Catholic schools - WKTV Journal

Stephanie Tomaszek’s fifth grade class art St. John Vianney get ready for their next lesson. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

During the 2020-2021 school year, whether in school or attending virtually, the students at St. John Vianney Catholic School always wore the school uniform to class.

This was one of the details that Wyoming parent Erika Oliver, who had switched her two sons to the school in the fall of 2020, had noticed as the 2020-2021 school year progressed. A detail that helped her decide to have her sons return to St. John Vianney (SJV) this fall.

“I wanted the smaller numbers and the smaller environment,” Oliver said of her decision to switch from a large public school district to the preschool through eighth-grade facility that is located on the St. John Vianney’s campus at 4101 Clyde Park Ave. SW. “St. John Vianney already had a plan in place on how they were going to handle any sudden announcements of having to go virtual.

Erika Oliver with her sons(from left) Samuel, who is in fifth grade, and Luca, who is in sixth grade. (WKTV)

“It had a good reputation, so we made the jump.”

That planned included St. John Vianney Catholic School, like many of the schools in the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, offering flexible learning by providing both in-person instruction and virtual from the start of school. Many area public schools delayed in-person instruction at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Oliver said her family discovered a lot of flexibility along with assistance from staff to help students create a successful learning environment whether that would be in school or at home. A key to that, was having the students “arrive” to school in their uniforms.

“Granted, with the virtual students, we didn’t always know if they were wearing the full uniform,” St. John Vianney Principal Linda Olejnik said with a smile. “But by having that routine, it helps to establish in the student’s mind that this is school and prepares them to be focused and ready for learning.”

Being flexible by offering in-person and virtual learning from the start of the 2020-2021 school year is one of the reasons officials from the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids believes has impacted its growth over the past year. Across its 26 elementary schools and five high schools the Dioceses has, its preschool-12th grade enrollment for 2021-2022 is 6,267 students, an increase of 253 students from last school year.

Much of the growth comes from the number of preschool and kindergarten students. This school year, the Diocese has one of its largest kindergarten classes in the last decade with 527 students. Olejnik noted that St. John Vianney has followed that trend as well.

St. John Vianney also has seen an increase in students in first through sixth grade, In fact 24 out of the 31 schools in the Diocese re-enrolled all of its students or grew its enrollment from last year. Sarah Toepfer, the marketing and communication coordinator for Diocese’s Catholic Schools, said they have seen an increase due to returning families who had left due to COVID and better attendance from baptized children.

St. John Vianney Principal Linda Olejink (WKTV)

“The ability for students to learn in-person with their teachers and peers last school year paid dividends in academic and personal growth,” said Dave Faber, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. “I am grateful to God for the outstanding efforts of our admissions advocates, families, faculty, staff, principals, and pastors who joined together to intentionally grow the mission and the ministry of Catholic schools.”

Olejnik said aiding in making it easier for SJV students was the school’s platform, Canvas, which allows staff to manage their classrooms by taking attendance, uploading assignments and class files and post grades. The program able the staff to move quickly to virtual learning when necessary but also for in school learning. If a student has to be quarantine, it was a smooth transition as the student’s work already was online, she said.

The 2020-2021 school year was an untaught territory that through partnerships with its staff, families and community St. John Vianney was able to weather well, Olejnik said, adding the staff has added a few new items to its toolbox of education.

And through that storm, Olejnik said she has seen a difference this year among students and staff.

“There is a lot of joyfulness,” Olejnik said. “There is joyfulness in being together when everyone came back. You can see it as students are playing together on the playground or working on assignments. Now if I could just bottle that.”

Most Reverend David J. Walkowiak, bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, is pleased to announce the promulgation of a new strategic plan for Catholic schools in the diocese entitled “Catholic Schools: Bridging Faith and Future.” This plan will shape the direction of Catholic schools over the next five years.

“Catholic schools nurture students’ relationship with Christ. This relationship helps young people discover that their potential is much greater with Jesus than without him. Catholic schools are thus a mighty bridge between our faith and the future,” said Bishop Walkowiak.

“Catholic Schools: Bridging Faith and Future” focuses on four strategic areas: Catholic Culture and Mission, Programmatic Excellence, Affordability and Accessibility, and Stewardship and Sustainability. It includes promoting students’ and families’ active engagement in parish life, enhancing academic excellence and cocurricular opportunities, studying the feasibility of new schools and maximizing efficiency through shared services. The plan was developed through multiple rounds of public forums and consultation with decision makers at the diocesan, parish and school levels. The resulting five-year plan, available at http://bit.ly/BridgingFaithandFuture, is in the beginning stages of implementation and is helping us realize our vision of an alliance of Catholic schools expanding outstanding educational ministry.

“Catholic schools form young people who will lead their communities, our country and the world,” said David Faber, superintendent of Catholic schools in the diocese. “Our students today will lead the future Church and continue to build Christ’s kingdom on Earth. We are confident that ‘Catholic Schools: Bridging Faith and Future’ will enhance our Catholic schools by providing more opportunities for students to grow in faith and grace, achieve more in school and life, develop creativity and character, and feel welcomed and cherished.”

This comprehensive plan expands on the Bishop’s Catholic Schools Initiative, a three-year endeavor launched in the 2015-16 school year by Bishop Walkowiak to improve affordability of Catholic school education by increasing scholarships, growing professional capacity and developing a plan for future vitality. In its first two years, the initiative has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships and has helped grow enrollment by 199 students.

Learn more about Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids at CatholicSchools4U.org.