Butler Catholic looks to future Academics, technology part of ed strategy
Every summer for the past five years, Butler Catholic School has been a construction zone.
In that time, the building has gone through renovations, said Kathy Dudley, the school's director of development. The check list includes new windows and roof and improvements to the library, outdoor area, cafeteria, gymnasium and rest rooms. On the horizon are upgrades to the mechanical systems, adding an elevator, and renovating the auditorium and chapel.
Continuous updates to the facility are a complement to the strong focus on academics and a commitment to Catholic education.
All the work is positioning the institution to be “a leader in private school education for the next 50 years,” Dudley said.
Today the school has about 275 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students. There is room for growth, said Sister John Ann Mulhern, principal.
“Butler Catholic students are surrounded in an environment that makes Jesus the most important part of each day,” she said. “We have kept in our curriculum those things that make Catholic education truly excellent, while also investing in the future of Catholic education by incorporating technology thoughtfully into each student's learning experience.”
Technology is present in the classroom.For four years, students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade have had their own chrome books, Dudley said.There are classroom smart boards, mobile laptop and iPad carts, a robotics and makerspace program and two computer labs.The school is progressive in its educational process, according to former teacher Bruno Zuccala, a co-chairman of the school's 50th anniversary celebration.“It keeps taking off year after year about innovation in teaching, technology, athletics, in the arts,” Zuccala said. “It's a very exciting place for children to learn.”The curriculum includes a leadership program for seventh and eighth grade students. Last year, students worked with Slippery Rock University. Students this year will focus on skills assessment with Grove City College.There is also a full schedule of sports for students to participate in from cross country, soccer, girls volleyball; basketball; track and field; and the North Pittsburgh Catholic Ironmen football program which offers opportunities for players and cheerleaders.Music also strikes a chord offering students roles in the school musical, band and chorus. Students have the opportunity to participate in academic games and the Above and Beyond program, which lets children work on individualized academic goals.“Our aim is to graduate students who are self-motivated leaders, life-long learners, and responsible and respectful reflections of Jesus Christ,” Mulhern said. “We are extremely proud of our more than 2,000 graduates over the last 50 years, and how they have used their Catholic education to bless their families and communities.”
Academics will remain paramount in the school's future because of the commitment to students and their families, Zuccala said.“The single best aspect of Butler Catholic School is its family atmosphere. The entire school generates a feeling of care and importance for one another,” he said.Families have the opportunity to serve as homeroom parents, coaches and organizers of special projects or fundraisers. At Butler Catholic, it is not uncommon for parents to literally roll up their sleeves to help.“We have a strong support system from our families,” Dudley said.She noted parents worked on the school garden constructing tables, building walls and moving dirt. They also painted and cleaned the newly renovated preschool room, which doubled the classroom size, getting it ready for students in September.“Over the last 50 years, our graduates have gone on to be class valedictorians, highly regarded surgeons, politicians, military leaders, and more,” Dudley said. “But more importantly, our students and graduates are strong members of their families, their community and their churches.”In addition to a faith-centered foundation, students learn to treat people with respect and kindness, Zuccala said.
Butler resident David Dorcy, a co-chairman of the school's 50th anniversary celebration, knows the impact Butler Catholic can have on a student.The 1973 graduate said his two children are alumni and his grandson is currently enrolled in the school.“It's important because it builds a strong foundation for a child to know their faith, even though every child over there isn't Catholic,” he said.Butler resident Ross Martin's family also is a testament to the school's future.Martin's six children and two of his grandchildren graduated from Butler Catholic School. Currently, three of his grandchildren attend the school.“The school to me is super because I can see it first hand with my grandkids,” said Martin, who had served on the school board for years.A Catholic education instills values in students, he said.“Right now it's a great school,” he said. “I think it'll be there for quite a while into the future.”While the school's anniversary celebration this weekend will highlight where its come, the renovations and strategic plan are positioning the institution for the next 50 years.“The doors are wide open,” Zuccala said. “We will be here. We'll be the staple.”Associate managing editor Donna Sybert contributed to this report.
