Main / The Academy / School History / Administration
Faculty & Staff / Facilities / Accolades & News / Pre-K Program
Our Parish / FAQs / Color Brochure / Why AOLP? / Directions

Why choose The Academy of Our Lady of Peace?

A SCHOOL AND A BIG FAMILY!
Whether your child begins The Academy of Our Lady of Peace at age three or age ten, he or she will be welcomed into a family where every child is considered a precious unique gift from God, where his/her individual talents will be cultivated.

Serving with joy...prayer and service are part of every day school life. Giving and responding to the needs of others is second nature to our students.

The Academy of Our Lady of Peace is a private, Catholic School of about 220 students enrolled in PreK-8th grade.

"It does not matter whether you have 20 or 30 [students] in a class". What matters is the environment that a student enters when he walks through a classroom door. In smaller schools, students, teacher and administrators all have more personal relationships with each other...This is important to keep kids engaged and part of school," says Dr. Robert Blume, author, National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

"Whether located in an urban, suburban or rural area, small schools are safer and, in general, students in small schools learn more," noted researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Center for School Change.

THE GRADE K-8 CONTINUUM WORKS BEST!
Currently there is a nationwide movement to reinstate the K-8 school model spurred on by a growing body of research that shows K-8 schools are effective in improving students achievement in the middle grades. For example, in a number of published studies comparing K-8 schools to junior high schools in Milwaukee and New York City, and in a statistical analysis by Dr. Robert Offenberg in Philadelphia, researchers noted the following:
  • K-8 schools outperform junior high schools in almost every category assessed and students from K-8 schools achieve higher grade point averages their first year of high school;
  • Eighth grade students in K-8 show higher self-esteem, less victimization, greater levels of participation in extracurricular activities and healthier adolescent development;
  • In an article discussing the K-8 model, "The Great K-8 Debate" the author notes that middle graders in a K-8 school behave differently - they take on the role of protector and role model as opposed to striving to establish new reputations.
 

STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES
The students at The Academy of Our Lady of Peace consistently score well above the national average in every category of TerraNova standardized test scores. Students in grades 1-7 are tested in categories of Reading, Vocabulary, Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Word Analysis/Spelling.

HOME SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
At The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, family participation and involvement with our many programs is encouraged and appreciated. The Home School Association is the parent organization that supports the programs of the school through volunteer staffing and fundraising activities. Parents can volunteer in the library, computer room, and lunch room, to name a few. They can read at story time in the lower grades and serve as a class parent. Participation in fundraisers like our annual Tricky Tray and Walk-a-thon create a community where your child benefits by your presence and involvement.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community Service and volunteerism go hand and hand with a Catholic education rooted in strong Christian values. At The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, we instill in the students the importance of service to their community with the hope that the spirit of community activism will remain a part of their lives throughout adulthood. Volunteerism builds character and self-esteem and is a terrific learning experience.

The Home School Association and the Student Council both sponsor activities throughout the school year providing opportunities for students, parents and families to become involved in community outreach.

OUR GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO THE FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOLS:
Academy of St. Elizabeth
Delbarton School
Governor Livingston High School
Immaculata High School
Kent Place School
Mount St. Mary Academy
St. Peter's Prep
Summit High School
Union Catholic High School
Union County Magnet High School
Villa Walsh Academy

Each year many of our graduates receive scholarships
from a variety of private and parochial high schools.

 TESTIMONIALS:

Student Quotes:
"Our Lady of Peace School is the light in my life because I can talk about my faith freely with my teachers and friends. I am able to grow closer to God and learn about my faith." (Kara S. - Grade 5)

"Our Lady of Peace School is a Grade A School. It is a light in my life." (Brigit W. - Gr. 4)

"I adore Our Lady of Peace School, it makes me feel SPECIAL." (Isabelle M. - Gr. 4)

"I am proud to be part of a school that helps me academically, physically and spiritually." (Kristian G. - Gr. 5)

"Our Lady of Peace School educates my heart and mind and I am proud to call it my school." (James R. - Gr. 3)

"Our Lady of Peace School has given me a sense of comfort that has definitely contributed to my academic success and has given me confidence to excel. I feel completely comfortable expressing my faith and have the opportunity to learn religion." (Meghan M. - Gr. 8)

"Our Lady of Peace School opened my eyes to see God. It proved to my soul that Jesus is my savior. I know and feel that God spoke through everyone and made a permanent change in my life." (Samantha J. - Gr. 8)

Parent Quotes:
"To include God everyday in learning is important to us."
"A Catholic Education provides the Spiritual building blocks for life's road ahead."
"Family values are shared by the staff, students and other families."
"Not only are my children getting an excellent education, they feel safe, respected, and at home."
"OLP provides a safe and supportive environment to learn."
"Discipline is important in the learning and maturing process."
HOME | CALENDAR | SITE MAP | DIRECTIONS | CONTACT US
© Copyright 2008 The Academy of Our Lady of Peace