Education, Special Needs

School Spirit – Highlights of Exemplary Schools in the New Orleans Area

September 1, 2020

Picking the right school for your child is hard. We let the leaders do the talking to help you make the best choice.

 

ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART 

Sr. Melanie A. Guste, RSCJ, Ph.D., Headmistress 

One of the architects of our educational philosophy, Sr. Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJonce observed that: “Epochs of transition must keep us on the alert. They ask us to keep our eyes open upon the distant horizons, our minds listening to seize every indication that can enlighten us; reading, reflection, searching, must never stop; the mind must keep flexible in order to lose nothing…” 

Guided by this insight, the Academy of the Sacred Heart prepares young women as persons of deep faith and transformational leaders. Today, we understand that leadership for the future will require the critical competencies of cultural and digital citizenship, collaboration and partnership, ethical decision-making and dialogue, an entrepreneurial and growth mindset, and attitudes of self-efficacy and agency. 

In this time of unprecedented change, the world challenges us to evaluate some of our deepest beliefs about what it actually means to be human and how to act as people of conscience and courage. Thus, our educational and instructional methodology must be re-aligned to reflect these fundamental shifts in the human, social, economic, and civic community. We must not only change the “way” that we teach, but we must change the places in which we teach and learn. Walls must come down – literally and metaphorically – as engaged learning occurs within widening circles of community. In newly designed spaces on both campuses, learning is differentiated with collaboration, and active “design-thinking” approaches integrated into the learning experience. 

“All of this is happening through the intersection of mission, academic rigor and innovation, and the power of efficacious partnerships with so many others in a network of over 150 Sacred Heart schools in 41 countries of the world.” says Headmistress Sr. Melanie A. Guste, RSCJ, a Religious of the Sacred Heart who holds a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems and M.S. degrees in Educational Administration and Applied Spirituality. 

We hope that we can look toward the “distant horizons” of the future together for the “sake of each child.” (St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, RSCJ, Foundress) 


4521 St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans, 504.891.1943, ashrosary.org 


KEHOE-FRANCE SCHOOL 

Dr. Tanya Price, Head of School

At Kehoe-France School, serving children 8 weeks-Grade 7, children are nurtured in a warm and welcoming environment. With small class sizes in a secure and picturesque 14-acre environment, our degreed and certified staff encourage students to explore their curiosities.  

As an International Baccalaureate World School in the Primary Years Program and candidate for the Middle Years Program, Kehoe-France is focused on providing an inquiry-based approach to learning. Our students are actively engaged in their development, education, and activities. We focus not only on the academic fundamentals, but also a child’s physical health and wellness through classes and clubs, and a commitment to service as a school community. Our facilities are newly renovated with more improvements to come. Private tours are given daily upon request. We invite everyone to come tour with us and take those first steps onto the path to success. 


720 Elise Ave., Metairie, 504.733.0472, kehoe-france.com 


Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans 

Pierre-Loïc Denichou, Head of School and Chevalier of the Order of the Academic Palms 

Founded in 1998, Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans is a private, French immersion school with experienced faculty from all over the world, a diverse student body, and the best of French and American academics. 

Now serving more than 300 students from 18 months to 8th grade, Ecole Bilingue is Louisiana’s only private school accredited by both the French government and the State of Louisiana. The mission of Ecole Bilingue is to develop globally literate students through a rigorous bilingual French-American curriculum set in a nurturing and multicultural community. We guide our students to excel academically, foster their curiosity, and prepare them to become creative and innovative contributors to the world. 

Ecole Bilingue is set up on the principle that the best way to ensure academic excellence is through a variety of proven teaching methods in a nurturing and vibrant environment. Our beautiful campus includes three buildings specifically designed for early childhood, elementary, and middle school students, as well as a large green space and playground. 

Pierre-Loïc Denichou joined Ecole Bilingue in 2015 and became Head of School in 2019. With extensive experience in curriculum development, teacher training, and education research, Pierre-Loïc has played a major role in improving the quality of education at the school and will continue to transform the academics, community, and culture at Ecole Bilingue. He has previously served as the academic coordinator at Lycée International de Los Angeles. Prior to coming to the U.S. in 2007, he was an elementary teacher at a French school in Bolivia.  

Pierre-Loïc is currently leading the charge for accreditation with the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest with the recent status change to Recognition of Accreditation Candidacy. Ecole Bilingue is also affiliated with several global networks, including the AEFE, NAIS, AFSA, and Mission Laïque Française.  


812 General Pershing St., 504.896.4500, ebnola.net 


URSULINE ACADEMY 

Dr. Margarita O’Bryne Curtis, Interim President  

When Ursuline Academy alumna, Dr. Margarita O’Byrne Curtis, began her position as the 2020-2021 Interim President, it felt much like her first day as an Ursuline student. “When I arrived at Ursuline as a student, I was immediately struck by its welcoming, supportive atmosphere, the emphasis on shared experiences and traditions, and the commitment to transcend the self for the common good. The school often rallied together with a sense of shared purpose and unparalleled pride in our history and our mission,” Curtis said. 

That same sense of shared purpose and unparalleled pride in the Academy mission carries forth in Dr. Curtis’ recent efforts at the school. As the first all-girls’ Catholic school in the nation, the Ursuline Sisters were the very first to provide classes for female African American slaves, free women of color, and Native Americans. They also provided the first center of social welfare in the Mississippi Valley and the first boarding school in Louisiana. “The Ursuline ability to be the first, identify challenges and to seek ways of addressing them with creativity and courage, to show our contemporaries how to ‘lead new lives,’ is a distinctive strain of our DNA, and one we must leverage in the face of our current crisis,” Curtis said. 

With that, the Ursuline Academy Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force was formed. Comprised of various constituencies – trustees, alumnae, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends, the task force holds the specific charge of developing a comprehensive strategic plan to systematically assess all areas of school life, as well as governance and operational structures, and to determine how Ursuline can enhance its cultural competency skills, and create an ever more inclusive, welcoming community.  

Dr. Curtis states, “Ursuline Academy, from its inception, has always aspired to be a community that values and affirms the differences and individuality of each and every girl. We believe that diverse perspectives fuel creative and innovative thinking and problem solving, build empathy, enrich interactions, and provide varied skills and experiences from which the entire school benefits. As a school, we consider cultural competency essential to the pursuit of excellence and success, both on campus and beyond.” 


 

 

2635 State Street, New Orleans, 504.866.5292, go.uanola.org 


Metairie Park Country Day School   

Head of School (Interim) Ian L. Craig

School is a co-educational, non-denominational, independent school where care and cultivation of each child, from Pre-K through 12th grade, come to life with exciting and innovative approaches to teaching. The use of advanced technology and an expansive, rigorous curriculum opens the world to Country Day students, and faculty teaches them the importance of individual achievement through a depth of inquiry rather than a mere recitation of facts.   

Visit an admission open house or email admissions@mpcds.com for a private tour.    

Upcoming open houses include Pre-K, October 22 at 6:30 pm and grades 6th–12th, November 17 at 6:30 pm.  


300 Park Rd., Metairie, 504.837.5204, mpcds.com
   


St. Ann Catholic School 

Lindsay S. Guidry, Principal 

For over 45 years, St. Ann Catholic School has been educating students in Metairie. Serving approximately 850 students from PK2 through 7th grade, it is one of the largest Catholic elementary schools within the Archdiocese of New Orleans. St. Ann students are taught by experienced, certified, and dedicated teachers who focus on teaching the students to know, love, and serve God. 

With over 18 years of experience in education, Principal Lindsay Guidry is proud of the sense of community that is provided at St. Ann School. It is often said that a parent is a child’s first teacher, and at St. Ann School, the transition from learning at home to learning in a classroom is seamless. 

“The goal of Catholic education is to inspire students to form a lifelong relationship with God and a love of learning,” says Guidry. “Our mission is to educate the whole child by fostering lifelong moral integrity, Catholic faith and academic excellence. As principal, I work alongside our dedicated faculty and staff, parents, pastoral staff, and parish community members to help each student reach his or her highest potential.” 

The school’s Pre-K program is designed specifically for two-, three-, and four-year old children, and is explorative, creative, and child-centered. Our school motto is “Think, Reach, Shine!” To prepare our students for high school and beyond, technology is placed in the hands of all students. 

The St. Ann School family includes an active and supportive Home & School Club, Men’s Club, and Grandparent’s Club. Prospective parents are encouraged to visit the school website to learn more and schedule a virtual walk-through tour. 


4921 Meadowdale St., Metairie, 504.455.8383, stannschool.org


Kinder Haus Montessori

In 1984, our founder, Pat Lacoste, opened Kinder Haus Montessori School in Metairie, followed by our Mandeville campus in 1996, with the vision of providing the highest quality care for young children. Now, as we begin our 36th school year, we celebrate the joys that Montessori has brought to thousands of children who have passed through our doors. We truly believe that Montessori is a gift for life.  

We fully embrace the Montessori philosophy of education, allowing children to experience its lifelong benefits. The teaching methods focus on work that helps develop a child’s ability to concentrate, be self-motivated, self-directed, self-confident, and independent. Children learn to care for their own needs by helping with snack time and taking care of the environment. This fosters their natural desire to be independent and self-confident, which they take pride in. Children are encouraged to explore their environment and have freedom to make choices. It’s also stimulating and child-oriented, a place where they can learn and explore without fear. Freedom within a structured environment helps develop a sense of order and purpose, which increases critical thinking skills, decision-making, understanding of natural consequences, and encourages creativity. 

Kinder Haus introduces each child to academic foundations in Math, Science, Language, and Geography. Teachers give individual lessons to support the children socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Children who come through our doors leave with compassion, independence, self-esteem, concentration, and a love for learning.  We invite anyone eager to brighten their world to come visit. 


5201 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, 504.454.2424, kinderhausmontessori.com

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