Beginning in the fall of 2009, Subiaco Academy will implement several changes that will have a positive impact on student life, according to Headmaster Michael Burke.
“The new changes that will take place this fall are designed to move Subiaco Academy toward the level of a true boarding school community,” says Burke. “We are forming faculty duty teams - made up of administrators, faculty, monks, and staff - to provide increased mentoring opportunities and quality interaction with Academy students.” Duty teams will work on a rotational basis each Tuesday and Thursday, with each shift beginning at student supper. Teams will work from 6:00 p.m. until night prayer at 9:00 p.m. interacting with and offering support to students; monitoring study hall; tutoring; and conducting night prayer. “We want to provide our students with a supportive home-like environment in which to grow as individuals,” Burke notes.
In an effort to further strengthen the inclusiveness of the Subiaco community, the Academy will implement the House system this fall. Six dorm areas will be named for the abbots of the abbey and the abbey founder. All students, including day students, will be assigned a House membership, where the boarders will also live. The House system encourages year-long competitions between the Houses (at orientation, Field Day, intramurals, Pig Roast activities, Spirit Week, holiday events, etc.) with points earned throughout the school year. Points will be awarded for attendance at school activities, placement on the Honor Roll/Faculty List, award recognitions such as the Schriver Award, etc. Points can also be removed for different infractions or abuses. “Houses will create their own ‘House Colors’ and ‘House Flag,’ says Burke. “Students and faculty/staff will also sit with their House during assembly and Mass. We want to create a more ‘home friendly’ residential community that encourages more involvement and a desire to continue what one has started.”
Additional changes for the upcoming school year include: the hiring of an Activities Director; implementation of a formal after-school activities program where students are required to participate in a regular season sport, or an activity with faculty members “coaching” a team/club/group; the school will be returning to a common study hall for all students who are not achieving at an appropriate level, and students will have to earn their way to the privilege of in-room study; morning detention will be replaced with lunchtime detention with a designated set of rules to be followed every day, making detention more effective; freshmen and eighth grade PE will be moved to the 7th period time slot and will count as one class rather than the current two for the entire school year; dormitory deans will be more involved in the daily life of the school and all deans will make Subiaco their primary residence; and faculty and students will be responsible for the general upkeep of the Academy campus, with students performing designated daily chores. Seniors will work as team leaders to help underclassmen not only complete their chores, but to also understand that work is both necessary and rewarding.
“These are exciting times for Subiaco Academy as administrators, faculty, and staff work together to move our school closer to providing a true and inclusive boarding school environment for our students,” says Burke. “I’m very proud of the way everyone has embraced these positive changes for the betterment of the Academy.”
