CBA gets bigger

By KATHLEEN LAMANNA- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Christian Brothers Academy in Albany is getting bigger. The new school year will bring the addition of fifth grade at the private Catholic middle and high school, plus a new wing with more science labs.

Roger Powers, middle school principal, told The Evangelist that the decision to add the Mary and Michael Ozimek Arts & Science Wing opened up the conversation about adding another grade, as well.

"We had always kind of thought about it," he said, noting that the administration and many parents wanted the school to align itself with the surrounding area's middle school.

After some preliminary planning, CBA officials reached out to parents, getting an overwhelmingly positive response.

"CBA has a long-standing tradition in the community," Mr. Powers said. In the past few years, "particularly in the middle school, we have had a huge increase in enrollment."

The incoming fifth-graders will be in a class of 21, which was the cap for the new grade. There's even a waiting list, something Mr. Powers is thrilled about. He noted that the target was to get 12 to 14 boys registered for fifth grade this academic year.

At 7,000 square feet, CBA's new wing will house the school's music rooms and add four classrooms for the current sixth grade and the new fifth grade. Aileen Ryan Toop, the mother of incoming fifth-grader Alex, couldn't be happier about the new grade.

"We went and visited several times," she said. "Every time, I was impressed. They all want what's best for your boys. They hold them accountable to be good young men."

Alex previously attended St. Gregory's School in Loudonville, with plans to transfer to CBA for the sixth grade. Eager to become a "brother," as CBA's students are called, he looks forward to the school's larger class sizes and extracurricular activities.

Mr. Powers noted that there are still a few kinks to work out with the expansion, such as sports schedules and accommodating more students. One change he believes will be of benefit is that the fifth and sixth grades will now have recess, a first for CBA.

The school is also replacing its track, a project to be completed by November.[[In-content Ad]]