48 The Queens Courier • catholic school • JANUARY 23, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com catholic school week St. Francis Prep: Catholic schools make a difference BY BRIAN MCLAUGHLIN, SFP PRINCIPAL Many people choose a Catholic school because they understand the benefits to a private, faith-based education. Parents say to us that paying the tuition is difficult but it is the best money we will spend because they want to leave a legacy to society through their children. We at St. Francis Prep and in all Catholic schools aim to prepare students for college, career, and to get into Heaven. Our obligation is to develop a solid curriculum that will build knowledge and skills in our students. There is an eye on college as the freshmen students prepare for their first course in high school because we understand as we set the bar higher for students they always find a way to excel. Our students are ready for college work after senior year and do not need to fill their college schedule with remedial work. In fact, many of our students achieve college credits during their high school years that save their parents thousands of dollars in tuition during their undergraduate work. Our hard-working and dedicated faculty view their job as a vocation and teach with rigor, compassion and perseverance. It is our mission to develop and broaden each student’s intellectual, creative, physical, social, emotional and spiritual abilities. When a parent and their child choose St. Francis Prep they understand that there will be programs available that emphasize faith and values. Our faith is the north star that helps us to make good, prudent and responsible decisions for life. Faith provides guidelines for everything right and just, it teaches us about our relationship to others and encourages us to be in the services of others. We learn humility, compassion and ways we can serve those in our community who are less fortunate. It is our objective to teach these values, not only in our religious education classes and also through our Campus Ministry programs, but in every class, every day. There are many non-Catholic families that choose send their children to our school because of the values and skills we teach as a foundation for a successful life. They have found that these values is an integrated part of the St. Francis Prep school experience and find their children are better prepared, more capable, and more confident young adults. We also emphasize a more structured learning environment and greater accountability for personal conduct in school. At St. Francis Prep, it is our passion to “communicate Christ” in all we do. Our focus is the whole person as our graduates strive to live the Four Golden Links of a Franciscan education: Spiritual, Intellectual, Social and Physical. CTK files to dismiss lawsuit BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com Representatives for Christ the King (CTK) recently motioned to dismiss the lawsuit against them by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. The Diocese slapped CTK with a lawsuit last year to force the school’s Board of Trustees to renew a written agreement to stay committed to providing Catholic high school education or relinquish control of the institution, known as a reverter clause, in an effort to take back the school. However, court papers filed in Queens Supreme Court pointed out various instances in which representatives from the school believe that the Diocese has no case. “The memo makes our position clear as to the many reasons we believe their case has no merit,” said Thomas Ognibene, lawyer for the school. Last semester CTK opened a public charter school, Middle Village Preparatory (MVP) charter school, as well as daycare and countinuing education programs. The agreement between CTK and the Diocese was signed in 1976, when the Diocese transferred control of the school to the board. But CTK representatives maintained that the Diocese’s right to the reverter has expired, as it was supposed to be renewed 27-30 years following the transfer or from THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Christ the King representatives filed to dismiss the lawsuit against it. 2003-2006, according to court filings. Also, school officials said they have operated a daycare in CTK since 1993 and contends that for 20 years the Diocese never objected to it, court papers said. CTK filings said the Diocese chose only to target the school now because MVP threatens to steal students from other area Catholic schools. Diocese representatives are planning to answer the motion to dismiss. “We are hopeful that their motion to dismiss gets turned down,” said Marty McLaughlin, spokesperson from the Diocese. The court will read the motion and the Diocese’s answer and decide whether to dismiss or allow the case to proceed, though no time frame has been established. SACRED HEART SCHOOL 216-01 38th Avenue, Bayside, New York 11361 718-631-4804 • shsbayside@aol.com REgiSTRATiON DATES: Sunday, January 26th – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 27th – Friday, January 31st – 8:30a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 28th – 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Catholic Schools – Communities of Faith, Knowledge, Service Sacred Heart offers: Half and full day Nursery and Pre-K, Full day Kindergarten, grades 1-8 Science Lab, Computer Lab (43 new laptops and 30 i-pads), SMART BOARDS in grades 1-8 and one in the Computer lab, foreign language, automated library, art classes, music classes, band program, physical education, remediation class, guidance program, student council activities, across grade levels buddy program, two year old program, extra curricular programs, students prepared for Math 9 and Earth Science regents, extensive service program, participation in spiritual activities, involvement in Parish scouting and sports programs. Class of 2013 earned over $700,000 in scholarship money to Catholic High schools and acceptances to most Specialized High Schools. Come visit Sacred Heart; we look forward to telling you about our successes!
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