By Katie Vasquez
School may start on September 4th for students at Saint Saviour Catholic academy, but for staff preparation has been going on for much longer and new principal, Mr Matt Artigas, is leading the way.
“I’ve actually never attended a public school,” said Matt Artigas, principal at Saint Saviour Catholic Academy. “It’s been catholic school, kindergarten all the way through my doctoral program. So it really, Catholic education is very important to me.”
His new role is one of the changes happening at the Park Slope academy ahead of the new year.
Recently Saint Saviour switched to a new model of education that along with a principal, involves a school president rather than an assistant principal.
Dean Fusto is filling that role, taking on outreach and enrollment efforts.
“The principal has an incredible amount on their plate,” said Dean Fusto, president at Saint Saviour Catholic Academy. “It’s constant, and we want to be able to make sure that he or she’s always focusing on the kids, on the program, on the curriculum and all those pieces. Another new addition are plans for a 4,000 square foot rooftop play space.”
The project has been in the works since 2017.
Saint Saviour so far has raised $2 million for it and still needs a little more fundraising to meet their goal.
Some of their plans include a basketball hoop, room to play soccer and a classroom.
“For those who want to do something, reading during their their break rather than running around. and then there’s also another smaller passive recreation, they will call it, that we envision perhaps life sized chess or even chess tables,” said Lenae Guarna, Saint Saviour Catholic Academy Board Chair.
Saint Saviour is also talking about using the space as part of their curriculum.
“We’re going to utilize it for our enrichment classes,” said Artigas. “We’re going to allow teachers to take their students up there on given days to work on lessons outdoors. So the possibilities are endless.”
“It inspires creativity, it lets you move around,” said Fusto. “It’s truly free time and recess time, which is just a critical part for kids.”
The school aims to start construction on the play space in June 2025.