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WHAt’s neWs Aquinas Earns Middle States
Book & a Re-accreditation

Blanket A
Aquinas has earned re-accreditation by the quinas has earned re-accreditation by the
Celebrates Middle States Association Commissions on
Elementary and Secondary Schools, a worldwide
10 Years! leader in accreditation and continuous school
improvement.

“We are pleased to have
Th e Aquinas Middle School Book and a Blanket service project earned re-accreditation
celebrated its 10th year in 2017! In that time, students have created by the Middle States
and donated over 2,000 books and blankets to children in the Association and to share
community – 209 just this year. in our success with the
greater school community, especially the teachers,
“I can’t believe it’s been ten years or that we’ve parents and students who worked so hard to make
made over 2,000 blankets,” said Mrs. Daniels, this possible,” said Principal Ted Mancini. “Re-
AQMS religion teacher and coordinator of the accreditation confi rms and validates the work
Book and a Blanket project. “It can be a bit we do each and every day to ensure a top quality
chaotic, but the kids have so much fun with it.” education for our students.”
Accreditation is a self-evaluation process that
Th is past December, 7th and 8th grade students
visited School #7 to deliver the bundles and schools voluntarily undergo to demonstrate
they are meeting a defi ned set of performance
spend some time reading and playing with the
spend some time reading and playing with the standards. Th e accreditation process helps schools
children there. – and ultimately students – to continuously grow
children there.
and improve.

Th e process begins with a self-study that is
conducted by the school and requires input
from school leaders, teachers, parents and
students. Following the self-study, a team of
volunteer educators from Association member
schools conducts an on-site peer review visit to
observe school operations and interview various
stakeholders.

Th e visiting team makes its recommendation
to the Middle States Association Commissions,
which votes on the accreditation.

NEW AWARD HONORS SERVICE

New this year at Aquinas is the St. Joseph the Worker Community
Service Award, which will be given to students who complete 20
hours or more of community service above the minimum grade level
requirement. Members of the freshman class will be the fi rst students
eligible for permanent membership in the St. Joseph the Worker
Community Service Club should they meet this criteria each of their
four years of high school.

This group of freshmen volunteer at School of the Holy Childhood during Freshman Service Day. Eight other groups
of freshmen visited Foodlink, Oatka Cemetery, Cameron Community Ministries, Bethany House, Monroe Community
Hospital, Angels of Mercy, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality and St. Ann’s Community. All projects coincide with the
Seven Corporal Works of Mercy.
12 12 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2018