Pieces have fallen in place sooner than expected for Everest Academy, allowing it to add a Catholic High School program years earlier than expected.
‘Ever since we started, we knew we’d have a high school,? said Maura Plante, director of admissions at Everest. ‘We needed some pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.?
The high school will offer gender-specific, boys and girls classes and programs on its 90-acre campus at 5935 Clarkston Road, Independence Township.
It will start next year with a ninth-grade class, using existing facilities. The school will welcome a new freshman class each year until 2012, when it will have grades 9-12 and its first senior class will graduate.
Another piece of the puzzle is Principal Richard Copland, joining Everest this past July after 18 years instruction and administration at the high school level, including 12 as assistant principal at Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills.
Athletic Director Ann Lowney coached athletic teams at college and highs school levels, including Clarkston High School, Plante said.
A final piece was a successful capital fundraising campaign, she said.
Everest Catholic High School, with the motto ‘Strong faith, stronger academics, strongest families,? will offer a grade 9-12, college-preparatory curriculum, accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.
Everest’s gender-based education model helps boys and girls academically, socially, and spiritually, Copland said.
‘At Everest, boys and girls are encouraged to develop their unique strengths to achieve their full potential,? he said. ‘Our program takes into account different learning styles, environment and the positive role models that students need to show them the path to success.?
For example, boys tend to blurt out responses to a teacher’s question while girls tend to take time to think about it first, he said.
‘Boys could get more of the teacher’s attention,? he said.
Also, single-sex instruction allows students to focus on academics during school, improves self esteem, and builds leadership abilities, he said.
Several eighth-grade students and their parents are interested in continuing with Everest, Plante said.
‘They’ll be in the first class composite on the wall,? she said.
‘It’ll be really cool to be a founder,? said Sarah Luttinen, eighth grader and future freshman.
‘I think it will be a great experience ? to go to a new school and set traditions,? said classmate Fabiana Diaz.
Goals include setting up high school drama, sports teams such as lacrosse, math club, student council, homecoming and other social events, and other activities, the students said.
Eight religious-order members ? priests and consecrated women ? provide spiritual guidance, role models, and Catholic sacramental services including daily communion and Mass, monthly spiritual guidance, and frequent confession, said Father Daniel Pajerski, director of formation.
Everest’s curriculum is based on Integral Formation, a method of education developed by the Legionaries of Christ, Pajerski said.
‘Our Catholic identity is at the heart of Everest,? he said. ‘Our students aspire to greatness. We help them to see that greatness lies in imitating Christ.?
Integral Formation is a four pillar model, which develops academic excellence, spiritual formation, character development and apostolic service to the community, such as helping out at local and Detroit shelters, he said.
‘It’s an opportunity to go outside the self and serve others,? Pajerski said.
‘The high school will offer more enhanced leadership opportunities.?
As enrollment grows, they plan to build more facilities such as athletic fields, gym, and classrooms, Plante said.
‘As we grow, we’ll build? she said.
Everest Academy, founded in 1991, is a private, independent Catholic school offering co-ed education for preschool through second grade, and gender-specific education for grades three and up.
For more information, call Everest at 248-241-9012 or check www.everestcatholic.org.