New School for Special Kids
Donation protected
Please consider helping open up a primary school for children with learning challenges.
My name is Father John Valencheck, the pastor of St. Sebastian Parish in Akron, OH. It is the goal of this community to provide a quality education for children of this underserved population. The closest school of this type, the Julie Billiart School in Lyndhurst, OH is about 40 miles north, currently serves children from 7 counties and 38 school districts, is at full capacity and recieves daily calls of interest from families in need. There is an overwhelming desire and need for this new school.
A couple of years ago, in lamenting that the parish could not provide for these incredible children, I was introduced to the principal of the Julie Billiart School. As it turns out, they they had been creating a strategic plan for growth and desired to open other schools in order to serve more children and their families. A team from St. Sebastian Parish and a team from the Julie Billiart School have been working together ever since to open a school in Akron.
The school will serve mild-moderate (high functioning) students who do not otherwise thrive in their current setting. They may need the school temporarily or for the rest of their elementary career.
We are fortunate to have a local high school, St. Vincent - St. Mary High School, which can provide secondary education for these students so that these families can find schooling and services for their child/children locally for all of their primary and secondary years. Although it will be a Catholic school, it is designed to serve all students.
We fully believe that the school will be fully self sufficient. The great news is that if this school is successful, it will become a system of schools in Northeast Ohio to serve these awesome students and make a greater impact on their lives so please help make this a success!
As we move along toward the goal of opening in fall of 2017, we have come across many significant difficulties. But each one has been met with faith and community support, knocking down obstacles and advancing the cause. Recently we were able to obtain a building that contains most of the classrooms that we will need. Christ United Methodist Church has moved to another location and the building was sold to the school. By and large the building is in decent shape but it needs much work done to it before we open.
The money provided by your generosity will go toward everything from preparing building for occupancy (i.e. fixing the parking lot, repairing the elevator, fixing the boiler, painting the classrooms, bringing the building into compliance with the American Disabilities Act) to setting up the classrooms with textbooks, computers, smart boards, and the like.
Please prayerfully consider making a meaningful contribution to this effort. As the holy Father has encouraged us to include ALL people in our Church, we understand the need and importance of allowing these types of learners to have a quality Catholic education that meets their unique social and academic needs.
If this appeals to you at all, I urge you to look further into the Julie Billiart School and the outstanding, award winning work that they have done over the past 60 years and consider donating toward the opening of this school. Anything will help. Even a dollar keeps a lightbulb burning!
One of the awesome parts of this project is that we intend to keep the church as a chapel for the children and their families. Rest assured that we will keep you in our prayers for having made the school possible for these special young folks. If you can’t help us monetarily, please consider helping by your prayers. Anything you can do is so greatly, greatly appreciated. You can make this dream a reality for these children who are so underserved.
God bless!
Find out about the Julie Billiart School HERE .
Find out about the St. Julie Billiart School at St. Sebastian Parish, Akron HERE .
FInd out about St. Sebastian Parish HERE .
The Julie Billiart Mission Statement: Julie Billiart School nurtures and empowers students with special learning needs. It is a Catholic K-8 school rooted in the educational principles of the Sisters of Notre Dame and welcomes diverse faith traditions
#GFMtoSchool
My name is Father John Valencheck, the pastor of St. Sebastian Parish in Akron, OH. It is the goal of this community to provide a quality education for children of this underserved population. The closest school of this type, the Julie Billiart School in Lyndhurst, OH is about 40 miles north, currently serves children from 7 counties and 38 school districts, is at full capacity and recieves daily calls of interest from families in need. There is an overwhelming desire and need for this new school.
A couple of years ago, in lamenting that the parish could not provide for these incredible children, I was introduced to the principal of the Julie Billiart School. As it turns out, they they had been creating a strategic plan for growth and desired to open other schools in order to serve more children and their families. A team from St. Sebastian Parish and a team from the Julie Billiart School have been working together ever since to open a school in Akron.
The school will serve mild-moderate (high functioning) students who do not otherwise thrive in their current setting. They may need the school temporarily or for the rest of their elementary career.
We are fortunate to have a local high school, St. Vincent - St. Mary High School, which can provide secondary education for these students so that these families can find schooling and services for their child/children locally for all of their primary and secondary years. Although it will be a Catholic school, it is designed to serve all students.
We fully believe that the school will be fully self sufficient. The great news is that if this school is successful, it will become a system of schools in Northeast Ohio to serve these awesome students and make a greater impact on their lives so please help make this a success!
As we move along toward the goal of opening in fall of 2017, we have come across many significant difficulties. But each one has been met with faith and community support, knocking down obstacles and advancing the cause. Recently we were able to obtain a building that contains most of the classrooms that we will need. Christ United Methodist Church has moved to another location and the building was sold to the school. By and large the building is in decent shape but it needs much work done to it before we open.
The money provided by your generosity will go toward everything from preparing building for occupancy (i.e. fixing the parking lot, repairing the elevator, fixing the boiler, painting the classrooms, bringing the building into compliance with the American Disabilities Act) to setting up the classrooms with textbooks, computers, smart boards, and the like.
Please prayerfully consider making a meaningful contribution to this effort. As the holy Father has encouraged us to include ALL people in our Church, we understand the need and importance of allowing these types of learners to have a quality Catholic education that meets their unique social and academic needs.
If this appeals to you at all, I urge you to look further into the Julie Billiart School and the outstanding, award winning work that they have done over the past 60 years and consider donating toward the opening of this school. Anything will help. Even a dollar keeps a lightbulb burning!
One of the awesome parts of this project is that we intend to keep the church as a chapel for the children and their families. Rest assured that we will keep you in our prayers for having made the school possible for these special young folks. If you can’t help us monetarily, please consider helping by your prayers. Anything you can do is so greatly, greatly appreciated. You can make this dream a reality for these children who are so underserved.God bless!
Find out about the Julie Billiart School HERE .Find out about the St. Julie Billiart School at St. Sebastian Parish, Akron HERE .
FInd out about St. Sebastian Parish HERE .
The Julie Billiart Mission Statement: Julie Billiart School nurtures and empowers students with special learning needs. It is a Catholic K-8 school rooted in the educational principles of the Sisters of Notre Dame and welcomes diverse faith traditions
#GFMtoSchool
Organizer
John Valencheck
Organizer
Akron, OH