Sts. Peter and Paul Ac
ademy
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Sts. Peter and Paul Ac ademy
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Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
This page contains the questions we have heard most often and the answers. Where is Sts. Peter and Paul Academy located and what is the phone number of the school? We are located at 231 Clark Road, Reading, Ohio 45215. The phone number of the Academy is 513-761-7772. Why
are we located at 231 Clark Road instead of the current SPPS building? There is some confusion within the community as to why we are not using the existing school building. For six weeks, following the denial of our appeal to Archbishop Pilarcyzk to keep the school open, we attempted to negotiate a lease with the parish administration and the Archdiocese. However, the lease amount and terms were not within our organization’s capabilities. A few of the terms proposed by the parish administration and the Archdiocese were as follows: · The lease amount was based on square footage. The lease stated that several of the rooms in the basement would not be included in the lease. Before the three rooms were deducted from the overall square footage- the first year lease amount would be approximately $72,300, second year lease approximately $80,300 and third year approximately $96,400. · The new Academy would be solely responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement. If a major appliance were to break (i.e. the boiler), the Academy would have to pay for it in full. The Academy would be responsible for payment of all utilities estimated at $50,000 annually. ·
Lastly, the new Academy would not be permitted to use “Sts.
Peter and Paul Academy” or any other name that included “Sts. Peter and
Paul”. In contrast, the lease we have signed with an investor group represented by Neyer Management for the new Academy is well within our capabilities. This lease has managed to save us over $50,000 annually when compared to the parish administration and Archdiocesan lease. We are also able to use Sts Peter and Paul in our name, which allows us to honor all those who have been a part of the wonderful Sts. Peter and Paul School and Church for the past 154 years! The new school is located at 231 Clark Road in Reading. Some of you may remember this building as the former South Reading Elementary School or more recently the Easter Seals facility. Our inaugural school year will be 2007-2008 and we will service grades K – 8.
What
is the tuition at SPPA? Since Saints Peter and Paul Academy (SPPA) will not be associated with any one parish in particular, we are offering a single tuition rate of $2,200 per child and will accept children of any denomination or parish. Being a private school, we are no longer confined by any boundaries or deaneries for recruitment.
Who are the Teachers and Staff?
Sts. Peter and Paul is ran by a team of Administrators. That team is being led by Mary Lehrter. Mary is in the process of retiring from 30 years at P & G where she managed many teams. Mary also serves on the Board of Directors at Mount Notre Dame High School. She is currently taking classes at Mount Saint Joseph and plans on Administrative courses at Xavier University when her retirement is complete at P & G. You may contact Mrs. Lehrter at MLehrter@sppacademy.org Kindergarten is being taught by Nicole Hesse. Nicole is well known in the Evendale and Sharonville area for her wonderful work with children. Nicole is being assisted by Brenda Hubble. Brenda has 10 years of experience with being the Kindergarten aide at the former Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary school. Brenda also has 5 additional years of experience with working as a teachers assistant at Serendipity Early Learning Center. What a brilliant combination of new ideas and experienced teaching for the Kindergarten students at SPPA. You may contact Ms. Hesse at NHesse@sppacademy.org You may contact Mrs. Hubble at BHubble@sppacademy.org Kathy Frazier is teaching 1st grade. Kathy has been teaching 2nd grade at the former Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary school but looks forward to bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience to the younger children. With the familiarity of knowing where the children are heading and what they need to know to be prepared for 2nd grade, Kathy will be a wonderful asset to the Academy. You may contact Mrs. Frazier at KFrazier@sppacademy.org Shelly Cummins is teaching 2nd & 3rd grade combined class. Shelly has taught for 19 years as the third grade teacher at the former Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School. She is very excited about teaching the combined class. We are excited to have such a fantastic teacher on staff. You may contact Mrs. Cummins at SCummins@sppacademy.org Teresa Kennedy is teaching 4th grade. Teresa also comes to us from St. Michaels in Ripley. Ann Boley has highly recommended Teresa and the Board agrees after interviews. Teresa is a very organized and well-prepared instructor. We are thrilled to have her as our new 4th grade teacher. You may contact Mrs. Kennedy at TKennedy@sppacademy.org Nikki Morgan is teaching 7th & 8th grade combined class. Nikki comes to the Academy from the former Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School. Nikki has been teaching to 6th, 7th and 8th graders for years and brings her understanding and know-how to the Academy. You may contact Mrs. Morgan at NMorgan@sppacademy.org We are excited and pleased to announce our core teachers. We are also happy to announce our Academic Dean, Mike Rakel. Mike is the former Assistant Principal and Academic Dean of Moeller High School. He has been in Catholic Education for 31 years. Mike will be working with our principal, as well as with our Education Consultant, Tom Bemmes. Tom has 23 years teaching experience in the public school systems of Reading and now Sycamore. Together our Academic Team will work at setting the bar high for the Academy. They will work together to set the curriculum, starting with the Archdiocese Graded Course of Study, but adding to it, to make it even better. Along with our teachers, principal and Academic Team, the Academy is blessed with qualified volunteers that will be teaching the children. Mary Lehrter, who has been volunteering her time to teach Science to the 8th grade at the former Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School for the past 7 years, has agreed to expand her teaching time at the Academy. Mary will be teaching Science to 6th, 7th and 8th grades each day at the Academy. Mary is currently a Chemist at Procter and Gamble. She is also pursuing her Masters in Education at Mt. St. Joseph. Mary has been instrumental is getting the Academy started. You may contact Mrs. Lehrter at MLehrter@sppacademy.org Art is being taught by Sandy Harsch. Sandy has been teaching for the past 10 years at the former Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School. Thrilled to be teaching at the Academy, Sandy looks forward to bringing her love of Art to the children in an atmosphere where Christ is present and can be talked about everyday. You may contact Mrs. Harsch at SHarsch@sppacademy.org Nikki Burke has volunteered to teach Computer classes at SPPA. Nikki has a four year degree in computer technology and is eager to bring her skills to the classroom. You may contact Mrs. Burke at NBurke@sppacademy.org Deacon Tom Lynd has kindly volunteered to teach religion to the 2nd grade class to prepare them for the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Deacon Tom is known and loved by many of the children from Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. He has been a teacher for many years and wanted to do something to help at the Academy. It is a blessing to have him prepare our children for the Sacrament. You may contact Mr. Lynd at DeaconTLynd@sppacademy.org More qualified volunteers are being set for P.E. classes and for Foreign languages. We are currently seeking a qualified individual who would like to volunteer to teach Music to the children. Volunteers have stepped up to read with the younger children. Details are being worked out for area high schools to send student tutors to work with the children also.
Will the Area Catholic High Schools accept my child if they attend SPPA? Yes. Maureen Baldock, the Principal of Mount Notre Dame High School said that the students graduating from SPPA will be accepted like students from other schools and will be expected to take a placement test and fulfill entrance requirements. This will be the course of the Academy to prepare our students appropriately. Mount Notre Dame is excited and supportive of the Academy. Mike Rakel, former Assistant Principal and Academic Dean of Moeller High School is the Dean of Academics for SPPA and is focused on keeping the academics at a high level for the students of the Academy so they are prepared for any high school they may choose to enter.
What
curriculum will SPPA use? The Academy Principal and an all volunteer Board of Trustees will oversee the day-to-day operations and run Sts. Peter and Paul Academy. The SPPA curriculum will be based on the Archdiocesan Graded Course of Study and the Ohio Department of Education curriculum. As a private independent academy, the principal and teachers have a unique opportunity to offer enhanced courses and mold the education to fit the needs of the student.
What
is the relationship between Sts. Peter and Paul parish and the new Academy? Despite not being part of the parish campus, it is our sincere hope that SPPA maintain a strong relationship with Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. Our parents will continue to bring their children to church at SPP as well as volunteer their time for parish events. Our children will continue to participate in the Sts. Peter and Paul parish Athletic program. We hope to work hand in hand with the pastor in preparing and administering our children’s sacraments. How
will SPPA generate funds? Just like area high schools (MND,
Moeller, St. Xavier, etc.), Sts. Peter and Paul Academy will be financed through
tuition, donations and fundraising. All
donations received will go directly to SPPA to benefit the children who attend
the Academy. No funds will be
redirected to any other outside group or organization. Our plan in order to generate annual revenue is to provide a variety of fundraising opportunities year round. We will establish an annual alumni fund drive, market SPPA to outside communities, educate our community and parish members on memorials/estate planning, as well as apply for Federal and private grant money. In addition, we will continue to work with TAPCE (Tuition Assistance Program for Catholic Education), as this group has provided tuition assistance for the past 3 years to children who receive a Catholic education and are members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. Where can I make a contribution? You can contribute any amount to Saints Peter and Paul Academy and mail it to 231 Clark Road, Reading, Ohio 45215. You also have the opportunity on this website to go to the Wish List by clicking on the tab above or the blue link letters to the left. Here you will find what the Academy presently needs and even some websites to go to find where you could purchase items from. How
will this Academy help shape the future of Catholic Education? The parents of our school will be involved in the decision making process. Our goal is to treat parents as partners in the education process and develop a spirit of common ownership. Our parents actually sign an agreement to complete 30 volunteer hours as a requirement for their child to attend the Academy. The children of SPPA will see first hand the importance of volunteerism through the giving actions of their parents. We understand the value that strong schools bring to a community, and we are committed to excellence in education and spiritual development for the children who will attend SPPA. Who
can I contact if I have more questions? If you have any questions please feel free to contact Sheila Lichtenberg, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (phone: 554-4166 or e-mail: sheila_lichtenberg@yahoo.com) or Bonnie Rack, Vice-Chairman (phone: 673-7225 or e-mail: bonrack@quixnet.net). You may also go to the Contact Us page for a listing of all board members email addresses.
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