Lakeview's St. Patrick Academy to open in fall

On May 8, 2023, the Lake County Examiner published the following interview, answering some key questions regarding the opening of St. Patrick Academy.

Starting in the fall, Lakeview parents will have a new school option for their children — St. Patrick Academy. The Academy’s organizers recently took some time to answer questions about how it got started, its curriculum, and more.

1. Who has been involved in starting St. Patrick Academy?

The planning process started in June of 2022 with Mark Louie, Emma Villagrana, and Andrea Otley as the current directors. As part of this process, we have sought much input, including a tour of St. Peter’s Catholic School in Ontario and guidance and advice from their priest, who has 20+ years in private Catholic education, and their principal and teachers. The St. Patrick Parish staff, including Father Thomas Phillip and parish council members, have also played a role in being able to move forward with the school. In addition, we have tremendous support from the Baker Diocese, including Bishop Liam Cary and Superintendent of Catholic Schools Jim Golden.

2. What was the motivation behind the decision to start it?

Our motivation is to fill a need in Lake County by providing an opportunity for faith-based quality education. A faith-centered school needs to be included in Lakeview, and the State of Oregon cannot provide it through the current public school system. We will be offering a customizable, flexible, faith-based education that is wholesome and promotes Christian values.

3. Will classes be held in person, online, or both?

St. Patrick Academy will be located at the Parish Hall in Lakeview. Hiring high-quality teachers who share the values of our school is of the utmost importance. Students will learn in the traditional sense for grades k-5 with an in-person teacher and aides. Grades 6-12 will be a blended model of in-person instruction combined with an online component. We are also looking to work with the Lake County School District to offer electives for our 7-12th grades to keep a connection and our students engaged with the district and to allow a more well-rounded education given all the electives offered by District 7. In addition, the students will still be able to participate in sports at the high school.

4. How will St. Patrick Academy differ from other local school options and what can you share about the curriculum?

First and foremost, St. Patrick’s will focus on traditional Catholic education’s academic excellence. At its core will be Christian morals with classical academic teaching. We will adhere to the highest level of academic excellence. We can be flexible with students’ schedules to meet their individual needs for their families and academics. We will promote an atmosphere of respect, integrity, and service that will complement our self-paced learning model. Our curriculum is a Catholic classical customizable program that has been around for over 40 years. Student records, academic advisors, testing services, college planning, and more will be with Kolbe Academy, facilitated through St. Patrick Academy. Kolbe offers a very in-depth elementary curriculum and a wide selection of advanced courses, including honors and AP courses for the high school portion. Kolbe’s curriculum is accredited through Cognia (commonly recognized among public schools) and the national catholic school accreditation. Both accreditations are recognized by the university system and NCAA eligible.

5. Who will teach at St. Patrick’s?

St. Patrick’s is currently hiring teachers and support staff who are passionate, talented, qualified, and caring. The quality staff and volunteers are a significant part of what will make this school successful.

6. What ages is it open to and how many spots are available?

K-12. We are capping our enrollment numbers at 30-40 kids for our first year. Our focus is on quality of education, and small class sizes will be a focal point to allow more teacher-to-student interaction. Preliminary interest in St. Patrick’s shows that there are a lot of families who want this option available to them. We hope to grow in the coming years and make this school a long-standing option for the community.

7. How can interested families enroll their children?

Please send an email inquiry to: stpatrickacademy.k12@gmail.com. Interested families will receive an invitation to upcoming parent meetings and an online application form.

8. Is there anything else you’d like the public to know about St. Patrick’s Academy?

We’re excited, and we’re grateful. This opportunity is a blessing for our community. Our school is here to be another option for families wanting to integrate the Christian faith into their education. The academy’s purpose is not to compete for students or be a drop-off for disgruntled parents, but to complement the community. We want to work with the public school district to enhance our program with electives, and to support the local district in providing the best education for students and their families. It is where to go if you are as excited about what our program can offer your student and family. We encourage anyone with questions to contact us through the above email.

FROM: https://www.lakecountyexam.com/news/lakeviews-st-patrick-academy-to-open-in-fall/article_dc1b77ae-edc3-11ed-ac99-976ce2dba880.html