At Work - The Observer

VISION 2012
Supplement to the OBSERVER • Saturday, March 24, 2012 27
PLAY
NCCS invests in children, invests in the community
In area Catholic churches
we often hear the
phrase “time, talent and
treasure” cited as a guide
to encourage our participation.
At Northern
Chautauqua Catholic
School this is evident in
many ways. Throughout
its 23 years families, faculty,
staff and supporting
parishes have worked
together to demonstrate
the strengths of regionalism
in our area. One of the
accomplishments of these
efforts is the maintenance
of Middle States
Accreditation; requiring
the efforts and commitment
of the entire school
to grow and strive to
improve its well-rounded
educational offering.
The caring atmosphere
starts with welcoming
greetings as you enter the
facility and continues
throughout your visit,
often including the opportunity
to share Fr. Joseph
Zalacca’s lessons with the
children. Fr. Joe’s first
year as the school’s
Canonical Administrator
began as an “ice cream
scooper” at the annual
August Ice Cream Social.
His enthusiastic involvement
with the children has
heightened their awareness
of his spiritual guidance
as well.
The certified faculty
strive to help each child to
progress within their
classroom. From the
Teddy Bear Picnic in the
Pre-K 3-year-old program
to the educational goals of
the eighth grade’s trip to
past settings of Boston,
Washington, D.C.,
Gettysburg, Williamsburg
or Cleveland, the students
have a wide range of academic
experiences. The
balanced efforts of the
OBSERVER file photo
Bishop Edward Kmiec of the Buffalo Diocese (center) recently blessed the new
gym floor at Northern Chautauqua Catholic Schools as part of Catholic Schools
entire faculty are reflected
in the strong assessment
resultsofthestudents.
The families of NCCS
support the efforts of the
children bringing their talents
to a variety of events.
The Home School
Association plans and
organizes many activities
that supplement the funding
of the school and
strive to keep tuition
affordable for local families.
Their efforts also support
field trips opportunities
for all grades. This
includes the three-year
cycle of third to fifth
grades attending the
Genesee Country
Museum, Lockport Locks
and Old Fort Niagara. The
Association established a
morning reading library
the children use to make
good use of their arrival
time at school.
The volunteer efforts of
the athletic director and
coaches have provided the
guidance toward impressive
athletic accomplishments.
This school year
has witnessed league
championships in JV and
Varsity Baseball, JV and
Varsity Girls Basketball,
JV and Varsity Boys
Basketball. An achievement
never accomplished
before the Boys Varsity
Basketball team won the
Diocesan Championship
this year.
The generous support of
school families, past and
present, has also resulted
in the new gym floor,
recently blessed by Bishop
Edward Kmiec during
Catholic Schools Week. A
new sound system in the
gym will be completed
prior to the school musical:
Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, Jr. in
April and the spring concert
in May. A state-ofthe-art
scoreboard completes
the enhancements
to the gym this school
year.
Throughout a child’s
NCCS experience they
will participate in many
service projects aiding St.
Jude’s Hospital, Relay for
Life, area Veterans and
others. They will enjoy
camping trips that incorporate
all of their academic
subject areas and complete
their eighth grade as
a confident, prepared
young person, ready for
the high school of their
choice.
Recently completed
Catholic Schools Week
provided several examples
of the Catholic identity of
NCCS. Visiting the school
website you will find link
to the beautiful Living
Rosary, as well as the
Mass and visit from
Bishop Kmiec. A Bible
camp-modeled experience
in the gym centered on the
Beatitudes.
The spirit of generous
giving is modeled by many
families of NCCS alumni
as they continue to support
the children long
after their own children
have graduated. It may be
in the school’s library,
sports teams, mathematical
activities or helping at
open houses.