NLR Catholic Academy: Two campuses, one mission

Published: August 18, 2007

By Tara Little
Associate Editor

Tara Little

Fourth grade teacher Kim Holliday gets assistance in setting up her classroom from third graders Leandra Bilello (from left) and Robert Donahue and sixth grader Mary Kate Donahue Aug. 8 at the NLRCA West Campus.

Tara Little

For almost 110 years St. Mary and St. Patrick schools operated separately, yet were less than a mile apart. On Aug. 15 they began anew as North Little Rock Catholic Academy. Though merged, the school retains both campuses. This marks a first in the Diocese of Little Rock.

The west campus, formerly St. Mary School, serves the academy's preschool to fifth grade. The east campus, formerly St. Patrick School, serves the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

Denise Troutman, school administrator, said 280 students enrolled for the academy's inaugural year.

"We are extremely proud of where enrollment is at this time," she said. "The budget looks like it's going to be really strong with the numbers that we have."

Vernell Bowen, superintendent of schools, agreed. She worked closely with the two schools through the consolidation process.

"I feel this is a great number and think the enrollment will increase as more people learn of the excellent programs at the school," she said.

When Bowen announced the merger in January, she said the academy would still be a mission of both St. Mary and St. Patrick parishes, but would be financially independent operating on a balanced budget.

Bowen said declining enrollment and a financial deficit at St. Patrick School led to the need to reconfigure the two schools.

Based on last year's enrollment in both schools, a total of 78 students did not return as a result of the merger, Bowen said.

"We knew that we would lose approximately 20 percent of the student population based on the history from other dioceses where there has been a merger or reconfiguration of schools," Bowen said.

The loss of 78 students is "probably a little higher percentage than anticipated. The increase in tuition may have affected some families. However, the rates are still the lowest for any of the Catholic and private schools in the area," Bowen said.

Though student loss was anticipated, Troutman said it is still painful. "It hurts me to lose any of the children," she said.

To go with its new name, the school got a new logo, uniforms, mascot and colors. Students now may also take classes in journalism and drama or join the newly formed band and math and science club.

The academy's colors are pale blue and white. During the summer the west campus and parts of the east campus were repainted to reflect the change, Troutman said.

"We wanted the students to feel like they were entering a fresh, new environment," Troutman said. "We wanted them to feel the newness of North Little Rock Catholic Academy."

In May, sixth, seventh and eighth graders at both schools voted on the new school's mascot. The students selected the panther. "That was a big deal," she said.

Underlining the new, however, was a desire to build on the old, she said. The academy hopes to honor both schools' rich histories that go back to the late 1800s.

The academy's logo incorporates the shamrock from St. Patrick's tradition and the "M" entangled with a cross from St. Mary's logo, she said.

Activities, such as the big brother-big sister program, Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts and the Living Stations of the Cross during Lent, will continue at the new school.

In preparing for the new school year, Troutman said the summer months were consumed with a major moving job. Because all elementary students are now on the west campus and all the junior high students are on the east campus, everything from furniture to textbooks had to be moved to the right place.

Each campus also has its own art and music classes as well as library and computer lab. Upgrades have been made to the 33-station lab at the east campus.

In addition to the standard curriculum, the east campus' journalism students will produce a monthly school newsletter and the yearbook while the drama students will perform plays, including the annual eighth-grade production at the end of the year. None of these programs was offered previously at St. Mary or St. Patrick schools.

Troutman said math and science club students will compete with other schools in academic bowls to strengthen the academy's math and science program.

All students at NLRCA attend music class. The music teacher is also the new band director. Eventually the band will perform at the school's sporting events. Troutman said she hopes the band would be able to perform publicly by the end of the year.

The school day was extended 15 minutes to allow time for the additional curriculum, Troutman said. The schedule also is staggered so parents with children at each campus can get them to school on time. Classes begin on east campus at 7:45 a.m. and go to 3 p.m. On west campus classes run from 8:05 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

NLRCA also offers extended hours for before and after school care for students. Both campuses are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The school also offers an hour-long study hall after school for first to eighth graders. Tutoring will also be provided.

During the 2005-06 school year, a strategic plan for Pulaski County Catholic schools was developed in consultation with the National Catholic Educational Association. The plan recommended a merger between St. Mary and St. Patrick schools.

Last November a committee with members from both parishes and schools was appointed and ultimately developed the plan to merge the schools.

This 14-person committee was asked to stay on another year and serve as the school board through the transition, Troutman said.

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