|
Bishop Kearney to Welcome 7th and 8th Grade Students in September
Expansion Meets Needs of Students Displaced by Diocesan School Closings
Irondequoit, January 18, 2008 - In response to a difficult time for Catholic education in our community, Bishop Kearney High School | A Golisano Education Partner today unveiled a comprehensive plan that will expand the college preparatory institution to include junior high school students—seventh and eighth graders—in the fall. Kearney is currently open to students in grades 9-12, and while it is a Catholic school, it operates independently of the Diocese of Rochester.
During a news conference this afternoon, Bishop Kearney President/CEO Donna Dedee outlined the plan and how Trustees and her administration have communicated to Bishop Matthew Clark their desire to work closely with the Diocese of Rochester to ensure that families who want a Catholic education continue to be served from the middle school right through high school.
"Continuity is key. We know that the changes in the Catholic schools in Monroe County have left some uncertainty for families, but we're hoping that our expansion can help alleviate some of the concerns they may have about their options," said Dedee. "We're grateful that we've made significant enhancements to our programs ahead of time so that we could be prepared to offer these options to junior high students."
With the start of the 2008/09 school year, seventh and eighth grade students will immediately be integrated into Bishop Kearney's highly successful program, including enhanced curriculum and state-of-the-art technology that resulted in record enrollment at the high school in September.
"All of the innovations in our programs, including the curriculum and technology, will now carry into the seventh and eighth grades, as well," Dedee said. "And what an advantage we'll be giving our seventh through twelfth graders now as we prepare them for the real world, equipped not only with 21st century skills, but the values that are so very important to our institution."
The Junior High School at Bishop Kearney will provide brand new interactive classrooms, which mirror the technology that has been implemented in the high school since Kearney's unique partnership with Paychex founder B. Thomas Golisano. The junior high will be located in the south wing of the building on the Kings Highway campus, and there is ample space for an expanding student population.
Every new classroom will contain interactive white boards with access to the latest teaching tools, software and the Internet. Laptop computers will also be made available to students, preparing the junior high school students for an easy transition into the high school, where every student is given a laptop computer, which is used extensively for education in the classroom and beyond.
Bishop Kearney will also be hiring the most qualified junior high school faculty—with a focus on entrepreneurial teachers— who will adapt well to an innovative educational environment that is designed to equip students with real life, 21st century skills.
While the exact number and make-up of athletic teams has not yet been determined, it is anticipated that students will be able to choose from an array of junior high level sports at the modified level, with the opportunity for qualified students to compete at the Junior Varsity level for Kearney. Extracurricular activities, including participation in clubs and organizations similar to those offered at the high school, will also be options for seventh and eighth grade students.
"It's very important to us that our new seventh and eighth graders will be immediately welcomed and integrated into what we call the Kearney Family," said Thomas O'Neil, Chairman of the Bishop Kearney Board of Trustees. "Because we will be one institution, the spirit of that family will permeate the entire student body, grades seven through twelve, and the Trustees are very happy about the expansion."
Due in large part to Kearney's innovative college preparatory curriculum, recent technology enhancements and its longstanding commitment to a values-based education, the high school has experienced a significant increase in enrollment over the course of the last several years. Students from other Catholic and private schools have accounted for the majority of this increase, but the administration has begun to recognize another important factor in these numbers, which it also believes could have an immediate effect on enrollment at the new junior high school:
"While we're reaching out to those who are currently looking for a viable option from Catholic schools, we also are seeing an upsurge in the number of students who are coming to us from public schools," said Dedee. "And we're fully expecting that more and more public school students and their parents will see us as a very viable and worthwhile option in the future, in large part not only due to the program and technology, but also due to the values, school culture and environment."
Since the decision to open a junior high school was made on Wednesday, tuition has not yet been set for the seventh and eighth grades at Kearney. However, the Board of Trustees indicates that it will be extremely competitive and affordable for the market, and will be lower than the Bishop Kearney High School tuition of $6,900. A final decision is expected early next week.
A junior high school entrance exam will not be given for the 2008/09 school year. Instead, academic and disciplinary records will be evaluated and contacts will be made with each prospective student's current guidance counselors or school administrators. If necessary, personal interviews will be conducted with students and their parents.
An open house for prospective junior high school students and their parents has been scheduled at Bishop Kearney from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31. Those interested in the high school grades are also welcome to attend.
Kearney will then host a registration night for incoming seventh and eighth grade students on Tuesday, February 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at which members of the administration, faculty and parents of current students will be available to answer questions. All prospective students are being encouraged to register soon, as it is anticipated demand will be high given the number of students searching for a junior high option.
At all times, parents and students are welcome to contact the director of student affairs, Anita Nagel, to set up a tour or interview. She can be reached at 342-4000 x 246 or at anagel@bkhs.org.
|