Middle school academy at Judge to allow enhanced curriculum for Our Lady of Lourdes students
SALT LAKE CITY – A new collaboration between the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School and Judge Memorial Catholic High School will provide extended opportunities for middle-school grade students.
The two schools are adjacent to each other. As part of the diocesan strategic plan, Our Lady of Lourdes Middle School Academy will begin operating at Judge for the 2021-22 school year, serving seventh- and eighth-grade students. Sixth-graders are tentatively scheduled to be added to the academy in the 2022-23 school year.
The academy is the first step toward delivering a prekindergarten through 12th grade campus in downtown Salt Lake, similar to what is offered at the Skaggs Catholic Center, according to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School Advancement Director Cheri Wright.
“We’re really excited to be able to partner with Lourdes and be able to enhance some of the programming they’re able to offer,” Judge Memorial CHS Principal Patrick Lambert said. “We’re excited to go into that partnership to support the great education they’re already providing and be able to provide some of the resources that we have available here at the high school.”
The academy will have its own space on the fourth floor of Judge Memorial’s building, with a dedicated entrance and stairwell. It will be administered by the Our Lady of Lourdes faculty. Students will be taught core subjects by Our Lady of Lourdes teachers but will have access to enhanced curriculum with Judge faculty members, including math, foreign language (Spanish and Latin the first year) and science offerings. Academy students can also sign up for “exploratories” – quarter-long classes by Judge faculty in theater performance, boys and girls dance, drawing and design, choral and instrumental music.
Academy students will have lunch in the Judge cafeteria in a separate space supervised by Our Lady of Lourdes faculty and staff. They will have access to a dedicated counselor and Judge’s learning resource center services, along with increased opportunities for sports and extracurricular activities.
Academy students will wear the Our Lady of Lourdes school uniform and following the school’s philosophies. They will attend weekly Mass together and join their Our Lady of Lourdes peers for monthly Mass, participate in the school family activities including service and prepare for Confirmation through Our Lady of Lourdes.
Over the past several months, the schools surveyed parents and held four town hall meetings to gather input about the academy from the OLOL community.
“One of the things that came from our surveys that people feel very strongly about was that the Lourdes traditions and the sense of community of being part of the K-8 school is maintained,” Wright said.
Response to the academy proposal has been very positive.
“My daughter is beyond excited,” said parent Erin Schumaker. “The academy will challenge her and let her flourish. Plus it’s a really progressive way to transition into high school.”
Development of the academy benefits both schools and their students, Judge Advancement Director Derek Jensen said. “It solidifies the partnership of the two schools, blends the faculty and gives the middle school students more extracurricular and more athletics.”
“We hear from families they are in favor of a sixth through 12th grade model,” he added. “They love the idea that there is only one transition in sixth grade and then they’re set all the way through their high school graduation.”
“We are very excited,” Jensen said. “We know that it is a new concept in this part of the valley but we know it’s not new at all when you look more globally and you see how many of these k-12 campuses are thriving all across the country.”
Tuition for academy students will be at the OLOL rate. Initially the number of students will be capped at 30 per grade. The priority application deadline is March 5. For information, contact the school.
Establishing the academy at Judge will also free up space for OLOL to begin a pre-kindergarten program, probably in the 2022-23 school year.
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