St. Ambrose Academy

St. Ambrose Academy is a Roman Catholic elementary school and high school located on the west side of Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 2003, the school's stated purpose is to offer "a classical education rooted in the Catholic faith."[1]

St. Ambrose Academy
Address
602 Everglade Drive Madison , (Dane County) , Wisconsin 53717 United States
Coordinates	43°4′28″N 89°30′0″W
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Motto	Omnia Christus est nobis! (Christ is everything for us!)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)	St. Ambrose of Milan
Established	2003
President	David R. J. Stiennon
Director	Joan Carey
Principal	Scott Schmiesing
Faculty	10
Grades	6–12
Enrollment	97 (2017–2018)
Color(s)	Red and gold
Sports	Basketball (co-op), eight-man football (co-op), cross country, soccer (co-op)
Team name	Guardians
Accreditation	NAPC*IS
Director of Classical Education	Constance Nielsen
Academic Dean	Michael Kwas
Grades 6-8 tuition	$7,400
Grades 9-12 tuition	$7,800
Website	www.ambroseacademy.org
Education wing of St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Parish

History

Established in 2003, with classrooms at a facility of Cardinal Stritch University in Madison, by 2004 the school had 14 students.[1] That year the Madison Plan Commission granted a conditional use permit to St. Thomas Aquinas parish at 602 Everglade Drive for up to 60 students.[2] The school continues to operate in the religious education wing of St. Thomas Aquinas parish.[3]

In 2006 and 2007 students attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C.[4] Scott Schmiesing became principal of St. Ambrose Academy in July, 2008.[5] In 2009 the school was accredited by NAPC*IS, the National Association of Private Catholic* and Independent Schools.[6] In 2010 the City of Madison Plan Commission approved enrollment of up to 140 at the school's St. Thomas Aquinas Parish quarters.[7] In 2018, plans were announced to move to a new school building by September 7, 2021.[8]

Curriculum

The six core subjects are English, history, Latin, math, religion, and science. Topical studies that follow a historical progression are taught in a four-year cycle for the senior high and a three-year cycle for the junior high. Each cycle's historical topic is integrated in history, English, and religion, with the other courses reinforcing these studies where possible, yielding a "unified and interdisciplinary approach to each historical period." High school students are required to take two years of Latin.[9]

St. Ambrose Academy high school core curriculum

	History	Religion	Science	English
One	Ancients	The Church in the Pagan World/Logic	Biology	Ancients
Two	Medieval/Renaissance	Scripture	Chemistry	Medieval/Renaissance
Three	America/Government	Moral Theology, Liturgy & Sacraments	Physics	American/Government
Four	Enlightenment/The Modern World	The Church in the Modern World	Advanced Science	Enlightenment/The Modern World

Religion instruction focuses on "the analysis and understanding of the Scriptures and significant Church documents (such as papal encyclicals and the Catechism)."[10]

Reading Institute

In 2016 [11] the school established the St. Ambrose Academy Reading Institute to assist Catholic school students with dyslexia. The Reading Institute coordinates one-on-one tutoring of students with dyslexia using the Barton Reading and Spelling System.[12] The Institute also provides student screening, assessments, and tutor training. The Institute's director is Deb Krebs. Financial support for the Institute is provided by The Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities.[13]

In addition to serving students at St. Ambrose Academy, the Institute collaborates with St. James School in Madison, and St. Victor School in Monroe, Wisconsin.[14]

References

1. Purpose, St. Ambrose Academy website
2. "West Side Parochial School Ok'd", The Capital Times, Madison, Wis., October 19, 2004.
3. "Faith Haven" Archived 2008-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, The Capital Times, Madison, Wis., October 13, 2006.
4. Wagner, Kat (January 17, 2008), "St. Ambrose students to attend march", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, p. 8
5. "St. Ambrose Academy names Scott Schmiesing as new principal", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, p. 8, April 24, 2008
6. http://www.ambroseacademy.org/joomla/index.php St. Ambrose Accredited by NAPC*IS
7. "City approves request to expand enrollment at St. Ambrose Academy", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, June 3, 2010
8. "New developments at St. Ambrose Academy", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, April 26, 2018
9. Course of Study
10. What is Classical Education?, St. Ambrose Academy website
11. • "St. Ambrose Academy Reading Institute".
12. "The Barton System Is..." Barton Reading and Spelling System. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
13. "Reading institute to help kids with dyslexia", Diocese of Madison Catholic Herald, January 26, 2017
14. • "Current Schools". St. Ambrose Academy Reading Institute.

External links

• St. Ambrose Academy