changes that will help make our students successful.

A Jewel of a School

Our Lady of Fatima School in Jackson Heights has been educating students since 1949.
Presently, there are 677 students in attendance in nursery through grade eight. The teachers and staff are highly qualified, experienced and caring individuals who devote many extra hours to providing a quality Catholic education to the students and to supporting parents who are the primary educators of their children.

Seventh graders dissect earthworms in the Science Lab.

The school has an extremely strong Catholic identity as well as a rigorous academic program and provides challenging Honors classes for high-scoring children in fifth through eighth grades and Regents classes for above-level eighth graders.
Students who need extra help are serviced in our after-school Resource Room (for students with IEPs), by Title I Math and Reading teachers, and in classes provided by the school staff.
Art, music, physical education, computer literacy, library science and Spanish are taught weekly in fifth through eighth grades. All students are required to read a monthly book and to take a test on the assigned book. SMART Boards are used in all classes, the computer lab and in the library, which is fully automated and can be accessed at home by students and parents.

Among the activities students enjoy are school book fairs.

The after-school program is available each day, including all half days, from dismissal until 6 p.m.
Students are invited to join the school band, choir, actor’s guild, art, chess and yearbook clubs. Both parents and students can access homework assignments and upcoming projects and events on teachers’ Wikispaces.

Last fall, students participated in a Hurricane Sandy relief effort as part of their community service.

Christian Service 
The school boasts two full-size playgrounds used daily by students.  Upper-grade students are required to take part in Christian Service projects, and all students are encouraged to take part in yearly service activities to help the poor.
Educational field trips are planned for all classes each trimester. Progress reports are distributed three times yearly, and report cards are provided to parents at the end of each trimester.
The affordable monthly tuition is the only fee for the students’ education. There is no fundraising at the school. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.
Each year at Our Lady of Fatima, there is also a summer school program during July, as well as a summer fun and learning center, which is open daily from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. from June to August.
Visit the school…you will be glad you did!

Providing Educational Excellence in a Catholic Atmosphere

Beginning on Sunday, Jan. 27, St. Ephrem School, Dyker Heights, will celebrate Catholic Schools Week by exploring the many ways this year’s theme: “Catholic Schools: Raise the Standards” applies to our educational community. 

Among the many annual events that keep the school building abuzz with activity is the school Spelling Bee. Above, this year’s proud winners.

Every year, Catholic Schools Week highlights St. Ephrem’s ties to the parish and the Dyker Heights community, as well as providing a time to bond with its own students, parents, faculty, staff and volunteers.
Since the Eucharist is at the heart of the Catholic Church, fittingly, Catholic Schools Week at St. Ephrem parish begins with the 10 a.m. Mass in church on Sunday, Jan. 27 with Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano as the celebrant. School families and students will worship with faculty and parishioners in Christian unity.
Following Mass, there will be an Open House for all interested new families. They will have an opportunity to meet and speak with the principal, Annamarie Bartone, faculty, staff, students and parents, as well as time to tour the well-maintained school facilities.  St. Ephrem School information folders will be distributed to prospective families, and they will be able to complete applications and register for the 2013-2014 school year.

Some of the best Christmas presents St. Ephrem’s Class of 2013, above, received were their school rings.

Diversified Instruction
St. Ephrem School maintains a new computer lab with an extensive software collection and two libraries – primary and elementary.  SMART Boards are utilized for diversified instruction. Our students consistently perform well on state and diocesan standardized tests. Each year, our eighth graders are the recipients of many Catholic high school scholarships.

Students enjoyed dressing up for the school Halloween party last fall.

Each day during Catholic Schools Week, the theme “Raise the Standards” will be celebrated as the entire school community appreciates the presence of the IHM Sisters, parish priests and deacons, the loyalty of our school parents, the commitment of our teachers, the munificence of our community workers and the conscientiousness of our students. Many activities are planned to respect each person connected with St. Ephrem School, past and present.
Catholic Schools Week at St. Ephrem School is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to everyone that Catholic identity is the essence of our school. It allows us time to celebrate the accomplishments of our school to all here and in our neighborhood community.

Three Schools in One

Teaching With Love

St. Bernard School, Mill Basin, seeks to provide a quality Catholic education for our children. We educate the whole child through programs forming the spiritual, intellectual, social, psychological and physical development of our students.
Through our religious education program, we strive to develop a well-rounded Catholic personality, which will be reflected by respect toward self and others as exemplified by Jesus in the Gospels.
Through our educational program, we strive to develop global citizens. We educate our students to be productive citizens, capable of contributing to the well being of mankind.
In cooperation with families, the faculty and staff work to assist the child in developing a value system by which to judge the use of knowledge and skills. The rules and disciplines that are incorporated are necessary for preservation of an atmosphere conducive to learning. In this way, students learn to be responsible and accountable.
We have been educating the children of Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, Georgetown and the surrounding communities since 1964. We offer intensive studies in all major curriculum areas: religion, ELA, math, social studies and science. We begin with the basics in the junior pre-k program and continue throughout the grades with our enriching curriculum.
All N.Y.S., N.Y.C. and Diocese of Brooklyn learning standards are followed. Our N.Y.S. and standardized test scores reflect the success of our programs. In addition to the major subject areas, all students receive weekly instruction in Spanish, art, music, technology and physical education. Students have weekly instruction in the science lab, library and technology lab. Eighth graders also have the ability to participate in Math 9 and Earth Science Regents classes.
Twenty clubs are available for participation both during the school day and after school.
Each child is treated as an individual, and all academic needs are met. Our school motto is, “We Teach With Love.” That is a promise our faculty makes to every child and every parent.

Servant Hearts Grow in Park Slope

Since 1914, St. Francis Xavier School in Park Slope has provided a faith-filled, value-centered Catholic education with high academic standards and expectations.
We are accredited by the Middle States Association and offer a five-day nursery school as well as classes for pre-k-4 through grade eight. Parents have the option of enrolling three- and four-year-olds in programs for a half-day or full-day session. Universal pre-kindergarten is also available.
The dedicated faculty and staff are committed to providing a challenging, structured, creative and caring environment where children can obtain the necessary skills for success in high school and college.
In addition to developing each student’s talents and abilities, St. Francis Xavier School encourages good study habits, leadership qualities and sound decision-making skills, along with a respect for life within a faith community and beyond. Service projects, coordinated by Student Council members, help raise community concern and awareness. The school community has collected food for the homeless to benefit CHIPS (Christian Help In Park Slope); raised funds for Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude’s Hospital and Covenant House; made donations to the Catholic Missions, flood victims in Haiti, schools in Africa and fire victims in California; and cleaned litter around the school and church buildings in honor of Earth Day.
We are proud to offer an after-school program as well as after-school clubs, including music, drama, crafts and Spanish. For sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students who excel in reading and math, we offer the Aquinas Club, an educational enrichment program.
For more information, you can visit the school during its open house on Sunday, Jan. 27, following the 12:15 p.m. Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church. Open houses are also held every Thursday, 9-10 a.m., and during Catholic Schools Week on 
Tuesday, Jan. 29, and Thursday, Jan. 31. To learn more, log onto our website at www.sfxsparkslope.org.

A Home Away From Home