St. Gerard Catholic High School forms educational alliance with St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home

José De Leon, St. Gerard Catholic High School teacher, carefully monitors the progress of each student at St. PJ’s. He offers individualized instruction on core curriculum to students who this day enjoyed a free pass from uniforms. Diana Saenz | For Today’s Catholic

SGH, established in 1927 with the motto, “A School Where You Learn to Make a Difference,” brings a rich history of proud traditions to a new population of students. St. PJ’s is a residential child care facility, licensed by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, for abused, neglected and abandoned children from the ages of 2 to 17.

This new educational alliance offers hope and a fresh beginning for St. PJ’s students. “We are very pleased to form a partnership with St. PJ’s, having classes on site,” enthused SGH Principal Peter Rivera.

St. PJ’s Executive Director James Castro emphasized, “Without this alliance many of the adolescents we serve would miss crucial days of education due to the struggles they have transitioning into the local public schools. Suspensions, anxieties of attending class and refusing to go are some of the difficult challenges that the children face.”

This ambitious endeavor began, after dialogue between Castro, Rivera and Patricia Davis, superintendent for archdiocese’s Catholic schools. Implementation of this educational initiative was through the collaborative efforts of Rivera, Castro and Sherry Loyd, director of program service at St. PJ’s. Rivera said, “The planning stages for the satellite campus began early during the 2010-11 school year with a target implementation date for the first day of the second semester which was Jan. 3. Classes officially began Jan. 5.”

Rivera added, “By offering an SGH Catholic education, the St. PJ students are afforded more individualized instruction. Student residents of St. PJ’s have their daily classes taught by José De Leon, St. Gerard faculty member, for those in grades 8 through 10. Students at St. PJ’s, enrolled full time, follow the core curriculum of St. Gerard for course schedule and time allotments, uniform policy and adhere to the general tenets of the St. Gerard handbook. Both students and caseworkers at St. PJ’s have immediate access to online grading portals through the St. Gerard website (www.stgerardsa.org) to track student progress, assignments and upcoming projects. Resident students also are afforded opportunities such as prom activity, athletic participation, regular visits, including attendance for elective classes, at the SGH home campus on South New Braunfels.

De Leon, who formerly worked with at-risk students in the South San Independent School District, embraces his ministry of teaching at St. PJ’s. “My position at St. PJ’s has been a blessing,” he said. I’m in a position to both educate and mentor young adults with troubling backgrounds. These are the target students who need special attention to get back on track to an educated, stable and healthy life. It is truly rewarding work to be a positive influence in all of their lives.” De Leon’s use of Differentiated Instruction (DI) has proven immensely successful. Rivera remarked of De Leon, “His success rate with previous students made him a natural fit for the satellite campus.”

As for any challenges encountered by this partnership, Rivera said, “Because we thoroughly planned with St. PJ’s every step of the way, most of the obstacles were removed long before the first day of classes. Computers were supplied by St. PJ’s, textbooks and other instructional materials are provided by SGH.”

Rivera and Castro are dedicated to furthering this worthy goal. Said Rivera, “We look forward to our future growth, assisting in the educational endeavors of the students who have been entrusted us. Both St. Gerard and St. PJ’s have a long tradition of education, and our partnership ensures our ongoing mission of providing Catholic education in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.”