HISTORY
OF ST. RITA'S SCHOOL
Seventy-
five years ago, a man had a dream and a community had a need. There
were those who said he could not achieve his dream but there still was
a need. How was he going to do it, where was he going to get the money
and the support? But he would not let go of his dream. There were
those who said he should build the upper church planned by Father
Simmonetti. When he ask the advice of the people, the answer was
clear. Build a School ! The man was Father Anthony Manno and the
community was Saint Rita. Fr. Manno felt that a school would not only
provide education for our youth, but also meet their spiritual needs.
Property
on Shepherd Avenue was purchased and plans begun. A fund-raising drive
was begun. The bulk of the money necessary for building the proposed
school, was to be raised by calling upon individuals in the parish to
make great personal sacrifices. There are many who may well remember
those lean days when the task of going from home to home was
undertaken by Father Manno. Some still have their contribution books
from the drive.
The
exceptional activities of Father Manno resulted in the building during
1926, as reported: " a substantial and attractive structure on
Shepherd Avenue; a three-story parochial school of sixteen large and
well-lighted classrooms, was soon a reality and rose almost as a
monument to Father Manno's habitual smile and cheerfulness who
directed his unbounded energy toward a parochial school building which
any parish would be proud to possess. Besides other rooms, the large
and architecturally correct auditorium has a seating capacity for 750
persons and is used also for Mass on Sunday, to supplement the limited
capacity of the Church."
Next
, Father Manno bought a six-room family house on the side of the
Church and renovated it as a convent for the teaching staff. In
August, 1927 a contingent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame arrived
at the parish. On September 12, 1927, Father Manno's dream had finally
become a concrete reality as the school was opened with an enrollment
of 200 pupils. The number of students have grown , so that today we
have 640 students with science labs, computers and after school
enrichment programs. Saint Rita's School has also been granted Middle
States Accreditation.
The
type of basic education received by the pupils of Saint Rita's School
has always proven to be very thorough. This fact is made clearly
evident by the success of so many of the graduates. We have numbered
among our graduates men and women who have been successful in both
professional and non-professional fields.
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ADMISSION
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Children
are admitted to our school in September of the year in which:
-
they
turn four years old, for the pre-kindergarten;
-
they
turn five years old, for the kindergarten;
-
they
turn six years old, for the first grade.
At
the time of admission parents/guardians must provide:
-
a
copy of the child's birth certificate
-
an
immunization record, indicating compliance with state immunization
requirements ( No shots, No School)
-
If
the child has been baptized, a copy of the baptismal certificate.
Transfer
students seeking admission to grades two through eight must also
provide a copy of the latest report card from the school they are
currently attending. All students must be interviewed by the principal
before being accepted to our school.
If
you are interested in seeking admission, fill out the attached form
and Fax us for an interview at ( 718) 827-2767 or bring it to the
school.
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