Atonement Academy
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Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The Atonement Academy is a parochial, Catholic school in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas. It is a part of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic parish (the founding parish for the Anglican Use liturgy within the Roman rite of the Catholic Church) and was opened on August 15, 1994. The high school curriculum was inaugurated in 2004, and the first seniors will graduate in 2008. The Atonement Academy is designated as a “Blue Ribbon School of Excellence” by the Department of Education. The school seal is the medieval icon of the pelican feeding its young emblazoned on a shield. The student population for the 2007-2008 school year totals about 500 students.
[edit] Catholic Nature of the School
The Atonement Academy bases its curriculum on the Latin phrase "Fides et Ratio" (faith and reason) and is known for providing a classical and Catholic education. It is not necessary to be Catholic to attend the Academy, but all students are required to take a theology/religion classes, and all attend daily Mass. On Fridays, the settings of the Mass are chanted in the traditional language of Latin. In keeping with Catholic educational philosophy, the mission statement of the school expresses the need to educate the whole child as a single, unified being, physical, intellectual and spiritual. Many of the teachers are also parishioners of the church, which allows students the benefit of knowing their teachers as whole people as well.
[edit] The Church and School Building
The school building of The Atonement Academy was recently expanded along with Our Lady of the Atonement church. The two buildings are connected in a way that symbolizes the deep connection with the faith that underpins all Catholic education. The church and school are built to resemble a medieval English church and castle. The sanctuary is of the traditional style with an East-facing altar. It is decorated with many meaningful symbols of the Catholic faith, especially the fish-net like matrix that covers the entire ceiling, which symbolizes the Christian church's role in "fishing for men".
[edit] Academic Curriculum
The Atonement Academy offers a wide variety of classes including Latin, Greek, and Spanish, Grammar and Literature, all of the sciences, Texas, U.S., and World History, U.S. Government, and Economics. AP courses are available to the juniors and seniors in areas such as American Literature, World Literature, American Government, American History, World History, Calculus, and Biology. Students at all levels participate in the Advanced Reading (AR) program. Classes are unisex from grades 3-8. There is a quarterly awards ceremony in which the students are recognized for their academic excellence. Many of the teachers hold advanced degrees in their specialties.
[edit] Arts
The music program is centered on choral instruction, where the various student choirs play an integral part in the liturgy of the Mass. There are several choral concerts throughout the year as well as a series of sacred music performances. Many of the Academy’s students also participate in extracurricular arts activities such as theater performances.
[edit] Athletics, Extracurricular Activities, and Events
Sports teams include men’s varsity basketball, volleyball, wrestling, track and cross-country, and golf. School colors are black and red, and the school team name is the Crusaders.
Other, non-academic activities that are supported include scouting (both boys and girls), debate club, chess club, sailing club, Tae Kwan Do, National Honor Society, Junior Classical League, and The Student Council. Yearly events include the Upper School Tea, the King’s Fair (a medieval fair), the Stampede dinner (a Western-themed event), and the student-produced film festival.
Every other year, the students of the Academy have an opportunity to go on a parish-wide pilgrimage to Rome, and attend Mass in some of the greatest churches in Christendom.
[edit] Uniform Requirements and Comportment Guidelines
Students at The Atonement Academy are required to wear an academic uniform particular to their gender and age level, as well as a standardized physical education uniform. The high school uniforms in particular are note worthy for their elegance and maturity, and in the junior and senior years include the class ring.
The class ring is a silver signet ring featuring the school’s crest and motto, and is given to juniors in a special ceremony during Mass. The class ring then becomes a part of the student's official uniform.
[edit] Standardized Testing
As a private school, the Atonement Academy is not required to administer the Texas Applied Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test. Academy students at all levels participate in a wide variety of standardized assessments including, the Stanford exam, the OLSAT, the HSPT, the ACRE, and quarterly Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) testing. Additionally, the AR program tracks reading skills throughout the year. Additionally, high school students have the opportunity to take the PreSAT before the SAT.
