WARWICK – Catholic schools in Warwick will be reconfigured next year when St. Kevin School is transformed into a co-educational middle school for grades 6-8 under the direction of Bishop Hendricken High School. The St. Peter and St. Rose of Lima schools will discontinue 7th and 8th grades, offering PreK-6th grades. St. Francis School will continue to offer grades PreK-8th.
The changes, which go into effect in September, 2008, is a “proactive response” to changing demographics, say priests and school officials.
Catholic Schools Superintendent Sheila Durante said Warwick grammar schools have lost more than 300 students since 2004. A focus group was formed two years ago of parents, parishioners and board members from the four grammar schools and parishes to discuss potential changes.
"The four pastors, working with Brother Leto from Bishop Hendricken, agreed they would look at this middle school model," Durante said.
Father Edward J. Wilson, pastor of SS. Rose and Clement Parish, said that this plan is "a proactive way to deal with declining numbers."
Father Roger C. Gagne, pastor of St. Peter Parish, noted, "It will provide a middle school that will offer more than we can at the parish level. The philosophy behind it is a positive win-win, rather than coming from a point of desperation."
Christian Brother Thomas R. Leto, President of Bishop Hendricken, expects to have an enrollment of between 200 and 250 students from Warwick and across the Diocese.
He expressed the hope that the new school will be a way to "strengthen Catholic education," and pledged to create “the very best middle school program that we possibly can."
Because it is solely devoted to the education of students in grades six, seven and eight, the new middle school will be able to "pool resources and make a better educational environment," said Father Wilson.
Brother Leto said that the new program, which is currently in development, will likely include courses in modern languages, the arts, and athletics that are difficult for the smaller parish schools to provide.
The new middle school will require students to take a placement exam, not an entrance exam, because the school will cater to students of all levels. Children will be placed into classes according to their learning styles and abilities, "so that we can better service the student," said Brother Leto, "and so that each student will be taught at his or her ability."
The faculty at the three elementary schools will all be interviewed for positions at the new middle school, and outside candidates will also be interviewed for the position as head of the school.
Brother Leto said he hopes the school will provide “various teaching styles so that we can connect with every student's learning style.”
Durante plans to hold a meeting at Bishop Hendricken November 15 for parents of students currently in 5th, 6th and 7th grade at St. Rose of Lima, St. Peter and St. Kevin schools to provide more details and answer questions about the program. She will also meet with parents of students in the lower grades.
St. Kevin School was chosen as the elementary school that would have the most drastic change because it had lost much of its student body in recent years and has a great deal of unused space. Father David E. Green, the pastor of St. Kevin Parish, said “Rather than turn around and say we’re closing and put a padlock on the door we, the four pastors, have come together to try and save Catholic education in our city.” the parish will no longer help with the costs of running the building, but will help students from the parish on an individual basis with tuition to the new middle school. “We’re looking at it as an opportunity,” he added.
St. Kevin school is located very near Bishop Hendricken, which will make administration of the new middle school easier. Brother Leto said he considers the new school to be a second campus of Bishop Hendricken. It will be "part and parcel of the high school," he said. And while the new middle school will be coeducational, the high school will remain all male.
Response from parents and parishioners has been positive, according to Father Gagne. "At St. Peter's, there's no opposition. Everyone seems to be very positive about what we're doing. People can understand when you do something that makes sense," he said.
"People are very excited about the program," added Brother Leto.
