IN Norwin Summer 2017 | Page 33

SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT F Mary of Nazareth Catholic School — Affordable, Faith-based Education inding a Catholic school that not only excels academically as well as keeps costs down for working families can be a challenge. Fortunately, Mary of Nazareth Catholic School offers just such a combination to more than 225 students each year. Located in White Oak and convenient to the borders of eight public school districts, Mary of Nazareth is a central hub of Catholic education in the eastern suburbs providing preschool through eighth grade education grounded in the Catholic faith. Bringing together adherence to religious devotion as well as dedication to giving students the academic tools they’ll need to succeed in the 21st century, Mary of Nazareth consistently scores above average in the PSSA private school equivalent standardized tests. “Our students learn Spanish starting in preschool and continue through eighth grade. Our special education classes are inclusive. We have a variety of Pre-K programs to offer and our average class size is around 15 to 20 students,” said Amy Sullivan, development director. “We also have a very strong technology department with every one of our students having a device of some sort from preschool on up. These include tablets, Kindles, Gigabits, laptops and desktop units that are issued to the students for the school year.” Mary of Nazareth mid-level students also receive STREAM education, which is the parochial school equivalent of public school STEAM programs, adding Religion to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. All teachers hold Pennsylvania and Diocesan certification s. Lastly, it has the acclaimed St. Anthony Program, which is an inclusive Catholic special education environment for students aged 5 to 21. But it’s not all academics and faith at Mary of Nazareth — community service, athletics and camaraderie all are focal points in the school’s pursuit of producing well-rounded students. “Athletically, we compete in soccer, volleyball, cross country and basketball here,” Sullivan said. “Academically, we compete in math, science, social studies, English and spelling. The entire school is a team, working together, and we pride ourselves on a strong sense of family here. Most of our families begin in the preschool stages and finish at eighth grade. Being as small as we are, everyone is very close and supportive.” If all of this sounds like it’s too much for a family to afford, Mary of Nazareth is a real value when it comes to private school education. Yearly tuition is less than $4,000 and family rates are available for households with more than one child. It also has a financial aid program that can help families defray the cost further if necessary. The campus is secured for safety and the entire faculty has training and certification through FEMA in case of emergencies. For more information on Mary of Nazareth Catholic School, go to the website at maryofnazarethschool.org online. Better yet, call 412.672.2360 to schedule a tour with the principal at any time of the year. The campus is located at 1640 Fawcett Avenue in White Oak, 15131. Norwin | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 31