May 29, 2009

NCEA honors two grade schools in center city of Indianapolis

Two center city grade schools of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis were honored during the recent National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

St. Joan of Arc School and St. Andrew and St. Rita Catholic Academy were recognized with national education awards.

St. Joan of Arc School’s Families Supporting Faculty received the NCEA 2009 Distinguished Home and School Association Award.

The school’s parent and teacher organization sponsored a project to create and fund “Monarch Parc” to replace the school’s old playground equipment.

More than 50 school families, parishioners and neighbors contributed over $40,000, and more than 50 people volunteered to help with installation of the new playground equipment.

St. Andrew and St. Rita Catholic Academy received the NCEA 2009 Catholic Schools for Tomorrow Award for innovations in education from Today’s Catholic Teacher.

The honor was for their innovative service-learning program titled “Jesus’ Helping Disciples.”

The school is part of the Mother Theodore Catholic Academies, a consortium of Catholic urban schools. The student group integrated the social teachings of the Church with acts of service. †

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