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Saint Adalbert School |
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St. Adalbert Catholic School, founded in 1873 by Polish immigrants in Berea, has served families in the southwest suburbs of Cleveland for nearly 125 years. Opened by lay teachers and later staffed by the Felician Sisters, St. Adalbert School's mission has been to teach the Catholic faith, to foster responsibility, discipline and cooperation and to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills as a basis for future learning. St. Adalbert School serves elementary students, grades Kindergarten through eight. The administration and faculty provide a caring, qualified, dedicated moral leadership for the children. The school's philosophy is based on the idea that the essence of a good education is to awaken in the child a thirst for learning, to stimulate and satisfy his or her intellectual curiosity and to nurture his creativity. Each child is challenged to reach his or her fullest potential in an accessible and enriched learning environment. In 1997, a preschool was added accommodating students three, four and five years of age including a Pre-Kindergarten class. An Extended Day Care Program operated by teachers and caring parishioners offers child care until 6:00 PM each evening for families needing the service. The school' s curriculum complies with the Ohio state-mandated program through the Cleveland Catholic Diocese' s Graded Course of Study. In addition to the strong academic program, the following courses are taught by specialists: art, music, computer, instrumental band, and Spanish. A librarian is available during the school day to assist students in the communications center (library and computer lab). An additional math class, algebra, is offered two days a week to an advanced group of eighth grade students. Many academic enrichment programs are offered to the students annually: a school spirit day assembly, interschool academic challenge competitions, the Global Issues seminar, the Power of the Pen, Young Authors, the science fair, computer Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl, Junior Great Books, the Plain Dealer Spelling Bee, and the National Geographic Geography Bee. Block scheduling is utilized in the language arts area throughout the school, in the content areas in the junior high and in the fine arts area to provide a prime learning experience. In 1997, the computer lab was updated with new Power Mac computers with laser printers. Each student utilizes his or her own computer in the communications center under the guidance of a computer teacher. Students needing to use computers during the day are accommodated by the computer teacher, classroom teachers or the librarian. Students in the middle grades and junior high learn keyboarding. A large variety of CD ROM is available. A Computer Camp is offered in June. All students at St. Adalbert School are tested annually in November or March. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills is administered to students grades kindergarten through seven. The Cognitive Abilities Test is given to students in grades three, five and seven. Students in grade eight take the Ohio Proficiency Test, a current requirement of the state of Ohio for receipt of the high school diploma. Auxiliary services provide speech and listening therapy, Title I remedial reading and math, and psychological services to students who qualify according to district and state guidelines. A teacher works daily with students identified as Learning Disabled. Next year an elementary education teacher will be available for tutoring students and for working with gifted students two days a week. An Intervention Assistance Team meets regularly to confer and to recommend academic modifications within the regular classroom and/or supplemental assistance to students if necessary. Individualized Education Programs and 504 programs are used in cases of students who qualify. Many opportunities exist for spiritual growth and development as students attend and participate as lectors, altar servers, etc. in a weekly all-school liturgy. The sacramental program prepares students for the receipt of First Eucharist and First Reconciliation in the second grade. The eighth grade students study, pray and perform service in preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation in March or April. Students have the opportunity to serve the local parish or to work at hunger centers or drop-in centers, such as St. Augustine Hunger Center and St. Malachi in Cleveland. Traditionally the school students participate annually in Eucharistic Devotions in November, the Christmas program, and the May Procession and Living Rosary. Students in grades four to eight serve at Mass and prayer services. A religious recognition program, the Marian program, is available to the junior high girls. The sixth grade students are participating in a pilot Student Mentoring program with the Kindergarten students directed by Psychological Services, Inc. personnel. Students partake in drug awareness and gang resistance education through their health classes. All the teachers have been trained for and teach conflict resolution to the students, focusing on various aspects of the process each month of the year. Rainbows, for children suffering the loss of a parent through divorce or death, is offered after school through the winter months. The scouting program at St. Adalbert School seeks to provide further learning, enrichment and experiential opportunities with parent involvement. The Boy/Cub scout program offers monthly activities, such as Pancake Breakfasts and camping, for an increasing number of students through grade five. The Girl Scouts boast enrollment of Daisy Scouts (kindergarten), Brownies (grades one through three), Junior Girl Scouts (grades four and five) and Cadettes (grade seven). Their activities include a Girl Scout Dance (with their fathers or grandfathers) and an annual Mass and Mother-Daughter Brunch. The students enjoy numerous school-sponsored social events such as holiday class parties and dances. Culturally, St. Adalbert values the aesthetic richness and enjoyment of an outstanding fine arts program. An art teacher, who has exhibited her own works in juried and national art shows, teaches concepts of art criticism and history through weekly projects and organizes the Annual Art Show in May. In addition to the "Best of Show" exhibit, each student enters at least one work of art that he or she has completed during the year. Many opportunities for enrichment activities in the area of drama and the fine arts. During the Christmas season, all students participate in the annual Christmas program performed for parents and parishioners. On occasion, students visit the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Palace or State Theater, the Cleveland Playhouse, and the Western Reserve Historical Society. A theatrical or ministry group often performs in school for students. St. Adalbert boasts 35 students in the instrumental band program under the direction of a certified orchestra conductor. Students perform twice yearly during the Christmas season and in the spring. The St. Adalbert Children's' Choir, open to students of all grade levels, performs weekly at the Saturday 5:30 PM Mass. Occasionally, students who are instrumentally inclined have the option to join the folk choir at the 12:00 Noon Mass on Sundays. The Student Council is organized for students grades three to eight. Officers, only seventh and eighth graders, are a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Historian. Representatives and honor delegates are chosen from grades three to eight. Their functions include organizing the annual Spirit Day, Earth Day, the American Heart Association Jump-a-Thon, and Be Kind to Animals Week. Service projects include Friendship Boxes for the needy during Lent, the Thanksgiving Food Drive and the Catholic Charities Drive. The physical education program teaches and develops basic skills needed for the myriad of sports activities popular with students today. The Boosters organization provides a well-attended intramural sports program for boys and girls in grades kindergarten through three: soccer, softball, basketball, flag football and volleyball. The CYO program offers basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and football for students grades four through eight. Many St. Adalbert teams annually win various league and tournament championships. St. Adalbert has recently become a CYO volleyball site for other parish teams. St. Adalbert School offers hot lunches in its cafeteria daily. The cafeteria setting allows students the opportunity to visit with each other and to enjoy the company of parents who volunteer for cafeteria duty. All students have approximately a 20 minute outdoor recess daily, weather permitting. Many parents believe the school' s greatest asset is the limited class size. Average class size is 25 students. Teachers can readily ascertain each student's academic progress and offers individualized instruction when necessary. They are able to communicate with parents on a regular, personal and timely basis with their concerns (or compliments)! With Baldwin-Wallace College only a block from the school, the college students majoring in education, drama or music are frequent visitors to the school. The students observe, tutor, or student teach. Sometimes the college students request our students serve as their audiences for musical or dramatic performances. Currently, Baldwin-Wallace College is providing our students with tutoring as a course requirement for education majors allowing them to hone their teaching skills. In response to Bishop Pilla's directive to be involved in Church in the City, St. Adalbert School, Berea enjoys a relationship with St. Adalbert School on E. 83rd Street in Cleveland. In April, 1997, both schools and parishes celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Adalbert. The two schools celebrated the millennia event together and have continued to spend time together in classes, liturgical celebrations, sports activities and recreation at both the suburban and urban campuses. In every classroom at St. Adalbert School, there is a plaque with a reminder of the school's mission. All of the teachers and students respect its gentle daily reminder of the significance of and the opportunity for Catholic education. The plaque reads as follows: Be it known to all who enter here That Christ is the reason for this school He is the unseen but ever-present Teacher in the classes The Model of its Faculty And the inspiration of its Students Graduates of St. Adalbert School continue their education in both public and Catholic high schools. Beyond St. Adalbert School, what the students have in common is their success stories... a high level of achievement, involvement in the school and community, and concern and compassion for others... developed and fostered at St. Adalbert School. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION 213 students in the day school, grades K - 8 with a capacity of 288 25 students per class (average) 36 students in the preschool (founded in 1997) with a capacity 66 12 students per class (average) 10 certified classroom instructors (two with Masters Degrees) 6 part-time instructors in the areas of; Fine arts, Music (instrumental), Music (band), Spanish, Computer science, and Physical education Auxiliary staff personal: Title I reading tutor Learning Disabilities tutor Speech therapist School psychologist Remedial reading tutor (98-99 year) Full-time librarian |
Content, © 1998 The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland |
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