April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
St. Pius X: Big school, big heart
St. Pius X: Big school, big heart
In other classrooms, second-graders finished letters to elderly and homebound parishioners of St. Pius X Church and eighth-graders studied iPad tablet computers in a cinnamon-scented technology lab lit with snowman lamps and Halloween lights.
Eighth-graders Jaclyn Hunziker and Morgan Percy dragged their fingers across the interactive SMART Board on their classroom wall, creating an "Under the Sea" science game on animal trivia, using inspiration from the SpongeBob Square Pants cartoon TV series.
The students say the board engages them.
"It's more interactive than a computer," Jaclyn declared. "Using your fingers is a lot more fun than using the mouse."
SMART students
All classrooms in grades three through eight at St. Pius are equipped with SMART Boards; kindergarten through second-grade classrooms will acquire them by the end of this year.
"Do they need that? No. But is it a great adjunct to learning? Yes," said Theresa Galvin, a parent of three St. Pius students. She said that cutting-edge technology is just one advantage of sending her children to St. Pius, the Albany Diocese's largest school.
The pre-kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school built two computer labs in 2000. After laptops, iPads joined the collection this year to offer even more learning opportunities.
Students also benefit from almost two acres of athletic fields, three sections of each lower grade, an eclectic mix of after-school activities and a Spanish program that begins in kindergarten.
This year, St. Pius will reevaluate its pre-kindergarten program, which is currently offered in both full-day and half-day formats. The newer full-day format raised enrollment when it started; but, in Dennis Mullahy's 13 years as principal, this was the first enrollment decline he's experienced: from 714 students to 690.
The school distributed a record-setting $300,000 in financial aid this year. Tuition is $4,640, with a discount for each additional child enrolled.
History, community
St. Pius X School opened 57 years ago and gained extra space in 1994 when the parish dedicated a parish center. About 40 percent of students' families also attend St. Pius X parish.
"The sense of community in this school is overwhelming," Mr. Mullahy said. "It doesn't seem that large. I think it's exciting to have this many kids around. You probably have a few more tears than most schools, but you have a lot more laughter."
Mrs. Galvin agreed. She sends her children from Clifton Park because of St. Pius' academic reputation and because the school reinforces values she teaches at home.
Students take religion class every day, attend Mass once or twice a month and on Holy Days, participate in eucharistic adoration weekly and do service projects. Model behavior is rewarded with prizes.
"The Gospel message is everywhere," Mr. Mullahy told The Evangelist. "It's on every sign in the hallway. It's a constant message they hear."
Mrs. Galvin, who has spotted teachers folding chairs after assemblies and Mr. Mullahy picking up trash, noted: "They're proud of their school. They take ownership of it."
Mr. Mullahy said he would love to expand St. Pius. Still, he usually denies the oft-heard request to add a high school: "When they get as tall as me, they have to go."
The principal added: "There's no doubt that we are blessed to be where we are and to have what we have. If we didn't have an outstanding faculty and staff, we couldn't be where we are."[[In-content Ad]]
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