St. John Villa Academy

St. John Villa Academy is an all-girls, private, Roman Catholic high school on Staten Island in New York, New York. It is located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

Background

St. John Academy was established in 1922 by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist. It is still run and operated by the Sister of St. John the Baptist. St. John Villa Academy is located in Staten Island, New York, overlooking the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. It is both an elementary school and an all girl’s high school. The elementary school are grades K-8. While the high school are grades 9-12. St. John Villa Academy is only one of many Catholic schools located on Staten Island. Enrollment in St. John Villa Academy is open to girls who have graduated from elementary school and who want a secondary level, college-preparatory education. Recently, Villa has added a new state of the art building. As a result of high enrollment over the past decade, SJVA developed a campus facility plan that would renovate existing buildings and increase the amount of space in our high school. Specifically, several of the oldest buildings on campus are unable to meet the space and program needs of our faculty and students. In order to maintain programs and to expand other areas of the curriculum, SJVA proposed a $5 million renovation and construction project. A three-story wing is now complete built and connected to the current two-story high school. All new classrooms will be provided with "T1" Internet access lines. The project broke ground in December 2004 and was completed in September 2006. This $5 million renovation and construction project, $1 million must be raised from a capital campaign.

cite web|url=http://www.sjva.org/history.htm|title=School History|accessdate=2007-08-01|publisher=St. John Villa Academy website|author=SJVA]

History

St. John Villa Academy, owned and operated by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, islocated on the north shore of Staten Island, in the town of Arrochar, overlooking the Verrazano – Narrows Bridge. St. John Villa Academy, was founded in 1922, Staten Island was purchased by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist.

In September 1923, the Sisters opened a school called St. John’s Novitiate and Boarding School. The first elementary school class graduated in June 1926 and by the early 1930’s, high school classes were added.

The School campus has grown. Additions include: the construction of the current elementary school building in 1931, a new chapel in 1938, the high school building in 1957, and in the mid-1980s the gym was completed. Today, it is a private, Catholic elementary school and high school proud of its education for the children of Staten Island and Brooklyn. Currently, St. John Villa Academy has approximately 267 boys and girls in the elementary school and 615 young women in the high school.

SJVA offers specialized classes. These classes include Advanced Placement and College Creidts for St. Johns University.

Academics

St. John Villa Academy is a College Preparatory high school. It offers a wide range of academic challenges. St. John Villa follows the New York State Curriculum. Along with high standard students must take the New York State Regents to graduate. Students must take 3 physical sciences, 3 english, 3 foregin languages, 4 maths,2 computer classes, and 1 art credit. Along with these electives are also available during senior year.

Athletics and Clubs

St. John Villa Academy offers athletics and many after school clubs. After school athletcis are important at St. John Villa. There are many athletics available for students such as basketball, soccer, softball, golf, tennis, swim and track. St. John Villa is recognized as a competivie athleics school and has received much recognition. The following are clubs available for students.Art ClubChristian ServiceCulture ClubDance ClubEcology ClubForensics ClubItalian ClubJunior SenateLectors ClubMath ClubMath Honor SocietyMusical ProductionsNational Honor SocietyNewspaper (Villa Voice)Peer MediatorsRetreat TeamSADD (Students Against Drunk Driving)Science Honor SocietyStagecraftersStagecrewStudent CouncilVideo Yearbook Yearbook (Precursor)Villa are also members of the following groups:National Honor Society of Secondary School (Pierian Chapter)National Science SocietyNational Student CouncilNational Math Honor Society

Elementary School

St. John Villa Academy is an accredited Catholic Elementary School for boys and girls. SJVA to offers instruction in all areas of learning along with religious values.

Currently, there are approximately 310 boys and girls enrolled in the school. The students are given a curriculum that balances academic and religious course along with other activities. They receive instruction in physical education, art, computers and foreign language.

The Elementary School also offers an after-school program and summer camp to those families who need extended supervision for their children.

High School

St. John Villa Academy is an accredited Catholic High School for young women which was established in 1932.

Current enrollment is 615 girls. The student-teacher ratio is 15:1 with an average class size of about 32.

SJVA offers many special programs such as Advanced Placement courses, Scholar’s Program and the Science Discovery Institute. SJVA offers college preparatory program for all students. Around fifty percent of seniors graduate with college credits through advanced placement courses and the St. John University Extension.

Villa's facilities include a full-size chapel, a multi-media library with 10,000+ volumes and 12 computer stations all with Internet access, a fully-equipped gym/auditorium, two newly renovated biology and chemistry labs, Channel 13 Learning Link, a computer lab with 36 individual stations, an "Anytime, Anywhere Learning" laptop program, 23 TV/VCR stations with link hookups, three art studios and two cafeterias.

External links

* [http://www.sjva.org/ School Website]
* [http://schools.privateschoolsreport.com/NewYork/StatenIsland/StJohnVillaAcademyHighSch.html]
* [http://www.schooldigger.com/go/NY/schools/9999904737/school.aspx]
* [http://highschoolsports.silive.com/school/staten-island-st-john-villa-academy/]

Notes and references