St. Francis reports 6 percent enrollment gain

Refreshed students, teachers, administrators and staff members returning to St. Francis de Sales Parish School from their summer vacations are welcoming plenty of new faces to their learning community.

While enrollment at the school, 11 S. Buesching Road in Lake Zurich, has steadily increased for the past few years, the 2011-12 enrollment numbers are cause for celebration.

With a current student population of 520, enrollment at St. Francis de Sales is the highest it has been in five years, with a 6 percent increase since last year’s registration count.

Fifty-two families from Lake Zurich and its surrounding communities are new to St. Francis de Sales Parish School this year, with a total of 71 new students starting classes.

When asked about the growing enrollment at St. Francis de Sales, school secretary Marion Meyer said, “The increased enrollment, especially in our lower grades, is a welcome sign of a school still growing. Our school families are very good about sharing their positive experiences with others in the community.”

St. Francis de Sales students receive a Catholic education in a traditional school setting.

“Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is the purpose for this parish school. St. Francis de Sales School is a parish school … it is not a private or elite school. Our school has been rooted in our parish for more than 50 years through the prayers and support of the parents and this good parish community,” said the Rev. David F. Ryan, pastor of St. Francis de Sales.

During the 2010-11 school year and into the summer of 2011, substantial technological advancements were made in the parish school. All areas of the school were upgraded with new computers with the latest office productivity and information security products.

The primary computer lab was completely rebuilt and now features brand new computers with the latest web experience tools and select multimedia content manipulation products. Network capabilities were upgraded, expanded and enhanced, resulting in faster Internet connections.

Interactive learning increased with the installation of 40-inch LCD televisions in every classroom and seven new Promethean boards installed throughout the school.