School Year is Underway with Record Enrollment

Children's happy voices once again rang out across the newly-improved playground as the 2010-2011 school year began on August 11. A record number of students -- more than 540, up from 490 at the end of last year -- were in attendance.

This marks the beginning of the school's seventeenth year of operation. This year will see the graduation of the eleventh 8th grade class and the fourth senior class.

Many classes are at or near capacity, but some spaces remain for the current year. Please inquire.

Enrollment will begin for the 2011-2012 school year in January 2011.

Weather Conditons September 7

As of 1:35 pm:

Weather conditions have deteriorated rapidly in the last hour. Rain is now falling heavily and, if it continues at this rate, we will have severe flooding conditions this afternoon on the streets of the Hills and Dales neighborhood and on the nearby 1604 access road. Additionally we can expect slow moving traffic and many accidents throughout the city.

We are taking several extraordinary measures because of these conditions:

ƒÞ There will be no charges for after school care today. If necessary we will remain on campus with your children after 6pm. Do not rush, and do not take any undue risk coming to the school to pick up your children. If streets are blocked by flooding, wait for flooding to subside.

ƒÞ A policy of liberal early pickup applies, beginning immediately. If it is convenient for you to come to the school early to pick up your children, please do so. You may be able to get in and out before the worst of the flooding. But again, do not rush and do not take on any undue risk. Any early dismissals for early pickup will be excused absences.

ƒÞ Car line will move slowly this afternoon. Our faculty and staff will be working hard to look out for the children¡¦s safety, and everything will take longer than usual. If you come through to pick up your children during normal car line times of 3:00 to 4:00, please expect delays, and please be patient.

ƒÞ The meeting of second grade parents this evening concerning sacramental preparation will be delayed one week to next Tuesday evening.

ƒÞ All soccer practices this evening are canceled.

ƒÞ Middle school flag football practices this evening are canceled.

ƒÞ Varsity volleyball practice this evening will be held, but will be optional. Players whose parents find it more convenient to come later will practice. Players whose parents come early will be excused from this practice. The idea is to place safety concerns and the parents¡¦ commuting schedules above the team¡¦s preparation.

ƒÞ Varsity six-man football practice is canceled. In its place, for the benefit of players whose parents come later for pickup, there will be a supervised weight training session. Again, safety and parents¡¦ schedules come first.

ƒÞ The middle school volleyball games scheduled for this evening at St. Peter Prince of the Apostles School are canceled. St. Peter Prince has graciously agreed to reschedule these games.

ƒÞ If regular communications are disrupted, then call me on my cell phone in an urgent situation. The number is in the email just sent to you.

Sincerely,
Ralph Johnston
Headmaster

Atonement Students to Visit Washington and Baltimore

Families, please join us on the evening of Tuesday, August 17 at 7:00 pm in the Common Room for a presentation of our premiere 7th and 8th grade trip to Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland this November.

The trip itinerary will focus on our American heritage and our Catholic American heritage, as the Maryland colonly was founded by Catholics seeking religious freedom, and Baltimore was the seat of the first English-speaking diocese in the United States. We will also visit Annapolis, Maryland and Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia. This will be both a pilgrimage and a history program, and we will have Mass daily while traveling.

It is not too late to sign up for the trip, and attendance is not limited to 7th and 8th graders. Please join us, and please consider accompanying us on the trip!  

Academy Announces Record High Enrollment and Enrollment Moratorium

Enrollment for the 2010-2011 academic year is very robust, and this fall, the academy will have the largest number of students in the school’s history.

So that we may devote our best efforts at the beginning of the school year to serving families who have timely enrolled, a moratorium on enrollment began July 24 and will continue through August 16. (The first day of classes is August 11.) Our ability to process applications and enrollments on August 17 will depend on the volume of requests we receive.

We anticipate that we will receive some admission inquiries during the enrollment moratorium, and they are welcome. Please contact our Director of Admissions, Mr. Andrew Shivone. We will be happy to arrange a visit, including attendance at daily Mass, for your family. This visit will be scheduled for August 17 or a later date.

There are now waiting lists for some grades.

(Updated July 24.)

Four Academy Freshmen are Voelcker Scholars

Four Academy freshmen, Alejandro Oliveros, Kayla Darvin, Zachary Lindsey, and Cecille Sorio were selected to participate in the Voelcker Biomedical Science Academy, a prestigious, three-year opportunity to engage in university-level biomedical research at the UT-Health Science Center campus. The program provides a unique opportunity for local high school students to experience and learn about the world of biomedical research in a manner that is usually reserved for graduate level students. Dr. Irene Chapa, director of the outreach program said, ”This year's applicants were incredibly strong academically. The average overall GPA of applicants was a 97 and there were over 60 applicants this year.” Pictured in the photo (L-R): Cecille Sorio, Zachary Lindsey, Kayla Darvin, Alejandro Oliveros, and Bishop Oscar Cantu.  Bishop Cantu was the guest celebrant for the Academy's daily Mass and posed with the students on the day the school received notification of the awards.