Catholic School Profile
Spotlight shines on St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral School
By Scott Alessi
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — After nearly 80 years, St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral School remains at the forefront of Catholic education through the desire of its faculty, staff and students to continue learning.
The school, which has been named the 2007 Spotlight on Catholic Education winner, has achieved a level of excellence in education through the collaborative efforts of its administrators, teachers and parents. They have worked together to develop new ideas for improving the school and offering the best possible education to its students.
“St. Francis Cathedral School has a long history of providing its students with academic excellence,” said Msgr. John B. Szymanski, vicar general for planning, in a letter announcing that the school would be honored with a Spotlight on Education Dinner. Msgr. Szymanski credited the school for its innovation in academics and incorporation of new technology, as well as its ability to provide children with a strong spiritual formation.
The school’s devotion to continued learning can be traced to principal Barbara Stevens, who inspires her teaching staff to further their own education at every opportunity. Teachers frequently attend workshops and seminars to discover new methods of educating students and bring those ideas back to the school, where they in turn teach other faculty members.
“We have a great variety of experience among staff members,” Stevens said. “Veteran teachers share their experience with newer teachers, and new teachers bring new ideas to share with our veteran teachers. We really complement each other well.”
“I think it is admirable how willing our teachers are to learn new techniques and procedures,” added Sister of Christian Charity Maria Electa Schulz, the school’s vice-principal.
Stevens stated that the faculty is also committed to exposing all students to the same curriculum while remaining sensitive to the fact that students enter a class at different skill levels. They attempt to maintain high standards by challenging students to reach their potential while giving special attention to those who need additional help.
“The teacher has to be aware of the needs of the children,” said Stevens. “We have the ability to reach out to the children where they are and to really challenge them at whatever level they are at.”
Geraldine Gillett, who teaches middle-school level mathematics, explained that teachers at the school must adapt to the needs of every group of students they encounter. “If I came in as a teacher each year and just did things exactly the same way, I wouldn’t be a good teacher,” said Gillett. “You need to modify, to make allowances and to see what fits in a particular setting. I think that’s something we all try to do.”
Gillett is one of many teachers at the school who believe strongly in the advantages of students helping one another. She encourages students to work in groups and to solve problems together, both to help one another and to enrich their own learning experience.
“The teachers encourage the students to help each other,” said Sister Maria. “It’s teaching them how to give and share what they have with others.” Through helping one another in different subject areas, added Stevens, the students are able to learn that they each have individual unique talents.
The school also remains committed to meeting the ever-changing needs of the students and parents. In particular, the school strives to stay ahead of the curve in terms of technology by upgrading their facilities and expanding their curriculum. Through increased fundraising and donations, the school was able to perform numerous renovations in the 2005-06 school year including the building of a state-of-the-art science lab.
“I don’t think there’s a school in the diocese that has a science lab that can equal theirs,” said Donna Kanowitz, assistant superintendent of schools. “They are very cutting-edge in terms of technology.”
Stevens explained that the growing interest in technology in society led the school to make a number of upgrades during the five years that she has been principal, such as expanding the school library and purchasing new computers. “In order to be an outstanding school, you need to recognize the needs of the community,” Stevens said.
A growing enrollment at the school has also provided increased revenue from tuition, while parish contributions to the school have decreased over the past three years. A number of parents donate their time and efforts through the HSA, which uses fundraisers such as the “Tricky Tray” program to augment the school’s income.
Stevens stated that the school spends its money very wisely with a long-term vision in mind. “Things are really done as an investment,” said Stevens. They attempt to maintain a clean, safe environment that offers the best resources available for learning not only today, but for many years to come. “We make very good use of any money that’s allotted to us,” Stevens said.
The school has also invested in its kindergarten and pre-K programs as a means of attracting new students. Stevens explained that some parents will choose their school because they offer full-day programs for both pre-K and kindergarten, while the local public schools only offer half-day kindergarten classes. “I’ve heard parents say they came because of the full-time program, and once they were in, there was no leaving,” Stevens said. “You just become part of the community.”
While surrounded with many outstanding academic programs and facilities, the school’s strong Catholic identity remains at the heart of its success. Stevens credits the leadership of Msgr. Richard A. Behl, rector of St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, as well as the presence of three religious sisters on staff, as key aspects in maintaining a faith-filled atmosphere.
The religious formation of students begins at an early age, with pre-school and kindergarten classes exposed to Catholic values. “Because we are a Catholic school, we’re able to incorporate so many things into our program that other schools are unable to do,” said pre-K teacher Laura Flammia. “No matter what you teach, you can incorporate the Catholic faith and values into it.”
To maintain their level of excellence, the faculty and staff of the school are not afraid to critique their own performance. Each year, they pinpoint areas to focus on improving throughout the school both in the coming school year and beyond. Stevens said that they will continue to work together to identify new goals and to formulate plans to achieve them. “We have to stay abreast of new ideas and current research, and be committed to learning about it and putting it into action,” she said.
The school’s success will be celebrated at the Spotlight on Education dinner April 17 at the Double Tree Hotel, Somerset. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund scholarship and tuition programs both at St. Francis and throughout the diocese. One of the school’s eighth grade students will also be awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
About the School
Founded: 1928
Enrollment: 428
Average class size: 22 students
Catholic students: 90 percent
Parish membership: 79 percent St. Francis Cathedral, 11 percent other Catholic parishes, 10 percent non-Catholic
Students who attend Catholic high schools: 95 percent
Religious on staff: 3
Lay teachers: 27
Average years of teaching experience: 7
Tuition: Parishioners of St. Francis $3,280 first child, $2,460 second child, $1,640 third child, $820 fourth child; Non-parishioners $4,090
Funding: 64 percent tuition funded, 14 percent fundraising, 13 percent
parish funded, 9 percent donations and other income
Meet the Principal
Grammar School: Our Lady of Angels, Brooklyn, N.Y.
High School: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, NY
College/Graduate School: Brooklyn College
Family: Two children; Andrew, 18, and Kristin, 16
Parish: Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Middlesex
Hero: Her mother, Catherine Smith
Favorite Saint: St. Theresa
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Book: The Color of Water by James McBride
Favorite hobbies: Cooking, bicycling
Why she became an educator: “I felt that I had a gift in this area, that I could reach certain children that perhaps other people could not. I just felt that I could make an impact and help children learn, whatever their needs might be.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law