Catholic school making strides

MONTROSE – In September, members of the Catholic community opened a school to teach Catholic values to its students.

Although the school was not approved by Bishop Arthur Tafoya of the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo, the seven-member board has continued to work and the Pope John Paul II Academy has been successful so far.

The school currently has 22 students enrolled and teaches kindergarten through third grade. Dr. Michael Brezinsky, M.D., a board member who helped start the school, said he originally predicted between 12-24 students for the opening semester and was pleased with the number of students the school has. The school currently has four teachers, but Brezinsky said he expects growth in the near future.

“The first year is always a bit more difficult,” Brezinsky said. “But we hope to be expanding from kindergarten through 12th grade soon.”

The school will, however, offer fourth- and fifth-grade classes next year. Brezinsky said parents have been giving a lot of positive feedback about the school and that he expected enrollment to increase in the second semester of this year, and double to 45 students next year.

“Parents tend to get more comfortable once they see how the school works,” Brezinsky said.

Unlike regular grade schools, the school teaches views of the Catholic faith in hopes that the Bishop will one day grant them approval.

“We’re teaching the Catholic faith. We want our students to form academically, spiritually and morally.”

For more information about the school, call the Academy’s office at 275-2473.