CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE SCHOOL

February 1, 2024 at 8:43 a.m.

Second-graders Harper Conlon (from l.) Phoebe Stafford and Molly Amell read together in a small group at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Violet Forman (c.) and her first-grade classmates work on math problems at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, the school’s patron saint, is on display with the Bible and other religious books in the first-grade class at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

First-grader Amir Ortiz prays during class at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Fifth-grade teacher Rebecca Scorzella checks in on her students while they practice a New York State exam at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

St. Madeleine Sophie School fourth-grader Georgette Galarneau-Braungard wears a big red bow with her school’s name on it. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Pre-K students practice reciting a prayer at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

The fourth-grade class works on math at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Kennedy Conlon (r.) works on a math problem with her fourth-grade class at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Isabelle Rice (c.) holds onto a colorful tower made of interlocking plastic tiles as her classmates add to it in their Pre-K class at St. Madeleine Sophie School. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

On the website of St. Madeleine Sophie School, their motto states to “Be Humble, Be Simple and Bring Joy to Others.” And that is what the school that is located on Carman Road in Schenectady has been doing for nearly 65 years.

The school, which is made up of pre-kindergarten students through Grade 5, is first and foremost rooted in faith as their mission statement reads:

“St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School is a parish elementary school that provides an environment in which parents and teachers collaborate in giving youth a complete Catholic education. We follow the teachings of Jesus Christ by fulfilling our Christian obligations toward family, Church and society. We provide a quality learning community comprised of pre-kindergarten through grade five students. Our school is rooted in faith. We work to provide academic excellence by recognizing, respecting and nurturing the unique gifts of our students, enabling them to reach their full potential.”

The Thursday before Catholic Schools Week, photographer Cindy Schultz spent a day at the school to bring Evangelist readers this photo essay.