Local Private Schools Prepare for New Year

They are the four words every kid hates to hear:  first day of school.

Well, that day that is cursed by kids and perhaps loved by parents is soon upon the people in Lake Forest. There will be some new faces, new buildings and a continuing look at school age issues in the City’s private schools.

Both School of St. Mary and Lake Forest Academy are scheduled to open Monday with a few changes on tap for the year for each facility.

At School of St. Mary, enrollment is up to 545 students, a spike from 530 last year.

“We have an excellent teaching staff,” Dr. Venette Biancalana, the St. Mary’s principal, said. “We provide a Catholic education and many families are opting for a Catholic education today.”

With the new students, new staff members will be coming including eight new teachers. New math books will be distributed to Kindergartners through sixth grade and new Spanish texts will be in place for seventh and eighth graders.

“These will all incorporate technology to help them along,” Biancalana added.

Some other physical changes will include new air conditioning and new signage on the building.

Three New Teachers at Lake Forest Academy

At Lake Forest Academy, there will be three new teachers, two in history and one in science, according to Dr. John Strudwick, the Head of School.

There will be some physical changes there as well. Televisions will be added to the classroom and there will be more ways to incorporate modern technology.

 “This way you can wirelessly project videos and anything that the teachers might need,” Strudwick said. “It is neat because you can seamlessly project any materials you want such as videos and worksheets.”

Speaking of technology, this will be the second year of students using iPads. In 2013-2014, a new stand alone science center, valued at $6.5 million, is scheduled to be completed. This year the students and parents can watch the finishing touches being put on that building.

LFA enrollment will remain at 430 which is half boarding students from all over the world, the other half are children whose families live locally.

“We are a school that doesn’t rest on our laurels and we are always looking to improve our education program,” Strudwick said.

Schools Deal With Bullying

With so much attention now on trying to control bullying, both schools are attentive to the situation and taking appropriate measures.

“We are a different community and we have not experienced that problem,” Strudwick said. “We have a strict discipline code and any student who harasses another student would face serious consequences.”

At School of St. Mary, they will be continuing a program called “Second Step.” This initiative focuses on preventing bullying using cards, puppets, DVDs and discussions at age appropriate levels to try to prevent bullying behavior.

Biancalana pointed out last year a discipline task force was also formed for the school with the motto of Crusader.

“From that task force we implemented a new code of conduct which focuses on respect, honesty and responsibility and a new Crusader creed,” Biancalana said. “All those kids learn that creed and it connects with the code of conduct. It’s a whole discipline system.”

In addition, the school is required by the Chicago Archdiocese to record any bullying incidents. If such things do occur, there are different levels of punishment depending on the type of action.

“The definition of bullying is something where there are negative behaviors that are intimidating over a period of time,” Biancalana said. “We address the issues that come into play here.”

Calls and e-mails to officials of Lake Forest Country Day School were not immediately returned. That school, which was founded in 1888, serves children from two years of age through eighth grade. Their first day is scheduled Tuesday, according to the Web site.

Classes begin today at Woodlands Academy.

For more news and updates from Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch, subscribe to our daily e-newsletter, ”Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.