Florida Catholic | New Catholic School Planned In Sebring

New Catholic school planned in Sebring

St. Catherine School is accepting registration for Fall of 2008.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 03.21.08

VENICE | For the residents of Highlands County who wanted a Catholic education for their children, the nearest options were once in Port Charlotte and Sarasota. Both required at least a two-hour drive.

That will no longer be true when St. Catherine Catholic School opens in Sebring in August. It will be the first new school in the Diocese of Venice since 2002.

Father José González of St. Catherine Parish said the excitement is already beginning to grow.

“People have been asking for a school out here ever since I got here in 1994, and now they know it is coming. They can’t wait and neither can I,” Father González said.

The school will serve students from pre-K to second grade and will be capable of growing as demand warrants in the future.

Taking a cue from Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who is committed to developing and growing Catholic education within the diocese and who blessed the plan, Father González took the initiative to work to bring a school to his parish by going out into the community. He spoke to parishioners in his parish, and at Our Lady of Grace and St. James parishes, to get an idea of what the interest level was for a school in Highlands.

“I found out what I already knew,” Father González said. “People really value a Catholic education. People have moved out of the area because the nearest Catholic school is a two-hour drive away. This is an opportunity to bring a strong education to the youth in this area.”

With the help of the Diocese of Venice, he started the process of founding a school.

The goal is to provide a Catholic education based on faith and the love of God to a community that has not had an opportunity for it so far, diocesan school officials said.

The timing of the school is important because Highlands is one of the fastest-growing areas of the diocese. The last Catholic school to open in the diocese was Dreams Are Free Academy in Fort Myers.

The St. Catherine religious education building will be divided into classes with a goal of about 20 students per grade to start. Registration started in January.

The school will be part of the diocesan program, will be accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference and provide an inclusive education experience with art, music and physical education, something that has been on the decline in nonparochial schools. Everything taught will be developmentally appropriate and follow state and national standards.

“I am just so excited our prayers and hard work are finally beginning to pay off,” Father González said.

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New Catholic school planned in Sebring

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