BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Applications are now available for the three new Catholic elementary schools that are scheduled to open in the archdiocese Sept. 7, 1999.

Families already on the contact list, with children who will be entering kindergarten through eighth grade, will automatically be mailed an application. Applications will also be available at the feeder parishes for the new schools during presentations by the principals. Dates for these presentations will be announced in the future.

Tuition for the three elementary schools, which will serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade, will be $3,950 per child, including book and registration fees. A tuition assistance program, which will be partially funded by the “Building the Church of Tomorrow” Capital Campaign, is available to assist active Catholic families with the cost of education. Funds will be awarded on the basis of need and the availability of moneys for this purpose.

The application process consists of four steps. First, families are required to complete the archdiocesan application and send it to the Department of Catholic Education, 680 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta, Ga. 30308 with a $50 application fee. After the department has received the student’s application along with a parish verification form and a previous school form, if applicable, the office will set up a testing date for the child by December 1998. Testing will be performed by archdiocesan personnel.

After the testing has been completed, families will be contacted for an interview with the principal. These interviews will take place in the feeder parishes. When the test results have been assessed, if admission is granted, an acceptance letter and registration packet will be sent to the families. A non-refundable tuition payment of $1,000 per child will be required to hold the child’s place in the school. Families will be contacted by the end of March 1999.

The elementary schools that are accepting applications include:

• Our Lady of Victory Elementary School located in Tyrone, Fayette County, on Kirkley Road near the intersection of Senoia Road. The school will serve 250 students. Construction has begun on this site.
• Holy Redeemer Elementary School located in northeast Fulton County on Old Alabama Road near Haynes Bridge Road. The school will serve 500 students. Construction has also begun on this site.
• Queen of Angels Elementary School located in west Roswell at the intersection of Highway 92 and Woodstock Road. The school will serve 500 students. Construction is expected to begin within the next week.

All new archdiocesan elementary schools will feature a comprehensive curriculum which will include religion, Spanish, computer technology, music, art and physical education. Spacious classrooms are being designed to accommodate class sizes of 25-28 students. There will be a resource classroom with a full-time teacher; a state-of-the-art, fully computerized library/media center; oversized classrooms networked to the library; a middle school science laboratory; a full-time guidance counselor; a full-service cafeteria featuring a hot lunch program; a school clinic; before and after school programs; a regulation size gymnasium for basketball as well as soccer and softball fields. School chaplains will celebrate Mass weekly at each school.

For further information or to request an application, call (404) 888-7833.