[Episcopal News Service] Grace Church Day School of Massapequa and St. Peter’s-by-the-Sea Church Day School of Bay Shore are completing plans to form a strategic alliance through a Long Island Episcopal Schools cooperative beginning in the fall semester, according to a press release.
"While both schools will maintain their own identities and independence, the cooperative arrangement will bolster academics and permit both schools to better prioritize their financial resources towards classroom needs. This endeavor is a product of much discussion and planning," said the Rev. David Sellery, rector of St. Peter’s, in the release.
The cost-sharing cooperative is intended to strengthen both schools’ academics, cultural enhancements and extra-curricular activities, the release said.
"We have seen the demise of several religious schools throughout Long Island in the past few years," said the Rev. Joshua Walters, rector of Grace Church, in the release. "Our goal is to work closely to maintain the sustainability of both our schools through a partnership based on children’s educational needs and realistic financials."
The cooperative will be sealed through a letter of intent to be adopted in August by the church wardens and vestry of both institutions. To further insure the success of the enterprise and facilitate coordination between the two schools, Frank Fallon, currently the head of St. Peter’s Day School, will become head master of Grace Day School as well.
"A dynamic and experienced school administrator, retired from the Bay Shore Schools, Frank Fallon is a key figure in the Long Island Episcopal Schools cooperative," Walters said. "We are fortunate to have him as our new head master."
Together the schools provide a Christian-based, college-prep curriculum to more than 460 children from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. Graduating students gain acceptance to private regional high schools and some later to prestigious universities, according to the release.
"We are proud of our students and their teachers and staff, but as the academic standards and requirements of private high schools and colleges increase, we must constantly strive to provide a competitive educational environment and culturally enriching curriculum based on Christian values," Sellery said.