South Boston, MA -- South Boston Catholic Academy, a new regional Catholic elementary school in South Boston, will welcome 362 students at the start of the new school year on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley will celebrate Mass with students, teachers, and staff on September 9, 2009 at 9:00am at St. Brigid’s Church, 845 E. Broadway, South Boston, MA.
Located at 866 E. Broadway, South Boston, the Academy will serve the needs of students, Grades PreK-8, who previously were enrolled at St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven schools.
“We are extremely pleased to open South Boston Catholic Academy,” said the Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, Pastor of St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven Parishes. “The school is being spruced up with new paint, sparkling clean floors and many enhancements to the building and programs. Most of all, we are thrilled to welcome our students, teachers and staff to what will be an enriching Catholic school experience.”
Most Reverend Robert F. Hennessey, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston for the Central Region, extended the “sincere gratitude” of Cardinal Seán to Fr. Casey, Principal Nancy D. Carr, the Catholic Schools Office for the Archdiocese and the Campaign for Catholic Schools for making South Boston Catholic Academy a reality. “In particular I want to thank Fr. Casey for his strong desire and commitment to save and strengthen Catholic education in South Boston,” said Bishop Hennessey. “He exemplifies the grace, love and compassion Christ calls all of us to live by and we are blessed by his commitment to serve the families of the parishes of St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven.”
Mrs. Carr noted that “a wonderful faculty” has been established for the new Academy. “The teachers and school staff are busy preparing the school and classrooms for the children’s arrival on opening day,” she said. “We expect the school year to be an exciting and enriching learning experience for our students.” Mrs. Carr also pointed out that the current enrollment of 362 students has exceeded the school’s initial target for year one and has room to grow in future years. For those still wishing to register their child, please contact the Academy at 617-268-2326. (A new website is being constructed and will be available at http://www.sbcatholicacademy.org when completed.)
“The great generosity of the Campaign for Catholic Schools is enabling the Academy to plan for a school that is both academically strong and physically attractive,” said Fr. Casey.
The Campaign for Catholic Schools, is raising funds for the following upgrades at the Academy: a new Math Curriculum for the school with all new books, Spanish offered to students in Grades 1 through 8, along with other specials such as Music, Gym, Art, Computer Science, and Library Studies, new interactive smart boards in all Grade 4 through 8 classrooms, new white marker boards in Preschool through Grade 3 classrooms, and a new security system. As well, new lockers are being installed on the top floor for middle school students.
South Boston Catholic Academy has also been chosen to receive a grant for the Literacy Collaborative sponsored by Lesley University in Cambridge – thanks to a gift from private donors. This program is designed for the early grades and helps ensure literacy achievement for every child. In addition the Academy has been chosen to participate in the Facing History and Ourselves program for the middle school students that helps classrooms worldwide link the past to moral choices today. An after-school program will also be available for all Academy students, as well as a sports program being organized by parents.
Dr. Mary Grassa O’Neill, Secretary for Education in the Archdiocese of Boston, said, “This is a wonderful achievement for the community of South Boston and most notably the families of the parishes of St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven. There is certainly a great deal of anticipation as the start of the school year approaches. We are committed to establishing a classroom experience in South Boston Catholic Academy where students and teachers alike thrive, and one where learning is rooted in our strong Catholic faith and grounded in sound educational goals and performance.”
Those interested in making a donation to South Boston Catholic Academy, should contact Mary Flynn Myers at the Campaign for Catholic Schools at 617-262-5600 or www.campaignforcatholicschools.org.
About the Archdiocese of Boston: The Archdiocese of Boston was founded on April 8, 1808 and was elevated to Archdiocese in 1875. Currently serving the needs of nearly 2 million Catholics, the Archdiocese of Boston is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community consisting of 292 parishes, across 144 communities, educating approximately 46,000 students in its Catholic schools and 156,000 in religious education classes each year, ministering to the needs of 200,000 individuals through its pastoral and social service outreach and in support of a health care ministry that meets the needs of some 1 million patients each year. Mass is celebrated in nearly twenty different languages each week. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholic.org.