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Catholic Central High School in Troy is more than its name implies. In addition to being a high school, the school also offers a middle school program for students in seventh and eighth grade.

CCHS serves youth from around the Albany Diocese. According to Theresa Mainello, director of admissions and public relations, CCHS has 524 students from 27 school districts.

While some Catholic schools are experiencing a decline in enrollment, Mrs. Mainello said CCHS has experienced three years of growth.

"Word is spreading that it's a good school," she said.

Principal Christopher Bott believes that families choose CCHS for "the environment and climate of the school. The kids here sincerely enjoy being here."

The school also has a low faculty turnover rate, he said: "I worked at a school in New York City where it was odd to have a year with less than five teachers retiring. Last year at CCHS, we had only three retire."

He added: "I've talked to other principals and teachers who cringe when going to work. I like going to work."

Fred Talarico, middle school dean, said the middle school is contained on one floor of the main building, so students only leave that floor "for lunch, physical education and music."

CCHS' middle school is unique in that the program is student-paced. Through differentiated instruction, each student works at his or her own speed. Students who benefit from accelerated classes are able to take higher-level courses, said Mr, Talarico; those who need extra help are provided it,

The middle school program is also cross-curricular, which means teachers present similar lessons. All teachers look for correct grammar and spelling.

Mr. Talarico said that, in addition to academics, the staff help middle school students transition from elementary school to high school. Students learn how to take responsibility for assignments and come prepared to class - even how to adjust to life with a locker.

"Kids don't come to middle school organized," he said. "We have to teach them that. We give them an area to test their wings."

When he was growing up in Massachusetts, Mr. Talarico had already heard of CCHS. A neighbor had attended the school and shared stories, even singing the alma mater.

Mr. Talarico said learning the alma mater is one of the first things students do at CCHS.

Mrs. Mainello, a CCHS alumnus, recalled spending the first morning of her freshman year learning the song. The song is still sung at every school event.

That's just one example of CCHS' being a school steeped in tradition, Mrs. Mainello said: At the high school graduation, the senior girls wear white gowns, while the boys wear black pants with white dinner jackets.

This year's commencement will be held at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. The senior prom is after graduation, and the girls wear the white dresses again.

"Only senior girls can wear white dresses to the prom," Mrs. Mainello noted.

That leads to an interesting part of Mr. Bott's job description: Each gown must get the principal's approval.

"The dress must have at least a one-inch [shoulder] strap," the principal said. "And it must be white. Not cream or ecru."

CCHS also holds true to traditions like a May crowning and the phone-a-thon, a fundraising appeal. Virginia Bariteau, director of development and alumni relations, said the school has been conducting the phone-a-thon for 32 years. Alumni spend 18 nights calling graduates to ask for donations.

The appeal brings in $250,000 a year. Tuition at CCHS is $5,044 per year for middle school and $5,876 per year for high school. (For information, see www.cchstroy.org.)

(06/10/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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