Schenectady schools unite for better education

Board members, faculty and staff from St. Luke's, St. John the Evangelist and St. Helen's schools in Schenectady met last week for the first time since they became a regional school last year.

Since the closure of two other schools -- St. Anthony's and St. Paul's -- the schools have operated as one regional "system within a system," according to Terri McGraw, principal at St. Luke's, where the meeting was held.

The gathering served as a chance to open up lines of communication among administration, faculty, parents and students.

Getting acquainted

"We're coming together as a group. We want to welcome teachers and faculty back for a new school year, and introduce ourselves -- basically [say], 'Let's work together, and let's have a great year together,'" said Jane Canale, who serves on the regional school board.

"We're feeling our way at this point," said Sister Anne Marie Glenn, PVBM, principal of St. Helen's. "Parents are anxious to have a better idea of how it's going to operate."

Said Mrs. McGraw, "We're one in thinking, with three campuses. The regional board will take our goals and objectives, and start implementing them in a more cohesive way."

Coming together

The meeting was the first joint event in a growing calendar of collaborative fund-raisers, projects and curriculum moves that the three schools will be participating in.

Some of the collaborations being discussed include fundraisers, professional development for faculty, educational programs and even a band formed by all three schools.

"Down the line, we would love to have a regional band," said Marie Keenan, principal of St. John the Evangelist. "Right now, we have band lessons among all different teachers, but we would like that to be a regional effort."

Priority: Education

"Last year, people were very apprehensive about this, especially after closing two schools," said Mrs. Keenan. But, once they experience "the uniqueness, personality and spirit of our school, they are very happy with what's happening here. The excellence of education is a priority with us."

In her first year as principal of St. Luke's, Mrs. McGraw is excited about the possibilities that she sees the regional board offering.

"People walk around St. Luke's and say that this is the best kept secret in Schenectady," she said. "Well, we can't keep it a secret anymore."

(All three schools are in the second year of a three-year strategic plan to increase enrollment and funding. The board will assist with those efforts while maintaining the individual characteristics of each school. The meeting included the launch of the 21st Century Writing Excellence program in the schools, a professional development program that focuses on increasing students' energy and aptitude in writing. The three faculties viewed preliminary videos together through St. Luke School's teleconferencing system.)

(10/13/05) [[In-content Ad]]