Things went quite smooth and lovingly during St. Francis of Assisi Academy’s first year, according to a Grade 7 student — in fact she would like to see a bit more drama there in September.
“I really liked it, everyone was really nice and everyone was friends,” said Elyse McAteer, a Grade 7 student at the new Davisburg area school. “It was like a new start. I got to meet new people, new teachers and it was exciting to be in a new place.”
St. Francis of Assisi Academy, a K to Grade 7 school, opened last August, taking pressure off Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools’ Okotoks schools, particularly the K to Grade 6 Good Shepherd School.
There were benefits to going to a smaller school, which had a total enrolment of about 275 students. It’s great for budding athletes.
“I played volleyball, basketball and badminton and a little bit of track,” McAteer said. “At a small school we didn’t have to try out. They didn’t cut people.”
The St. Francis of Assisi Storm held their own, winning virtually every game in volleyball against other Grade 7 squads.
However, there is room for improvement at the school. If all the world’s a stage, St. Francis does have the players, not just the directors.
McAteer said she would like to have a drama classes next year.
Mission accomplished.
“We are going to offer drama next year,” said Diana Atkinson, St. Francis Academy principal. “We will have a teacher onboard who has experience teaching drama and she is excited about being here .We are growing in our options next year.”
The school will also offer hockey class next year.
The highlight for school officials was bringing the St. Francis Academy community together.
“I was purposeful about creating events that will brought people together and the parent community in,” Atkinson said. “I never thought it would happen this quickly. It’s not a tangible thing – the atmosphere of the school, the way the kids treat each other, they are so kind to one another… We have all worked together towards things like the playground fundraiser. We have become really close.
“The staff have also been key contributors to that loving climate of this school They ran every club, coached every sport, volunteered at every event.”
Atkinson said the accountability pillar showed high satisfaction from all of the school’s stakeholders, which include staff, parents and most importantly, students.
There were minor hiccups, flooring that had to be replaced, but nothing out of the ordinary for anyone moving into a new home.
They have also been good neighbours. St. Francis Academy shares the area with the Scott Seaman Rink and the K-Grade 9 Heritage Heights School and complications from traffic, parking, and dates for concerts were handled with next to no issues.
Meanwhile, St. Francis Academy is a year older as are the Grade 7 students.
McAteer and her fellow Grade 7 students are in a unique position. With St. Francis adding Grade 8 and then Grade 9 in the subsequent years, the last batch of Grade 7 students will be the oldest kids on the block for four consecutive years.
“I like helping people and the younger kids,” McAteer said. “And also because I am in band, we always get to do the grand finale and it’s fun.”
Things are not only getting better at St. Francis Assisi, the school is getting bigger.
The enrolment projections for September is 340 students.
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