By Marie Mulvenna

Enrollment in archdiocesan Catholic schools for the new school year remains relatively steady with 1,061 reported on the scholastic high school roster compared to 1,147 last year. On the elementary level, 4,631 students are listed for the current school year, compared to 4,792 last year.

Sister Madeline Roddenbery, superintendent of schools, said the current school figures vary slightly from one school to another, but generally indicate a stable picture of enrollment.

Sister Madeline said she and Sister Valentina Sheridan, associate superintendent of schools, are working closely together planning programs for the school year. "Our work is one of teamwork," Sister said, adding that they share experience and expertise, a process she said is highly encouraged and widely used in the archdiocese's parochial school system.

This year, a list of consultants will work with all schools in various areas including religion, continuing education, reading, math, libraries, legal areas and cafeteria management.

Sister Madeline said all the schools were making a concerted effort to integrate peace and justice into the present curriculum and a peace and justice task force of teachers will meet monthly to plan programs for use in all schools. Resource people will present workshops throughout the year on the topic and each school will have its own workshops in this area as well as its own time-line plan for implementation of the program. The thrust, Sister said, would be to implement peace and justice both in school and community.

Sister noted that several teachers in the archdiocese had been participants in summer workshops on peace and justice and would share their experiences with other faculty members during the school year.

Staff development programs will be provided for teachers by consultants in specific subject areas. Each Wednesday, schools will be dismissed early to permit faculty members to attend staff development programs in each school.

Pupil progress will be evaluated through the archdiocesan testing program and the development of the skills continuum with particular emphasis placed in the areas of math and communications skills.

Three new principals have been named for the new year. Sister Judith Ann Kreipe, IHM, will be the new principal at St. Joseph's in Athens. At Our Lady of the Assumption, Sister Mary Virginia Macke will become principal and at Sts. Peter and Paul, Sister Ursula Marie Hughes, IHM, will assume the principal's duties, Sister Carol Patron becomes the new principal at St. Anthony's.

St. Pius X High School opened its doors for the 18^th year to a student body of 800 with seven new teachers giving the school a total of two priests, 15 sisters and 39 lay teachers as faculty. Father James Sexstone continues as principal at Pius with Sister Kathleen Steinkamp, RSM, and Sister Rita Marie Raffaele, GNSH, serving as assistant principals.

New members of the faculty are: Father Leo Herbert, school chaplain; Frank Johnson, science and football coach; Sister Joan Roach, OSU, joining the religion department; Brenda Westman, new in the English department; Kathy Woods instructing in French and social studies and Mary Ann Zins joining the math department.

At Pius, the direction of the academic program has been called one of "stabilization." The new program, initiated last year, is better ready for practical aspects of the program, according to Sister Madeline. Last year, she said, the thrust of the program was of a theoretical nature.

The current program at Pius, modeled on the "Ryan plan" is defined by Sister as a system "making the student responsible for his own education by being part of the planning of his program and a system giving him more initiative and responsibility." A system of teacher advisors for the student body is in effect for the new year with each advisor handling 15 to 17 students.

At Pius, the Paul J. Hallinan Forum committee is planning for the nation's Bicentennial with programs centered around the theme, "America is Georgia." In the religion department, a new course entitles "The Church in Bicentennial America” is being offered and expects to utilize the discussion booklet issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

St. Joseph's High School reports 261 students enrolled for the school's final year. Through an acceleration program, some of last year's sophomores were able to enroll as seniors this year with 95 expected to graduate in June of 1976. Father Terry Young continues as principal at St. Joseph's.

Bicentennial assemblies and programs are planned around the national Catholic theme, "Liberty and Justice for All." In May of 1976, the school plans to hold a huge reunion gathering for all graduates of the school as well as those whose children have attended St. Joseph's and for all who have been faculty members.

Spirit and enthusiasm at St. Joseph's has been described as "excellent" and it was noted that "nothing has been changed in the program or extra-curricular activities of the students to indicate that the school will close in June of 1976."

Three schools in the archdiocese will have their five-year interim review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The schools named are: Our Lady of the Assumption, Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Sts. Peter and Paul.

Sister Valentina said three schools in the archdiocesan system currently receive federal funds through the Emergency School Aid Act, providing aids and materials for specific programs. Three schools also qualify for Title I Federal funds for the educationally deprived.

Consultants who will assist the archdiocesan programs this year are: Dr. Joseph Richardson of Georgia State in the area of continuing education; Sister Kate Regan of the Religious Education Office in religion; Dr. David O'Neal of Georgia State in math; Dr. Clifford Johnson of Georgia State in reading; Sister Mary Ann Mulligan of Georgia State University in music; Hans Schacht, employed by the state department, in legal implications and responsibilities in administration; Mrs. Pat Strougal in library; and Mrs. Lillian Milne in cafeteria management.