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New School System to Serve Pre-K - 12th Grades
AQ and Nazareth Schools Announce Partnership
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Opening a new chapter for Catholic Education in Rochester, The Aquinas Institute and The Nazareth Schools are partnering to create a co-educational Catholic school system that seamlessly serves grades Pre-K through 12. Beginning in September 2010, the well-respected Nazareth Hall Elementary School program, grades pre-K through grade 6 will be located at the Nazareth Academy campus on Lake Avenue. Grades 7 through 12 will be stay at the Aquinas Institute campus on Dewey Avenue.
"This partnership provides the only complete Catholic education for grades Pre-K through 12 in Rochester," Aquinas President Michael R. Daley '79, said. "This also builds on recent expansions and investments Aquinas has made to improve and expand outstanding opportunities for our students."
Since 2003, Aquinas benefactors have supported over $25 million in Aquinas' Dewey Avenue campus. With an outstanding fine arts center, some of the finest athletic facilities in Monroe County and, most recently, the addition of the Mary P. Hastings and Ann K. Wegman Library, and renovation of the Thomas F. Bell '57 auditorium, Aquinas provides its students with a quality, co-ed, college prep education.
Nazareth Schools' benefactors and donors have invested over $1.5 million in significant infrastructure updates to the Lake Avenue campus including state-of-the-art labs for the arts and sciences, an auditorium, and a dance studio for Nazareth's nationally acclaimed competitive dance program. They have also contributed to a healthy endowment fund, providing scholarship aid to hundreds of young women.
This partnership creates a school system that is solid throughout. Aquinas' ninth grade enrollment has increased the last two years, with another expected increase in 2010. The new Aquinas Junior High School, which opened in September 2008, has exceeded enrollment expectations in its first two years. Nazareth Hall Elementary enrollment saw an increase in 2008 and is also looking forward to new registrations for September 2010.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph are excited about the expanded opportunities for its students and its educational ministry. "We believe that through this partnership with Aquinas Institute, we can develop the best of both our programs and we can serve as a model for our community in terms of Pre-K through 12 Catholic Education," said Sister Mary Louise Mitchell, SSJ President. "The advantage for our students is the combined strength of these two institutions."
Both schools bring several shared values to the new school system including a religious grounding in the Roman Catholic faith tradition as taught and supported by the Congregation of Saint Basil and the Sisters of Saint Joseph. As private Catholic schools, The Aquinas Institute and The Nazareth Schools, this partnership is an historic juncture. Aquinas has served the city of Rochester since 1902, and Nazareth since1871.
The collaboration also marks a full circle for the Sisters of Saint Joseph. When Aquinas Institute opened its doors in 1902, the Sisters of Saint Joseph were assigned to the faculty, along with Sisters of Mercy and diocesan priests. From 1902 through 1959, twenty-two Sisters of Saint Joseph contributed their talents to the Aquinas educational mission.
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