Donahue Academy Opens with New Plans, New Faces

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Published on Thursday, 22 August 2013 17:49

A number of new faculty greeted students this week as the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy in Ave Maria opened its seventh school year.

A total of 254 students are enrolled for the year, down slightly from last year because the school discontinued its high school boarding program, Headmaster Dan Guernsey said.

"We are at 85 percent of our capacity of 300 students," Dr. Guernsey said, adding that the academy is "beginning a capital campaign to allow for increased growth that will include adding 8 more classrooms upstairs to complete the first phase of the building."

Also new this year is a faith formation program for k-6 students developed by the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist called "The Disciples of Christ." Dr. Guernsey said the program will complment a a virtue formation program in grades 6-12.

Fall sports are also under way, including cross country, football, volleyball and soccer. The first Donahue Academy football game is Saturday, Aug. 21, against Community Christian School in Port Charlotte. The Shamrocks first home football game is Saturday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. at North Park.

New faculty and staff at Donahue include:

• Gretel Smith kindergarten

• Shawn McAuliffe third grade.

• Sr. Mary Martha 5th grade

• Lisa Rochefort the 6th grade.

• Sr. John Paul 7th/8th humanities and 9th theology.

• Rachel Smolinski in Science

• Anne Nyaga Latin and music

• Mary Stuller art

• John Audino PE Latin and Athletic Director.

• David Peterson part time physics

• Glenn Roberts part time aid

• Kathleen Roberts part time resource and counseling