20 The Courier sun • november 3, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com ST. FRANCIS PREP RECEIVES SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR MUSIC, ART, AND GUIDANCE DEPARTMENTS enhancing a school’s prestige and promoting its reputation as a top-tier institution. Middle States Programs of Distinction serve as models for schools throughout the world.” When first approached about undertaking the process for Prep’s Music department, Dr. Robert Corbino, the longtime chairperson, thought it was a “great idea,” but initially met resistance given the work that would need to go into the application. As the process progressed, he realized that this was a “measure of his life’s work and a referendum on his career.” The most difficult part of the process was understanding the unique language and terminology Middle States favors. Ultimately, Prep became the first school ever to earn what was then called the Music Credential in 2011. Corbino feels this was the “highest point” of his career, and remembers sitting in the Principal’s office, being officially advised of this honor. He sees the primary benefit as being that the “word is out” about the superior program Prep has, and that parents will want to send their students to Prep for all the Music department has to offer. This year, Prep’s Music department will begin its self-study process, and is primed to become the first school to renew the Music Program of Distinction. Last year, Prep’s Art and Guidance departments earned their respective honors with Middle States. Prep’s Art department chairperson, Jeanne Buccino, was “intimidated” by the process. She had many questions, and was “unsure” about this undertaking. Throughout the process, she learned a great deal about the history of the department. She also came to see how positively parents and students viewed the department through interviews and surveys. When she found out her department was being awarded the honor, she was relieved, and very proud. Buccino went on to say that the visiting educators who endorsed Prep’s application, gave “insight and validation.” She felt that the department is in a good place for growth, and that the process gave them new ideas relative to furthering this already stand-out program. Robyn Armon is the chairperson of Prep’s Guidance department. When asked to undertake the process, she was “frightened to death.” There is no down time for counselors in the school, given they undertake not only course Jewelry Boutique by Esther Fortunoff 1504 OLD COUNTRY ROAD, WESTBURY, NY 11590 Parking lot entrance northeast end, Mall at the Source Next to P.F. Chang’s Restaurant Shop 24/7 FortunoffJewelry.com 800-636-7886 • 516-222-7879 One of the many things that makes St. Francis Prep a unique school is its highly regarded Fine Arts programs. Students are exposed to countless courses and special opportunities that meet both their needs and their interests, whether they are serious about Music or Art and intend to major in them, or merely wish to grow culturally. Prep also has an outstanding Guidance department that in addition to traditional course counseling, addresses both college and emotional counseling. Last year alone, graduating Prep seniors earned over $150 million in college scholarships. Students from the class of 2016 went to colleges in forty states, and many foreign counties, including Canada, Greece, and Australia. The Ivy League schools were well represented with students heading off to the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and Brown University. There is also a diversity of schools, whether it be the City University of New York’s Macauly Honors College (including one student going to CUNY School of Medicine), or the five students going to Carnegie Mellon University, who only accepted six percent of their applicant pool. These three departments – Music, Art, and Guidance – have all been recognized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools by earning their coveted “Program of Distinction.” According to Middle States’ website, “Since the turn of the 20th century, accreditation has had a major impact on American education, with Middle States Association among the pioneers in the field.” Based in Philadelphia, the Middle States Association is a worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 125 years, Middle States has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development and advance student achievement. With more than 2,700 accredited schools and school systems in 34 states and nearly 100 countries, MSA-CESS is proud of its continuing legacy and its ongoing innovations to meet the challenges of improving education in the 21st century. Recognizing that many schools have programs beyond traditional academic offerings, Middle States developed a series of protocols called Programs of Distinction. “Middle States Programs of Distinction provide external validation of a school’s accomplishments in specific areas of expertise, Rediscover the Source counseling, but college counseling, and emotional counseling with their students. For her, the process validated that they are “visionaries.” She went on to say that even though Prep is a large school, the counselors have an excpetional grasp on their students. She feels that Prep’s counselors really act in loco parentis and are “true advocates for their students.” In the future, she is looking forward to the Guidance department “staying strong,” and being able to continue to integrate social and emotional counseling with academic counseling. In short, she and her department strive to “treat every student as if they were their own.” Prep’s President, Brother Leonard Conway is thoroughly immersed in the school’s accreditation, and is a member of Middle States’ Commission on the secondary level, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the Middle States Commission. He also chairs the Membership and Accreditation Committee for the secondary level of the Commission. For him, it is a great recognition of “our outstanding programs by the Middle States Association. We are one of only two schools in their entire system to receive three Program of Distinction awards.” Prep’s Principal, Patrick McLaughlin, himself a former Internal Coordinator for the school’s accreditation, said that “Recognition from the Middle States Association is an honor and is a validation of the work we do here at Saint Francis Preparatory School to educate the whole person. We strive to provide a learning environment that enables all students to develop and broaden their spiritual, intellectual, creative, emotional, social, and physical abilities.” For more information, please contact: • Br. Leonard Conway, O.S.F., President, (718) 423-8810, x232 • Patrick McLaughlin, Principal, (718) 423-8810, x327 • Jeanne Buccino, Art Department Chaiperson, (718) 423- 8810, x218 • Robyn Armon, Chairperson of Guidance and Director of College Counseling, (718) 423-8810, x245 • Dr. Robert Corbino, Chairperson of Music, (718) 423-8810, x255 Or visit www.msa-cess.org
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