Innovation honored at Saratoga Central

Saratoga Central Catholic School (SCCS) was one of 25 Catholic schools nationwide to receive recognition recently for innovation.

The junior-senior high school was named one of the 25 most innovative Catholic schools in the nation by Today's Catholic Teacher magazine and the Peter Li Education Group.

According to Mary Noschang, editor of Today's Catholic Teacher, the school was one of 200 to be nominated for the award. Nominations were reader-generated; winners were selected by a committee from the National Catholic Education Association's (NCEA) headquarters in Washington, DC.

"This recognition by your peers and colleagues in education is certainly the most meaningful kind," Ms. Noschang said of the school.

The school was selected for this honor based on four programs the judging committee found innovative. These programs are InterDisciplinary Educational Advanced Studies (IDEAS), Faith-In- Action, Students Against Violent Environments (SAVE), and Giving Day.

"This recognition comes as a result of the emphasis Saratoga Central Catholic places on the classroom, the world and faith as inseparable opportunities for the holistic growth of its students," said principal Edwin Hammond.

As part of the award, the school will be featured in a special issue of Today's Catholic Teacher scheduled to be published in April, Ms. Noschang said.

The school will receive the award at a dinner during the NCEA Convention in Minneapolis in April. Rev. Anthony Maione, campus minister, will accept the award on behalf of the school. Faith-In-Action, SAVE, and Giving Day are facilitated by Father Maione.

Mr. Hammond explained that the IDEAS seminar, initiated by Dr. Angelo Giugliano, a teacher at SCCS, is a non-traditional learning environment designed to build and enhance students' critical and creative thinking skills. Speaking, writing, working with others, problem solving, and achieving dynamic movement between theory and practice are also emphasized.

Patterned after college honors programs, IDEAS "encourages students to become more aware that knowledge and ways of knowing one's world are naturally and necessarily interdisciplinary," the principal said.

Faith-In-Action is the community service component of the religion curriculum. The program provides high school seniors the opportunity to do community service two to three days a week instead of a traditional religion class. Students work in food kitchens, pantries, special education programs, Catholic elementary schools, nursing homes, health care facilities, and preschool and day care programs.

They also participate in weekly reflection groups that link faith and service. This program is unique in that it utilizes parent volunteers, Mr. Hammond said.

SAVE is a peer-led violence prevention program developed by high school students for use in the elementary schools. High school students act as facilitators as younger students discuss violence, conflict, feelings, conflict resolution and anger management.

Giving Day is an annual school event in which the whole school community reaches out in service. Held the day before Christmas break, students, faculty, administrators, staff, parents and alumni visit nursing homes, bring Communion to hospital and nursing home patients, work in Catholic elementary schools and host parties for special education classes and an intergenerational brunch which brings together senior citizens and special-needs children, as well as a variety of other service projects.

The day, according to the principal, is designed to thank the community for supporting the school.

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