Academy of the Sacred Heart- Sr. Melanie A. Guste, RSCJ, Ph.D., Headmistress
A member of the Society of the Sacred Heart, Sr. Melanie A. Guste, RSCJ, has been engaged in educational and organizational system initiatives at the local, state and national levels. She has served at Schools of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau and San Francisco, and currently serves on the Board for Stone Ridge Country Day School. A native of New Orleans, she attended the Sacred Heart from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Sr. Guste has master’s degrees in Educational Administration from Loyola University and Applied Spirituality from the University of San Francisco. She earned a Doctorate in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, Calif.
“I am blessed to have been selected to serve Sacred Heart as its Headmistress. We look forward to many years of active growth and partnership in our tradition of academic excellence which has been supported for so many years by a deep faith, mission focus, and a strong sense of community.”
–4521 Saint Charles Ave., NOLA, 70115, 504.891.1943, www.ashrosary.org
Louise S. McGehee School- Eileen Powers, Headmistress
Successful girls possess a combination of self-esteem, resilience and grit. McGehee goes the extra mile in teaching girls critical skills for the 21st century. Small by design, McGehee provides a nurturing environment and builds collaborative relationships between students and faculty.
Providing excellence in education since 1912, Louise S. McGehee School is an all-girls college preparatory school for grades Pre-K – 12th. Our mission focuses on the individual and fosters a lifelong love of learning. Rigorous academics, competitive athletics, honor, service and leadership are at the core of the McGehee advantage.
Headmistress for 17 years, Eileen values tradition as well as innovation, enhancing our student body and campus. Our revered honor code serves as a moral compass, setting McGehee girls apart. Through Online School for Girls, we offer a wider range of AP and elective courses. Our students are admitted to top colleges and universities across the country.
2343 Prytania St., NOLA, 70130, 504.561.1224, www.mcgeheeschool.com
Little Gate- Eileen Powers, Headmistress
Next year, Little Gate, McGehee’s preeminent co-ed early childhood program, will mark a quarter century of quality education for young children. Since Little Gate’s inception, McGehee has been committed to finding the best methods for preschoolers to learn. Innovation abounds at Little Gate and the Reggio Emilia approach has now been in place for over seven years.
In 2015, Mathilde Hall will open as the cornerstone of Little Gate on the McGehee campus at 2318 St. Charles Avenue. In addition to preschool classrooms, this historic building will include flow spaces, a tinker lab, a play yard, green space, and more. The building is contiguous with McGehee’s unique outdoor classroom—the Butterfly Garden and these spaces, along with 1538 Philip, will provide the space needed for its youngest students to grow and thrive.
As Eileen Powers says often, “The McGehee Advantage begins at Little Gate.”
2343 Prytania St., NOLA, 70130, 504.561.1224, www.littlegate.com
Saint Stanislaus– Brother Francis David, S.C., President
The Brothers of the Sacred Heart founded Saint Stanislaus in 1854 to serve as a sanctuary where boys could find guidance in all aspects of life. As a Brother myself, I can attest to the challenge this can be at times. However, throughout this endeavor, the Brothers have amassed a wealth of knowledge regarding the education and formation of boys—effectively becoming the leading experts on boys. At Saint Stanislaus, we have a name for this school of thought that strives to understand how boys think, behave and learn: “Boyology.”
Our grasp of boyology coupled with our boarding program sets us apart from other Catholic schools in the country. Our boarding students from all over the world enjoy a college-style campus with structure that supports self-discipline, encourages independence and fosters academic success. Students have in-room individual desks and benefit from dedicated study time that builds routines and strong study skills that will last a lifetime. Common areas are relaxed zones that let boys be boys with just-right supervision. The structured dorm environment encourages participatory leadership and a commitment to strive toward one’s personal best. Our diverse student community learns together, forging lifelong connections and a global view.
Another unique aspect of our school is our location. Our campus extends beyond the classrooms and grassy commons to the Gulf of Mexico, the picturesque downtown area of Bay St. Louis and to nearby metropolitan areas. After classes, students can enjoy fishing from our 1,000 foot pier, join our year-round sailing team or attend weekend field trips to New Orleans, Biloxi, Mobile and other fun destinations.
Additionally, the Saint Stanislaus beachfront campus is an unrivaled outdoor lab for our marine science program, which takes advantage of our proximity to world-class research institutions and universities to engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. All-in-all, our campus provides a safe, fun place for boys to play, grow and learn.
Since our school’s founding, students have thrived academically and spiritually in an atmosphere of structure and friendly discipline grounded in the accumulated wisdom of the Brothers. The personal attention and nurturing environment that the Brothers and lay faculty provide at Saint Stanislaus go far in forming our boys into men of character. I encourage you to explore how our Catholic boarding school could help your son achieve his personal best and prepare him for college and beyond.
304 S. Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, MS, 39520, 228.467.9057, www.ststan.com
Metairie Park Country Day School- Carolyn Chandler, Head of School
Metairie Park Country Day School enriches the lives of talented young people in a dynamic learning environment, building strength of both intellect and character within a community that is simultaneously challenging and supportive. Our students learn to be flexible, to be adaptable, and to face the challenges of life with honor, optimism, confidence, creativity, and a sense of humor.
Established in 1929, Metairie Park Country Day School is a co-educational, non-denominational, independent school where care and cultivation of each child, from Pre-K through grade 12, come to life with exciting and innovative approaches to teaching. Our uses of advanced technology and our expansive, rigorous curriculum open the world to our students. Our outstanding faculty holds our students to high standards, while teaching the importance of individual achievement through depth of inquiry rather than mere recitation of facts. The Country Day tradition of developing an aesthetic sensibility in students is reflected not only in our beautiful 14-acre campus, but also in the rich and varied performing and visual arts program that has been a hallmark of our school. Our insistence on intellectual virtues and ethical leadership is woven throughout the daily lives of the diverse individuals that build our community.
Learning in the 21st century calls for the very values and practices that have made Country Day unique since its inception. Our students are prepared to compete on a global scale, and face the future with poise and with vigor. The successes of our graduates in college and beyond are a living testimony to the curiosity, involvement, and creativity engendered by our philosophy and our community.
300 Park Rd., Metairie, 70005, 504.837.5204, www.mpcds.com
Trinity Episcopal School- The Rev. Gary Taylor, Head of School
Trinity Episcopal School welcomed the Rev. Gary Taylor as its new Head of School last summer. A graduate of Yale College, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Virginia Theological Seminary, the Rev. Taylor is a perfect fit for our mission; he combines over 20 years of educational leadership experience with a pastoral emphasis on the role school plays in developing each child’s moral compass.
Since 1960, Trinity Episcopal School has graduated students of exceptional academic and intellectual ability. They are highly sought after by local high schools because of their love of learning, capacity for hard work, and sense of personal responsibility.
The period from infancy through middle school is also when children come to own their personal values, define their lives’ priorities, and develop habits of compassion, resiliency and integrity. It is, as we remind ourselves in our school prayer, when children learn to be Gentle, Generous, Truthful, Kind, and Brave.
At Trinity, we focus on young children. Ours is a community where their intellectual and social aspirations are somewhat shielded from the pressures and temptations of high school and the world beyond.
At Trinity, we attend to the social dimension. Our students learn to navigate a social setting that includes boys and girls. Our Responsive Classroom model helps our children find their voices and learn to listen respectfully to the perspectives of others.
At Trinity, faith matters. Although students and staff come from a variety of faith traditions, our simple, regular chapel services anchor our day and unite our purpose toward a perspective larger than self.
1315 Jackson Ave., NOLA, 70130, 504.525.8661, www.trinitynola.com
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School- Mason Lecky, Head of School
In the winter of 2008, I happily accepted the offer to serve as the sixth Head of School at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, the oldest Episcopal school in the city of New Orleans and a small school in which every child is both known and loved. For the prior 10 years, I had served as an elementary and high school teacher, athletic coach, and administrator at St. Albans School in Washington, DC, a 100-year-old boys school with an outstanding and rigorous academic program.
In coming to New Orleans and to St. Andrew’s, my goal has been to combine the benefits of a first-rate academic program, one that prepares children for the challenges of high school, college, and life beyond, with the caring and supportive environment that has been the hallmark of a St. Andrew’s education for nearly six decades.
I firmly believe we have the best of both worlds here at St. Andrew’s—an academic environment in which our students routinely test in the top quartile of private-school-normed achievement tests and also gain admission to their choice of top area high schools; but also a school in which our 8th Graders know the names of our Kindergarten students, where siblings come together in a family-like environment, and where the Decade of Childhood is cherished from the ages of four through 14.
Mr. Lecky received his B.A. in history from the University of Virginia and an Ed.M. in School Leadership from Harvard University. He was a Columbia University Klingenstein Fellow in January 2014.
8012 Oak St., NOLA, 70118, 504.861.3743 • www.standrewsepiscopalschool.org
Kinder Haus Montessori- Pat Lacoste, Founder and Director
In 1984, I opened Kinder Haus Montessori School in Metairie with the vision of providing the highest quality care for young children. Now in the midst of our 31st school year, I can proudly say Kinder Haus has far surpassed my initial dream. Thousands of children have passed through our doors, taking with them many gifts for life.
Within our two schools—the Mandeville campus opened in 1996—we truly embrace the Montessori philosophy of education, allowing children to experience the life-long benefits that accompany it. Children develop concentration skills, become self-motivated, self-directed, and self-confident by being given the freedom of choice in a structured Montessori classroom environment. Children also gain an appreciation for order and learn independence and self-care skills as they, for instance, learn to serve themselves snacks, learn to clean up after themselves and to put their work back on the appropriate shelves.
Kinder Haus introduces each child to academic foundations in Math, Science, Language Arts, and Geography. During the work periods, individual attention to each student from the teachers supports the whole child socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. Children excel because they know their teachers believe in them and support them.
The Montessori environment fosters the children’s natural desire to learn and promotes a positive self-concept, which is truly a gift for life. More importantly, the children become compassionate, inquisitive and socially competent. Independence, self-esteem, concentration, and the love of learning are vital for personal success. I invite anyone eager to brighten our world to come and visit.
5201 W. Napoleon Ave. , Metairie, 70001, 504.454.2424, www.kinderhausmontessori.com
St. Paul’s Episcopal School- Charleen Schwank, Head of School
Excitement, creativity, challenge, confidence—at St. Paul’s Episcopal School we believe every child should be engaged in a continuous process of learning and discovery. Nestled in the heart of Lakeview, St. Paul’s provides a loving, family atmosphere, from toddlers to 8th grade, where students feel safe to explore, take risks and gain confidence. Each child can realize his or her special gifts and talents with the guidance of our highly qualified, experienced faculty.
At St. Paul’s we believe that fostering life-long learning and academic success for the 21st Century global citizen requires the ability to think critically, demonstrate good character, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and exhibit cross-cultural competency. Our academic and character building programs ensure that our students will meet these goals. The curriculum is rich in integrated learning and project-based experiences. Educating for sustainability is carefully woven throughout the academic curriculum. We build a solid foundation in the core subjects, especially in Lower School, through hands-on activities and real life applications in our new state-of-the-art building. The Middle School curriculum is rigorous, and the St. Paul’s approach is one that respects, guides, and nurtures these students. All grades enjoy the daily use of technology as a tool for learning and creating through the use of iPads, SmartBoards, Aquos Boards, computer labs and the high tech media lab.
The spiritual development of our children is vitally important as we teach them to be empathetic, caring and respectful of all beliefs. Our service learning program has young students working with special needs children, and middle school students participate in “PAWS” to Work, a weekly program which provides service to the school community.
Learning extends beyond the classroom. Our many sports teams reinforce physical as well as social skills. Outdoor education, gardening, cooking in the outdoor culinary center, and field trips are significant parts of the learning process.
A wide range of programs, such as Science Olympiad, Math Olympiads, and Lego League, are offered to middle school students. The visual arts program includes pottery, watercolors, charcoal, acrylics, and print making. Performing arts consist of choir, handbells, guitar instruction, and the studio band. Sparking the creativity of our students in a variety of ways prepares them for flexible, creative problem solving. Spanish is taught from two years-8th grade and Latin is a middle school subject.
Please visit our classrooms and learn more about St. Paul’s. We believe our process for learning and discovery is for your child, and we would love to welcome you into the St. Paul’s family.
6249 Canal Blvd., NOLA, 70124, 504.488.1319. www.stpauls-lakeview.org
Beary Cherry Tree- Kim Mumphrey, Early Childhood Coordinator & Four Year Old Teacher
Beary Cherry Tree is one of the most unique child development centers in the Metro New Orleans area. We are a five-star quality child development center, which means low ratios and high quality for each of the families we serve. Our center promotes positive relationships while guiding your child in their physical, mental, social and emotional growth.
Kim Mumphrey, our Early Childhood Coordinator/ Four Year Old Teacher, provides mentoring and collaboration with the staff to ensure that the best methods are used to assist the children at Beary Cherry Tree as they flourish and grow. Kim works collaboratively with many organizations and schools while consistently continuing professional development in order to bring current information to the staff. Our staff implements research-based assessments and aligns our curriculum to meet the individual needs of our children, while guiding them through each developmental stage of growth to set a strong foundation.
3117 Lake Ville Dr., Metairie, 70002, 504.455.1950, www.bearycherrytree.com
Holy Name of Jesus School- Jessica Dwyer, M. Ed., Principal
Jessica Dwyer is in her 15th year of education during which she has gained experience in public, private, and Catholic school settings. She has earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and one in educational leadership and is currently working on her doctorate in education administration. Jessica is extremely excited and honored to be a part of an outstanding school with a rich history of educational excellence and tradition in our city. She intends to continue the rigorous and comprehensive program of studies, while also enhancing it to meet the needs of the student body. While being keenly aware of the duty we are charged with to prepare students for the 21st century world, Jessica plans to use her understanding of school leadership and curriculum and instruction to propel Holy Name of Jesus to another level of greatness. Holy Name of Jesus is a PreK through 7th grade co-educational Catholic school.
6325 Cromwell Pl., NOLA, 70118, 504.861.1466, www.hnjschool.org