As ten Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo prepare to close at the end of the school year, one private school in Cheektowaga is opening its doors to families looking for a new place to go.
Mary Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School is holding an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The school currently has 185 students enrolled, but has the ability to house up to 300.
Principal Mary Alice Bagwell says the school will be showcasing its state-of-the-art classrooms outfitted with smart boards and its digital media arts center equipped with new computers and iPads for students.
“We have 10 Macs in here, 24 PCs, and a smart board. We also have close to a classroom set of iPads and the iPad chargers for the faculty to sign out and take into their classroom and use them. So, we try with our extremely limited budget to do as much as we can with technology,” said Bagwell.
Bagwell says the private school is a good option for the 1,100 students being displaced at the end of the school year. The school currently draws students from Cheektowaga, Sloan, Buffalo, Depew, West Seneca, Amherst and Williamsville.
Advancement Director Joe Kirchmyer says he hopes visiting students and parents come see all that the school has to offer.
“It’s a real community here. There’s just a great relationship between the teachers and the students. We have all different types of programs for every walk of life. If you’re not into sports we have something creative. We have a great art program. We have a great hands-on science lab. So, there’s something for every interest,” said Kirchmyer.
Kirchmyer says Mary Queen of Angels also offers an after school program and school officials will guide families on what to do if they need tuition assistance.
The Diocese of Buffalo announced in January it will close the ten Catholic schools by June due to declining enrollment.
If parents missed Mary Queen of Angels open house on Tuesday they can contact the school located at 170 Rosewood Terrace in Cheektowaga at (716) 895-6280 for a private tour.