By Paula Day

Marist School, a Catholic private school located in northeast Atlanta, was one of eight Georgia schools recognized May 27 as a National School of Excellence. Only 270 other schools throughout the nation were honored by the U.S. Department of Education with this distinction.

The honor came after the school prepared and submitted material outlining its qualifications and meeting criteria that included academic goals and achievements, discipline, parent support and faculty and administration effectiveness. A committee appointed by the Department of Education spent time on the school's campus and interviewed staff, students and parents.

Marist is a co-ed college preparatory day school for grades seven through 12. Its 1986-87 enrollment was 926. The school curriculum is broad, ranging from basic courses in math, English, science and social studies to specialized classes such as cellular biology, computer programming and comparative Christian religions.

According to Father Joel Konzen, SM, Marist headmaster, the visiting committee was particularly impressed by the school's community service program, education for peace and justice, parental involvement and help for students with emotional and/or dependency problems.

Marist's educational philosophy is grounded in Catholic tradition and given shape by the spirit of the Society of Mary, the religious congregation that administers the school.

Brother Paul Leonarczyk, SM, assistant headmaster, explains the school's mission is "to empower students to become complete, fulfilled, God-centered persons so that they can help in making society a complete, fulfilled, God-centered reality … This specifically religious mission stands as the bedrock and guiding force of all that we do."

Marist's academic results are impressive. In 1986 and 1987, 100 percent of its graduates were accepted by colleges. Ms. Rosemarie Perry of the guidance department reports this year's seniors were offered $1.3 million in scholarships. The class had 11 National Merit finalists. Their average SAT score was 1150, 300 points above the national average. Mrs. Perry admits this class was unusual, even for Marist.

Father Konzen is particularly proud of Marist's accomplishments in its campus ministry program. The program is staffed full-time by a priest and lay-woman and part-time by a lay-man. They coordinate assistance for troubled students, sponsor retreats, organize collections for various charities and plan prayer services and opportunities for worship. One staff member, Mrs. Karen Shanahan, supervises Marist students' outreach to the broader community.

Juniors do 10 hours' service as part of their religion class requirement. Students from other classes may volunteer for outreach service by signing up for projects. One such project involves working at St. Anthony's night shelter, St. Francis' Table soup kitchen and The Open Door soup kitchen. Such experiences benefit students as well as the needy, according to Mrs. Shanahan.

"Some students don't want to participate in these service projects at first because they are afraid they have no relevance to people who come to the kitchens or shelters. However, after they complete the service, many will write a paper reflecting on the experience. They begin by saying 'I didn't want to do the project…' and end with 'I loved it and I'll do it again.' "

Clubs and other groups are encouraged to perform extracurricular service activities that fit "their thing." For example, the football team participated in a hunger walk for the handicapped, the Thespians performed a one-act play for children at extended day care centers throughout Atlanta and the Key Club gave two parties at the Georgia Retardation Center.

The faculty support and become involved in Marist's outreach. Some work at St. Anthony's. Others, through the coordination of Dr. Tom Longfield, chemistry teacher, volunteer to help at Central Presbyterian Church's night shelter in downtown Atlanta.

These outreach activities help flesh out several aspects of Marist's view of what education is all about. As a Catholic school is has a "guiding religious mission." To be involved with others is "the bottom line. It's the Gospel -- being asked constantly to reach out" as Father Konzen puts it. The activities provide an opportunity for students to grow as social and civic persons, a part of Marist's holistic approach to education. The school's philosophy also includes the expectation that truly education people have a lifestyle that includes service for others.

One aspect of the campus ministry program that impressed the visiting committee was the effort to help students who are experiencing problems. It is not unusual, Father Konzen commented, for six or seven faculty members to spend an hour or more exploring ways to help a troubled teen. Such concern has resulted in students with alcohol or drug dependencies, for example, entering programs to help them deal with their problems. Eventually they have returned to Marist, made up missed work, and graduated.

The school's education for peace and justice also impressed the committee. As part of the religion department's course work, students study church documents that present the Catholic position on moral and social issues. Informed speakers on current events dealing with justice, such as the issue of apartheid, are invited to speak at Marist.

Another area the visitors commended was that of parental involvement.

"This place couldn't run without the parents," remarked Brother Leonarczyk.

"Besides the normal school groups like the Boosters' Club and the Parents' Organization, there's a mothers' prayer group that meets weekly to pray for the school. About 250 participated in a yearly retreat this last April.

"Homeroom mothers do things like chaperoning school activities, calling in on snow days, baking goods to raise money. Parents volunteer to work in the library and in the office. There's a support group called Marist Families in Action that is interested in a drug and alcohol free environment. They sponsor the all-night graduation party that is drug and alcohol free."

Student activities and parental involvement, however, make up only part of Marist's excellence. The students themselves add their dimension.

"The kids by and large are positive," commented Brother Leonarczyk. "They like the place."

Jimmy McWilliams, 1987 graduate and senior class president, offered: "Marist treats each individual as a member of a large, but warm family, not as a student in a lecturer's roll book,"

According to Angela Gentile, an 11^th grade student, "It's the spirit that makes Marist great. Everyone truly cares for and supports each other. Because of this school spirit, a special bond is formed between the students. We, the Marist community, work together as one unit."

Father Konzen observed, "Over the years that I've been here, I'm increasingly proud of the students. We ask them each year to take on more responsibility and to judge their actions more carefully and the result has been they continue always to find ways to make us proud. Sometimes they encourage us on our bad days. Their dedication spurs us on to greater efforts ourselves."

Regarding his role as Marist headmaster, Father Konzen says, "I see myself as manager and supporter -- sometimes one who challenges, sometimes one who evaluates, sometimes one who dreams, often one who prays."

Father Konzen is sensitive to a possible perception that Marist is a high-priced, elitist school. One of his dreams is to reach a more diverse student population. According to Father Konzen, this diversity would be "healthy for all students and all teachers in the school. The likelihood is that students who come from a background with no diversity -- from suburbia -- never see much more than that. We're trying to educate them about society, its needs and desires. They (the students) live a pleasurable existence, and they have to learn to think about others."

Entrance to Marist is based on academic records, student questionnaire and interview and results of a standardized test. However, there is no minimum score to limit acceptance. "We're always looking for people who do better (grade-wise) than their scores." Father Konzen pointed out.

Marist School was founded in 1901 by Father John Gunn, a member of the Society of Mary. It was known as Marist College, and was located in downtown Atlanta until 1962 when it moved to accommodate a growing enrollment. In 1976 it changed from a military school for boys to a co-ed institution.

The charisma or spirit of the religions community that administers the school is to embody the "maternal, caring, family spirit of the Blessed Mother," according to Brother Leonarczyk.

According to Father Konzen, "The labors coincide with the dreams. With the help of my fellow Marists, the community identity gets broader every year. More people are involved in the family spirit and are striving to create, to enhance this spirit."

Other Georgia schools recognized this year as Schools of Excellence are Lincoln County High School, Newton County High School, Brookwood High School, Benjamin E. Mays High School, Shiloh Middle School, Stephens County High School and Dalton Junior High School.