BY KIRSTYN BRENDLEN
Two Brooklyn Catholic
schools have formed a new
partnership aimed at giving
students at both institutions
an academic boost.
St. Francis College and
Bay Ridge Catholic Academy
launched their new collaboration
last week school honchos
met to lay out their vision
for the partnership between
the college and the academy,
which serves Pre-K through
eighth grade.
“I know this will be a fl ourishing
experience and I know
the students at Bay Ridge Catholic
Academy will benefi t immensely,”
said Bay Ridge Principal
Gary Williams.
Linked by the borough’s
diocese, the two schools will
be working closely to bring together
the church’s youngest
and oldest students.
“I am proud to say that
this is the only such grammar
school partnership with Saint
Francis College,” Williams
continued. “We are eager to
embark on this distinguished
alliance to advance the educational
COURIER LIFE, F 32 EBRUARY 18-24, 2022
opportunities at our
school.”
Students from the 163-yearold
Catholic college will gain
experience as student teachers
at the elementary school,
where they’ll tutor and lead
classrooms of students as part
of their studies.
In addition, learning directly
from St. Francis’ fi nest
students, Bay Ridge kids are
gaining access to lectures in
science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics, and,
when the occasion calls for it,
will be able to visit the college’s
lab facilities.
“Building these kinds of relationships
is important and it
is never too early to engage students,”
said Dr. Miguel Martinez
Saenz, the president of St.
Francis. “It is never too early
to inspire people to dream and
get them focused on the importance
of service to others.
Martinez-Saenz, after a
visit to Bay Ridge, hailed the
partnership as a way to mutually
benefi t both generations of
students.
“It was inspiring to see the
future right in front of us, and
I think we have an obligation
to get that future orientated in
a positive way,” he said. “The
students at St. Francis College
will have the opportunity to
come in and be role models for
these young folks. This is what
we are committed to; this is
our values in action.”
Come summer, learning
will continue as St. Francis
opens its doors to Bay Ridge
students for science and entrepreneurship
classes, CPR
training, and more.
Visiting the campus for
class and learning from college
A kindergarten class at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy poses with Principal
Gary Williams, Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz, president of St. Francis
College and Robert Oliva, assistant Vice President of St. Francis College
as the two schools offi cially launch an academic partnership.
Photo by Paul Frangipane
kids might get Bay Ridge’s
older students more interested
in higher education, another
goal of the program, and St.
Francis’ admissions team will
be making regular visits to the
campus as well as offering personalized
campus tours to interested
students.
Martinez-Saenz plans to
continue stopping by with students
and faculty to talk about
the college and the application
process, and, as a cherry on
top, Bay Ridge kids will be offered
the chance to attend some
of St. Francis’ top-tier sports
games with their parents.
“St. Francis College is a
college of opportunity and
we are constantly seeking opportunities
for our students
to go out into the community
to make a difference in the
world. This partnership allows
us to do that, whether
by student teachers, mentors,
tutors, or simply having Bay
Ridge Catholic Academy students
experience a day in the
life of a college student,” Oliva
said. “We are providing opportunities
for our young people
in our Diocese.”
TEAMING UP!
St. Francis College and Bay Ridge Catholic
Academy announce one-of-a-kind partnership
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