Tag: schools

Principal’s Corner

By Mr. Michael Buskirk, St. Ann Catholic School, Naples

My name is Michael Buskirk, and I am the new Principal of St. Ann Catholic School in Naples. After spending the past four years as the Principal of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity to return to Florida and serve the St. Ann Community. Located in the heart of downtown Naples, St. Ann has offered thousands of students and their families throughout Collier County a high quality, faith-based educational experience since 1956.

On Aug. 12, we started the school year by welcoming 266 students to our spiritually enriching community. This diverse student body, representing a variety of backgrounds and cultures, has emboldened our excellent reputation as the most prestigious Catholic School in Naples. Our class sizes help us meet the individual needs of every child in an academically challenging environment that incorporates a strong sense of community by embodying our Catholic teachings to create disciples of Christ.

Our students are taught the skills they need to fulfill their life’s work on Earth and to prepare them for everlasting life in the kingdom of God within a disciplined, caring, loving, and safe environment. Our promise to maintain high academic standards for all students is evident throughout the school’s modern, state-of-the-art campus and well-rounded, faith infused curriculum. We offer gifted, honors, and resource classes that seamlessly integrate the latest technology at every grade level.

The staff and faculty at St. Ann’s help students learn and appreciate the arts with interactive classes in band, choir, art, music, and drama. We also provide a comprehensive physical education and sports program including opportunities to compete in basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf, tennis, and track.

Extra-curricular activities and field trips round out every child’s educational experience. Most importantly, through the amazing dedication and commitment of our compassionate and professional teachers and staff, every child is nurtured to reach his/her potential.

Thanks to the generosity of our parents, parishioners, and community partners this summer we further enhanced the safety of our campus through the construction and reinforcement of walls and fences to offer an added layer of security by directing all campus visitors to a secure single point of entry. We also enhanced our STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math) initiatives by installing fiberoptic Internet throughout the campus, created an iMac Lab, and completed numerous upgrades to our Media Center to include two state-of-the-art 3D printers. St. Ann is also the first school in Collier County to boast an autonomous lawnmower to help keep our playing fields in pristine condition.

We would love to welcome you and your family to our school community. For more information or to schedule a tour of St. Ann Catholic School, please contact Tracy Farley at 239-262-4110 or visit www.stann.net.

St. Andrew Catholic School students began the school year in Cape Coral by helping other students in their community.

On the first Friday of the new school year (Aug. 16), students participated in a dress down (no uniforms) day to benefit the Cape Coral Safe Zone Park Bench Project, sponsored through the Rotary Foundation. As an extension of the Rotary Club, St. Andrew Catholic School hosts a RotaKids club.

Student mentors and club advisors decided the Cape Coral Safe Zone Park Bench Project was a perfect way to assist the community. The one-day collection of donations from the dress-down day was enough to sponsor a bench which was installed at the corner of the St. Andrew Catholic Church property.

RotaKids is a club for children up to 12 years and is an initiative created from the Rotary Club principles of helping ​​others. The children enjoy a boost of confidence and self-esteem at a key age and develop an understanding of how their actions can impact on others.

On Aug. 23, St. Andrew RotaKids, members of the Cape Coral Rotary Club, and other community leaders assembled for a special dedication of the bench.

After placing balloons on the bench, students joined hands in prayer and sang “Amazing Grace.”

A plaque now adorns the bench thanking the RotaKids for their support of the Safe Zone Bench Project, a community wide project that began to help students remain safe at their bus stops.

The start of the 2019-2020 School Year brings new leadership to two Diocesan Catholic School.

St. Andrew Catholic School in Cape Coral welcomes David Nelson, and St. Ann Catholic School in Naples welcomes Michael Buskirk.

Diocese of Venice Superintendent of Catholic Education Dr. Ben Moore said a comprehensive selection process brought the best candidates to the two schools. That process included a dedicated search committee at each school which consisted of Diocesan, Parish and school leadership. Each new principal comes with the unique skills needed to lead their respective school into the future.

Nelson is a familiar face in the Diocese, having most recently served as Assistant Principal for Student Life at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers. Born in Kalamazoo, Mich., he attended Carthage College in Wisconsin, where he played baseball and earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education and later earned an advanced degree in educational leadership from St. Leo University in St. Leo, Fla. Nelson is also a graduate of the Diocese of Venice Principal Discernment Program and is on the Diocesan STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math) Committee and is a member of the Florida Catholic Conference School Accreditation Team. He taught at two elementary schools in Fort Myers and at the same was varsity baseball coach at a high school in Lehigh Acres.

While still teaching in elementary school, Nelson became as an assistant baseball coach at Bishop Verot and was part of the staff for the 2011 4A baseball state championship team. In 2012, he joined Bishop Verot as a teacher in theology, world history and world geography while also taking head baseball coaching duties. In 2014, he was named Dean of Students, then Assistant Principal for Student Affairs and finally as Assistant Principal for Student Life. He attends St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers with is family, where he is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

“As a leader of a Parish school, I plan to work with (the priests) and will aim to create a professional ongoing Catholic learning environment, providing development opportunities for staff and teachable moments for our students,” Nelson said. “It will be my mission to instill a sense of purpose, vision, optimism, and a Gospel message for success in those I lead.”

St. Ann’s new principal, Michael Buskirk is originally from Philadelphia, Pa. and holds an undergraduate degree in biology, with an education certification, from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, as well as graduate degree in educational leadership, with a principal certification, and an education specialist degree in leadership, with superintendent certification, all from the University of Missouri.

His first 11 years of teaching experience was in Florida at schools in Broward, Duvall (Catholic high school), and Clay counties, before taking a position with a Catholic School in the Diocese of Jefferson City. In 2015 Buskirk was appointed principal at a Catholic elementary school and in 2018 he has also took on the position as Administrator of Diocese Athletics for the Diocese of Jefferson City.

“I have found that giving people a voice and allowing their opinion creates an aura of ownership, which is extremely important in current times to keep private schools thriving,” Buskirk stated. “My belief is that it takes everyone, parents, students, and parishioners to be successful. We are not just a school; we are a Diocese.”

To learn more about St. Andrew Catholic School, please visit www.standrewcs.org; and for St. Ann Catholic School please visit www.stann.net/.

For information about all Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools, please visit www.dioceseofvenice.org.

Staff Report

Jennifer Falestiny has joined the Diocese of Venice Education Department as a Curriculum Specialist.

Falestiny has spent most of her career in School Instruction and Curriculum Development, most recently holding the position of STEM lab and Robotic Coordinator/ Instructor at Saint Gregory Catholic School in Plantation.

“It is very exciting to be part of the Diocese of Venice,” Falestiny said.

Diocese of Venice Superintendent of Catholic Education Dr. Ben Moore said Falestiny will be supporting teachers through a variety of professional development offerings in the areas of curriculum mapping and the vertical alignment of newly developed academic standards.

“She will provide leadership for the schools’ accreditation efforts including the pursuit of STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) designation from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops,” Moore added. “Falestiny’s education and background utilizing instructional technology will enrich the students’ experience as she promotes innovative strategies.”

During her first month on the job, she visited most of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese to do an initial needs assessment.

“The plan is to work on creating a standardized curriculum that meets the academic and spiritual needs of each student,” Falestiny said. “This will be a lengthy process as the strengths of each school is evaluated.”

She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from University of Central Florida with a focus on special education, and a Master of Science Degree STEM Education from the University of San Diego. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology at Keiser University. She is married with three young children and they live in Sarasota.

Jennifer Falestiny can be reach at falestiny@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-484-9543,