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Archdiocese
to open
its
first
school
dedicated
to
classical
model of
education,
with
lay-led
governance
DETROIT
- The
Archdiocese
of
Detroit
announced
the
transition
of one
of its
schools
into a
new
school
dedicated
to the
classical
model of
education,
focused
on
providing
students
an
excellent
education
rooted
in the
pursuit
of truth
in
science,
beauty
in the
arts and
goodness
in the
Catholic
faith.
John
Paul II
Catholic
School,
located
at 1590
Riverbank
Street
in
Lincoln
Park,
will
open the
2019-2020
academic
year as
John
Paul II
Classical
School –
the
first
such
school
in the
Archdiocese
of
Detroit.
Students
will see
a shift
toward
lessons
aimed at
helping
them
discover
knowledge
and
truth
that is
ordered,
coherent
and
integrated,
rooted
in the
wisdom
of the
past –
particularly
in
western
civilizations
such as
Greece
and
Rome.
Children
at
schools
employing
this
model
progress
through
three
stages
of
development
–
grammar,
logic,
and
rhetoric
– with
the
study of
Latin,
art and
music
integrated
throughout
all
three
stages.
Current
John
Paul II
Catholic
School
students
are
guaranteed
a spot
in the
new
school
and
tuition
will not
be
altered.
In
addition,
the
ability
for
families
to apply
for
financial
assistance
will
remain
in
place.
The
school’s
dedicated
staff
and
faculty
also are
invited
to
remain
with the
school,
and will
have
access
to
ongoing
support
and
expert
training
in the
classical
model of
education.
"It
is
absolutely
amazing
to think
this is
happening
for the
Catholic
school
community
of John
Paul
II,”
said
Mariann
Lupinacci-Kosinski,
school
principal.
“In our
current
world of
much
chaos,
we are
challenged
as
educators
to
provide
instruction
to our
students
that
promotes
critical
thinking
and
problem
solving
skills.
The
classical
approach
to
education
provides
our
community
a unique
opportunity
to reach
and
exceed
these
goals
while
simultaneously
modeling
the
Catholic
faith,
leading
our
students
and
families
to come
to know
the
presence
of our
Lord and
all His
goodness.”
With
the
transition
to a
classical
model of
education,
the
school
also
will
adopt an
innovative,
lay- led
form of
governance,
designed
to
ensure
the
school’s
sustainability
and to
fuel a
renewed
confidence
in the
school
from
families,
friends,
parishioners
and
benefactors.
This
administrative
oversight
board, a
group of
dedicated
and
talented
lay men
and
women,
will
take on
operational
and
supervisory
responsibility
for the
school,
in
conjunction
with the
superintendent.
As a
Catholic
school
first
and
foremost,
John
Paul II
Classical
School
will
continue
to
involve
members
of the
clergy,
including
a pastor
delegate
to
attend
to the
spiritual
needs of
the
school
community.
“I
am
ecstatic
to be
able to
offer
this
high
quality
education
to our
families
and
young
people.
A
classical
education
will
afford
our
children
the
opportunity
to
better
integrate
their
knowledge
with
their
faith
and
aspirations,”
said
Father
David
Bechill,
the
school’s
pastor
delegate.
“I look
forward
to
supporting
our
teachers,
families
and
students
as they
enter
into a
conversation
of the
heart,
while
pursuing
a high
level of
Catholic
education
in an
atmosphere
of
truth,
beauty
and
goodness.”
The
launch
of John
Paul II
Classical
School,
governed
and
operated
by a
group of
dedicated
lay men
and
women,
represents
a
significant
step in
the
cultural
transformation
called
for by
Archbishop
Allen H.
Vigneron
in his
recently
released
strategic
vision
statement
concerning
Catholic
education,
called
Unleashing
Our
Catholic
Schools.
In this
document,
the
Archbishop
challenges
all
archdiocesan
schools
to
undergo
a
“missionary
conversion”
to be
proudly
Catholic,
academically
excellent,
accessible
to all
and
sustainable
for the
future.
“The
mission
of our
Catholic
schools
is to
foster
holiness
in our
students
and to
serve as
a center
of
evangelization
and
discipleship.
There
are many
paths to
achieving
this
vision
and each
reflects
the
diversity
of our
Church,”
said
Kevin
Kijewski,
J.D.,
superintendent
of
Catholic
Schools
in the
Archdiocese.
“As we
position
our
schools
to
become
uniquely
and
academically
excellent,
we are
thrilled
to offer
these
enriched,
varied
opportunities
to our
families.
The
classical
model at
John
Paul II
Classical
School
is just
one
example
of many
to
come.”
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