Come See What Makes SBCA Different!

Written by Jamie Brown

South Boston Catholic Academy is a special place, located right on East Broadway.  There, 350 students gather daily to learn, grow, pray and challenge themselves.  Our students learning is lead by a team of highly qualified teachers, with 50% of teachers holding Master’s degrees.

In our bustling preschool, in partnership with the Lynch Early Childhood project, includes 130 students and 14 teachers.  With a strong focus on social emotional development, children learn in well designed classrooms, where equal attention is given to lesson planning and classroom design.  Guided by the literacy curriculum “Opening our World to Learning” and our math curriculum, “Building Blocks,” children learn through play and interaction with their peers.  Each week, children engage in theme based centers centered around a shared text.  Our teachers all receive coaching and professional development through the Early Childhood Project.

At SBCA, Responsive Classroom practices are the underpinning of our work.  Teachers greet students each morning with a meeting, where they practice greeting one another and sharing a bit about themselves.  On Wednesday, the school meets as one for whole school morning meeting; a time to greet one another and recognize special achievements of the students.

Academics drive the pulse of the upper grades, and academic endeavors are bolstered by partnerships with Lesley University and the Achievement Network.  Our work in literacy is guided by the Literacy Collaborative and engages our young readers and writers in workshop model literacy blocks, where students become authors and immerse themselves in rich texts.  In partnership with the Achievement Network, teachers continue to involve students in work that is truly rigorous and aligned to the Common Core Standards. Our curriculum beyond academics includes Spanish, taken weekly by students in PreK-2 and twice weekly by students in 3-6.  Students also have gym and health classes, library, art and music.

Several additions to the curriculum that set us apart from the rest include a commitment to technology as well as diverse extracurricular offerings.  Our teachers are passionate in creating students who are critical thinkers, and this is developed further through our STEM curriculum.  Students also work with Lego Robotics and coding programs, as well as use our two 3D printers.  Our students access technology through our 70 Chromebooks and 30 iPads, as well as the Apple TVs and SmartBoards in each room.

After school, our Extended Day Program extends the learning day for about 80 students daily.  Children complete their homework under the guidance of teachers and then have daily clubs.  Clubs include yoga, robotics, coding, choir, instruments, drama, dance, arts and crafts, sports and games, STEM and more!  Several of our older students also are a part of the school’s Basketball Team.

Our commitment to academics and developing the whole child is proven by our students acceptance into many of the most prestigious schools in the area, including a high acceptance rate to Boston Latin School.  Additional acceptances include Boston College High School-Arrupe Division,  Catholic Memorial, Dexter, Mount Alvernia School, Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, St. Sebastian’s School, Southfield, Thayer Academy, Ursuline Academy, and Xaverian Brothers High School. 

South Boston Catholic Academy is holding a Fall Open House for prospective families on November 14th, from 9:00-11:00.  Come see what makes us different from the rest!  For Admissions questions, please email Jamie Brown, Assistant Principal at [email protected] or call 617-268-2326.