NEWS AND VIEWS: Passaic's St. Nicholas School successful in so many ways (05/21/06)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Passaic's St. Nicholas School successful in so many ways

by Sonia Lechicky

"Lagging standards." "Educational crisis." "No Child Left Behind." The barrage of headlines about America's educational malaise took on a sudden urgency as our son neared preschool age. My husband and I, both Catholic school graduates, knew that we wanted our son to be educated in an environment where Christ is still included in Christmas and prayer is a natural part of every day.

And, as children of parents of the post-war immigration, we hope to bring up our son with an appreciation for his cultural heritage and to know that there's more to being Ukrainian than eating varenyky and making pretty Easter eggs. Luckily, we came to the realization that we needed to look no farther than the building next door to our parish church.

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School in Passaic, N.J., which encompasses pre-K through Grade 8, is a gem of a find. The neat, almost dainty brick building with its inviting front stoop properly evokes images of a second home rather than an institution. Inside, the school is clean, bright, gaily decorated; the halls are quiet and orderly; and the classrooms are stocked with colorful displays and enticements to learning. Every classroom is equipped with a cable TV and a VCR, as well as air conditioning for the students' comfort.

The school boasts a recently renovated science lab, as well as computer classes with high-speed access to the Internet; students begin formal computer training in kindergarten, although even in pre-K my son is already being invited to play with the computer. Students from kindergarten and up have daily instruction in religion and Ukrainian, and the school also has physical education, art, library, ESL, music programs and an after-school program for children of working parents.

The true success of a school, however, depends on much more than modern accouterments. The spirit of a school stems from the people in it, the dedication of its faculty, the caring of its staff, and the energetic involvement and support of its parents. The average class size of 12 students helps to ensure that no child remains "invisible." As a newcomer, I have paid special attention to numerous comments from other parents about how this teacher helped a student catch up after a lengthy illness, or how another offered special tutoring to make sure the student "got it."

Personally, I have been very grateful for the patience and understanding the teachers and the principal have shown my own initially reluctant preschooler, whose shyness can be a challenge at times. Further, I have been duly impressed by the commitment and organization of the PTA, whose energetic fund-raisers support numerous goals throughout the year.

The school's rigorous educational standards, inspired teaching and insistence on parental involvement have consistently earned St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School the distinction of being ranked in the top 25 percent of schools in the nation on standardized testing, with graduates on the honor rolls of some of the best high schools in New Jersey. Indeed, last year's salutatorian from Clifton High School - the second largest public high school in New Jersey - was a graduate of our school.

In today's morally challenged world, a Catholic school education provides a spiritual centering and daily reinforcement of Christian virtues such as charity, honesty, kindness and prayer. In addition, attending a Ukrainian Catholic school provides an environment that fosters respect and appreciation for our unique cultural heritage, and lays the groundwork for continued involvement in our community through the formation of strong friendships. For recent immigrants, our school offers a special place where children can begin their acclimatization to America.

Registration for St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School has been ongoing since March; students for pre-K must be 4 years old by October 31, 2006. For more information call (973) 779-0249, or visit the website at www.home.catholicweb.com/stnicholasukrainian. The school is located at 223 President St. in Passaic.

Sonia Lechicky is a first-year parent at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School.

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