Vernon’s Catholic Schools Offer Alternative To Public Education

Religious private schools offer parents something that traditional public schools can’t – a spiritual component that can be integrated into every part of the school day that builds the foundation for students to know where they come from and who they are.

Vernon has two private Catholic Schools – St. Joseph’s School at 41 West Street and St. Bernard Preschool at 20 School St.

St. Joseph’ School

St. Joseph’s is a school for pre-kindergarten students to sixth grade. The pre-k (4-year-olds) and kindergarten program are full day at the school. Enrollment at St. Joseph’s is approximately 100 students. Kathleen Peck is the school’s principal.

Up until last year the school offered education through eighth grade, but due to the downward slide in the economy a decision was made to make a strong pre-k to 6 program at the school, according to Peck. Enrollment at the school is down because of the financial strains many are facing.

St. Joseph’s School creates a family-community atmosphere. The ability to concentrate on the spiritual component gives St. Joseph’s a different offering than other schools.

“With a smaller school, students can choose to be part of the community. Values and principles of Christianity can be integrated throughout the day,” Peck said. “It’s still those character values that we can build children up along with social service and giving back.”

Catholic schools are traditionally known for their strong academics. St. Joseph’s in no different. Curriculum includes core subject matter and specials like art and music just like public schools. But at St. Joseph’s the day starts with a prayer and students participate in religion classes, scripture of the week and mass once a month.

Last year the school the school concentrated on integrating more technology into the curriculum. This year the school has created an S.T.E.M – Science, Technology Engineering, and Math room for students to discover and learn.

“It has a lot of inquiry-based learning,” Peck said. “It is hands-on and will bring them out of the classroom to allow for some individual exploring.”

Parents are very supportive at St. Joseph’s and want to be involved, according to Peck. Parents are required to provide a minimum of 15 volunteer hours. Parents help to fund raise for things like science kits for the S.T.E.M room. Many have offered to come in and do experiments and give lectures to the students.

The biggest component that makes St. Joseph’s a different option is that spiritual element. Being able to discuss God and faith gives a different perspective to learning.

“We are able to tie the spiritual side into our content and when curriculum mapping. We can look at social values and justice,” Peck said. “It is tied to the content in how can we use this to benefit other people. We look at the natural part of the child’s life – spiritual, intellectual and physical – are all integrated.”

Although the school has a Catholic background, it is accepting to all religions and welcome students from any faith.

“This is a community. We know them as individuals. We want parent input. We care about the whole child,” Peck said. “We build on the gifts that God has given them. God has uniquely created each of them. This is how a child will be received at St. Joseph’s.”

St. Joseph’s has been part of the community for more than 100 years. “This has been a community that has educated and nurtured students for a long time,” Peck said.

Students are still being accepted at the school for the 2011-2012 school year. Contact the school at 860-875-4943.

St. Bernard’s School

Sherry Yarusewicz is the director of St. Bernard’s School.  The school has several combinations of school days to offer its young students who can be 3, 4 or 5. Children can attend three days a week, or half-day (8 a.m. to noon) or full-day (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Mornings at St. Bernard's are when more structured learning takes place, Yarusewicz said. It is a play-based environment, engaging, and child-centered.  The program promotes kindergarten readiness.

Students experience many of the things similar to many schools like center time, reading, math, group and individual activities. But attending a religious pre-school also offers an advantage not available to public ones.

“We do have some advantages to explore religion. That’s a wonderful thing,” Yarusewicz said. We can celebrate holidays. We can explore religion in a more, free, unrestricted kind of way.”

St. Bernard’s Pre-school has been up and running for five years. The class sizes are small. Classes run a 1-to-10 ratio. Students can participate in a variety of activities including: science/discovery, math/games, writing, blocks, small building, religion, books, dramatic play, easel, and art, according to the website. Students are also exposed to specials like gym, library, music, and Spanish.

“We are small. The children get very specific learning goals,” Yarusewicz said. “It is very much like a family, especially those who come back for a second year.”

The school participates in the St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon fundraiser. Teaching students to be part of their community and give back is another learning tool offered by the preschool, according to Yarusewicz. “Community service is important, even for young children,” she said.

There has been much conversation at the state level during the legislative session about the importance of pre-school and what role it plays in children’s lives. St. Bernard’s is already doing much of what was being discussed by legislators.

“Preschool offers children the opportunity to learn to be part of a social group. Unfortunately this is happening more and more at school as the same time layering learning goals for children,” Yarusewicz said. “We are expecting higher outcomes at a younger age. In preschool we are teaching prewriting and pre-reading. It is really essential for children to experience preschool.”

Yarusewicz is the mother of five children and is a graduate of St. Bernard’s School, which closed two years ago.  Staff turnover is low. Most of the staff has been with the program since it began. 

“This is a big component in the quality program we offer,'' Yarusewicz said. "It allows us to offer consistency. We want to provide a service to the community. We offer an excellent program to offer. The most important thing for us is for the community to take advantage of our quality program.”

There are still spaces left for enrollment. Contact St. Bernard’s School at 860-875-0753.