By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 12/11/03)

Saba and Jeff Gross have two children enrolled in Holy Family School in Dale City. "It has always been in our thoughts, ‘What will we do when they finish?’" Saba said.

Following a meeting last week with Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy McNiff on the building of a diocesan high school in Prince William County, Jeff said, "It’s good to know something is going on, to see the progress. This school is a godsend."

More than 100 people gathered at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Center for what McNiff said was the first of many information nights. Parents and prospective teachers asked questions, aired concerns and offered suggestions.

The biggest concerns of parents were how easily students could transfer in to the school from other diocesan schools or county schools. This concern was aired mostly by parents whose children are currently in the seventh grade and will be sophomores when the new school opens. Parents are trying to find the best place for their students’ freshman year.

Parents also expressed concern with the school’s accreditation. It will have a provisional accreditation from day one, and after five years it will apply for full accreditation. McNiff assured parents that this will have no affect on college acceptance.

Parents were well aware that their questions are of no importance if their students don’t go to the school, and many asked who would have priority to attend the new school. Applications will be open to the full diocese, but people in "this area" will get priority, but McNiff has not yet defined what "this area" constitutes. Catholic families will also have priority over non-Catholic families. "We will only take non-Catholics if there aren’t enough Catholics," McNiff said. "We welcome children of other faiths if there are seats available." The school will be built to accommodate 1,000 students, but land will be available to expand the school to hold 1,500.

While the final blueprints are not finished, McNiff provided the parents with an idea of what the school will look like. He wants a school that people will know is Catholic without ever being told. A central chapel will be the main focal point. At either end of the main hallway, he would like to see statues of saints, with kneelers, chairs and the history of the saints posted.

Below the chapel will be a lecture hall so that guest speakers will have a place, other than a gym, to deliver talks and engage students in thinking outside the realm of the classroom. The school will also have a full-size auditorium, two gymnasiums, a library with internet access and eight science labs.

The Cherry Hill school will follow the example of Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax and offer the Options program for children with special learning needs. "That program is not for 12 kids," McNiff said. "That’s for the 1,200 kids living the good life that don’t always see how good they have it."

McNiff considered offering a similar science-heavy curriculum that has made Thomas Jefferson High School well known, but has changed that plan to better incorporate Catholic teaching. "We’ll teach the science, the research," he said, "Then, here’s where the Church is and here’s why."

The new curriculum will include four years of integrated technology, science, religion and current events with an emphasis on bioethics; all the while comparing current trends with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

"Bioethics may very well be the one field in industry that will shape our children’s lives more than any other," McNiff said. The new curriculum "puts Church doctrine to life. This is not propaganda."

McNiff is currently soliciting for religious orders to take charge of the administration of the school. One order is interested, but has not yet committed themselves.

McNiff will hire a principal one year in advance to take charge of the school. The principal will be responsible for hiring the staff.

McNiff is more than ready to begin building this school. With the close of the Capital Campaign and the sale of tax exempt bonds, the funding is in place. Because of the diocese’s high financial rating, $26 million in bonds were sold in four hours.

The architect has been hired and the diocese is simply waiting for plans to be completed before hiring a general contractor.

Ground should be broken this spring. When asked of the probability of the school opening in September 2006, McNiff said, "It will happen."