Sun, The (Lowell, MA)

January 13, 2008

St. Patrick School gains accreditation

Author: The Lowell Sun

Section: Schools

Estimated printed pages: 1

Article Text:

PELHAM -- Today, a giant banner hangs prominently near the front entrance of Pelham’s Saint Patrick School that exclaims, “Congratulations!!! Saint Patrick School 2007…Accredited as a Place of Learning by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.” 
 
For two years, the staff at St. Patrick School worked to complete a self-study, which, along with a positive evaluation by a visiting committee of professionals from throughout New England, resulted in the school’s first accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. 
 
The visiting committee was impressed by the positive climate at St. Patrick School. In their official report, they commended the students for their “welcoming spirit, courteous behavior, and love for their school.” Furthermore, the parents were recognized for their “enthusiasm and commitment to the school” and the faculty for its “obvious commitment to the students.” 
 
Academically, the students at St. Patrick School are in good hands. The visiting committee recognized in their report that all full-time faculty members are certified by the State of New Hampshire Department of Education and commended the faculty for their “collegial approach to teaching,” which is one of the academic program’s “greatest assets.” Likewise, the principal Roger Dumont and Pastor Robert Guillemette received accolades “for their dedication to the success of Catholic Education at St. Patrick School and for using their administrative talents to fulfill the needs of the school.” 
 
Furthermore, St. Pat’s was praised for “providing a host of extracurricular programs that meet the needs of its students,” including soccer, basketball, track, softball, snowboarding, and skiing, as well as a student newspaper, a campus ministry activity called T.I.C.T.A.C., and a series of annual trips and events. 
 
The committee also was impressed with St. Patrick’s beautiful campus, commending the school for its “safe, attractive, and clean” school facilities. 
 
Becoming accredited through NEASC isn’t easy. Saint Patrick School is one of only seven elementary schools of the Diocese of Manchester’s 23 elementary schools to have earned this distinction. 
 
“We were recognized as a school of quality and rigorous standards,” said Roger Dumont, principal. 
 
The accreditation process is comprised of three parts: the self-study conducted by the school, the evaluation by the visiting committee, and the follow-up carried out by the school in response to both the school’s self-study and the recommendations of the visiting committee. 
 
“We grew as a staff and gave the word ‘team’ a new meaning,” Dumont said, “We found the process to be most valuable. The self-study allowed us to take a critical look at ourselves and the evaluation has confirmed our efforts.”