With Mr. Ryan Aiello becoming the new president of Saint Viator, many students are wondering what changes he will to implement around the school.
“On the curriculum side for next year we’re looking more into potential classes that we could offer. These may include more dual credit, new elective classes, and expansions of classes we already have,” said Mr. Aiello.
The benefits of these new classes, such as dual credit classes, would be providing students with an experience similar to taking an AP class, but without the stress of taking the exam at the end of the year. New elective classes will provide students with more options of classes to fill their art and tech credit requirements. Furthermore, expanding on classes that are already offered at Viator will benefit the students interested in them.
“Dual credit classes are based on students’ success over the year and not just how they do on a test,” said principal Mr. Jon Baffico. Dual credit classes give the school opportunities to partner with universities that students may want to attend in the future. Mr. Baffico also hopes that new additions of economics classes including AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics will be implemented in the curriculum in the future, following the recent addition of AP Physics this school year. With this addition of diverse classes to Saint Viator’s curriculum, students will be able to discover new interests and challenge themselves to prepare for their future career.
While Mr. Aiello plans to expand the curriculum, it is not the only thing he wants to focus on.
“[A new event] could be a welcoming function at the beginning of the year, with food trucks, sort of like a neighborhood block party to welcome new families and students into the community,” he said.
With this new back-to-school event, incoming students may feel more welcomed and less anxious about the transition from middle school to high school. It would also benefit returning students, being a fun way to start the new school year.
“It would make students more excited to return to school after their summer break,” said Pauline Mercurio,sophomore.
Another project currently in the works is improving the class registration event for current students and incoming freshmen. With this change, students would have more opportunities to meet with teachers and plan with their counselors to create an efficient schedule for the next school year.
“I think it’ll bring a little bit more excitement to it, not just the important information, but also what else you can do here as a student,” said Mr. Eric Levin, director of student life and activities.
He hopes the class registration event for the incoming class of 2029 can welcome new students and have them looking forward to experiencing all that Saint Viator has to offer. Some smaller scale projects include making sure the retreats will be the most immersive and most exciting experience possible for students and looking ahead at the calendar for next year. He is specifically focusing on how the calendar can align with the needs for students and faculty.
Student life has also been on the rise this year.
“I think we had one of our best pep rallies ever during Homecoming,” said Mr. Levin.
One thing the administration is currently trying to modify regarding student activities is the Winter Arts Festival to kickoff the Walter Payton Toy Drive, a variety show and possibly a class competition day. Instead of the winter ball—commonly referred to as Turnabout— this year, there is a plan for a spring fling event.
Mr. Aiello is confident that these projects will benefit the school community.
“I think everything that we’re trying to do— whether it’s a new class we’re offering, whether it’s a new event we’re trying to do— is really about facilitating and creating that sense of community where we’re able to be together, celebrate together and where ultimately we’re able to grow together as one,as opposed to being so focused on having the newest or the best or nicest thing. You lose sight of what really makes it special,” he said.
These new additions to the Saint Viator community are currently in the works and may soon become available.
With the first semester hitting its halfway mark for the 2024-25 school year, there have already been so many great things planned for the future of the whole Saint Viator community, which will ultimately shape students’ experiences and help them grow in their faith, academics and create lifelong memories.