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40-percent enrollment jump
Since a few area schools closed, St. Linus prepares for influx of students
by Jared Field of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 21, 2009
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Photo by Jared Field
Emily Zmudczynski, 15, an alumna of St. Linus School, participates in a toilet paper fight at the parish's annual Vacation Bible School event on July 27. |
Dearborn Heights - When Fr. Bob LaCroix came to St. Linus seven years ago, there were no fewer than six parochial schools within in a 2-mile radius of the 53-year-old parish.
Today, there are but three serving the mostly middle-class neighborhoods of Dearborn Heights.
To the northwest, St. Mel's School closed its doors in 2005. Four years later, two more - St. Dunstan to the west and St. Sabina to the north - were shuttered, leaving St. Linus in sight of a shifting sea of students.
On Aug. 31, the staff at St. Linus Catholic School will be opening its doors to at least 75 new students, from pre-school through eighth grade, as its enrollment has jumped 40 percent - to 249 - since last school year due, in large measure, to the closures.
"No Catholic school around here, I think, is going up 40 percent in one year," Fr. LaCroix said. "We may be the only (school) in the state to go up that much."
St. Linus, characterized by Fr. LaCroix as remarkably stable, has enjoyed modest growth since 2005; but, no one could have expected the coming influx.
"Based on the experience with St. Mel's, I had an inclination that (the closures) would cause an increase in our enrollment," said Dena Jayson, in her ninth year as principal at St. Linus. "I didn't anticipate the increase we had, though - it nearly doubled my expectations."
Jayson's sadness over the loss of two more Catholic schools was mollified, however, by a quick realization.
"I was thankful that so many families chose us, but even more thankful that they chose Catholic education," she said.
Fr. LaCroix, who expressed a similar mixture of emotions, doesn't shy away from the future's inevitable challenges.
"The demographics are all against us," he said. "Catholics are moving farther and farther out and have fewer kids. And the people who are moving in aren't the same percentage Catholic."
Even so, Fr. LaCroix's faith in the school's future isn't rooted in its newest blessing, but in those to come.
"Most priests don't want schools because it's more work," he said. "But I always wanted to be in a parish with a school because, if you do it right, it brings a lot of energy to the parish.
... It's more work, but that's what we're here for.
"You want to be a part of something that has a future."
Working for the future
Fr. LaCroix shows off St. Linus School like it's his own classic car, fully restored and ready to run.
Walking the freshly-waxed floors of the school, Fr. LaCroix talks about what was and what will be. From the freshly painted walls to the new carpeting in the library, St. Linus is remodeling for the future.
Rooms filled with boxes of new textbooks that, only a year ago were being readied for 15 students, now have to be prepared for up to 30.
"We didn't have to add any classrooms, which I was grateful for; but, almost all of our classrooms now are full, when they didn't used to be," Fr. LaCroix said. "We've been working hard all summer to make the place shine and sparkle."
Another room is packed halfway to the ceiling with confections, games and Biblical storybooks in from the parish's annual Vacation Bible School.
Upstairs, there are several televisions waiting to be installed in classrooms that were purchased at auction, along with books, tables and other items, from the shuttered schools.
"We were able to get a lot of the things we needed at a fraction of the cost that it would have been to buy them new ... and those are pretty big TVs," said Fr. LaCroix, obviously charmed by the deal.
Soon, teachers will be reviewing records of the incoming students, something Jayson says they don't normally have to do. The extra work, she says, is a welcome hardship.
Integrating for the future
Sue Faulk, a St. Linus parent who works as the school's marketing director and chairs its enrollment committee, says she knows what keeps the school thriving - and it's not other schools' misfortune.
"There's a sense of community here; it has always been an open community," said Faulk, an alumna. "That is what distinguishes us and keeps us alive."
The challenge for Faulk and the staff at St. Linus is to make the transition comfortable for everyone.
"It's about making them feel welcome," Faulk said. "What would I want if I were changing schools?"
"Let's give them a positive experience, something warm, and something Christian."
Faulk is not worried about the school's readiness to take on so many new faces, believing that everyone will seize upon the opportunity.
"Our building has the capacity and our community has the capacity," she said. "The best way to attract them is with a personal connection...it has to be about quality. It's a huge commitment for parents, financially and emotionally. And good experiences will attract more in the future."
Alex Love, 14, is excited about the possibilities.
"I think it's a good chance to meet new people," said Alex, a soon-to-be 8th grader. "It will just be a little more crowded."
Educating for the future
Looking ahead to opening day, Jayson knows she won't be as accessible to newcomers as she has in the past.
"With so many, I won't be able to do that," she said. "So it's not as much of a fear as it is regret. But I'm confident we will get this first day off right."
And from there, she says, it's back to business as usual. Back to preparing young minds for the world in a safe environment, with dedicated teachers, rigorous academics and an eye to character formation.
Indeed, to fulfill the mission spelled out in Fr. LaCroix's own words:
"I would like us to become wiser and more effective at raising our children to be saints and handing on our faith. I would like us to be an example of the benefit of the sacrifice parents make to give their children a Catholic education."
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