A New Catholic High School to Open Fall 2008 in Dumfries

A New Catholic High School to Open Fall 2008 in Dumfries

Prince William County, Virginia

A new figure has graced many of the area’s Catholic parishes and, in particular, the parochial schools.  She is dressed in full habit, a garment as traditional as a priest’s white collar, and commanding attention and respect.

Sister Mary Jordan Hoover, OP, visited us at Sunday mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Triangle to update us on the progress of the new Catholic High School opening in the fall of 2008 in Dumfries, VA.  Having lived in South Stafford for nearly 20 years, I’ve had the benefit of giving my children a Catholic education at the elementary and middle school levels. 

However, up until now, the closest Catholic High School was either Paul the VI in Fairfax or Bishop Ireton in Alexandria.  Neither of these was a viable option for our family.  When we considered the morning commute and the afterschool activities my children wanted to enjoy, we felt comfortable deciding to send them to Stafford County Public High Schools.  However, many area families from as far south as Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania had chosen to put their children on the VRE in small groups from Fredericksburg, Quantico and Woodbridge, so that their children could attend Catholic High School.

Now it appears many families with freshmen and sophomores will be able to shorten their children’s commute considerably if they chose to enroll their high school student in the new high school.  The school will have a college prep curriculum with AP/honors, academic and concept level courses will be available.  Additionally, a unique Bioethics curriculum will be presented to all students as part of the graduation requirements. The school will offer a full, competitive sports curriculum along with band and vocal music electives.  Information for students and parents will be available at Open Houses.

At present, Sister Mary Jordan is actively recruiting faculty and staff to realize the school’s goals of opening their doors for the upcoming school year.  According to Sister’s reports at Sunday mass, an estimated 450+ 9^th and 10^th grade students are already enrolled in the school for the fall semester. 

As of late August, all foundations were completed with the exception of the Media Center and Auditorium.  The school is being built to accommodate 1,000 students with an infrastructure to hold up to 1,500.  Masonry walls have been constructed for locker and shower rooms with electrical and rough-ins for plumbing currently underway.  The entryway and parking lots have been paved and an irrigation system for the football and baseball has been installed.  Paving for a track around the football field has already been paved.

For more information contact:

Sr. Mary Jordan Hoover, O.P
Principal, New Catholic High School
703-670-3061
smj.hoover@arlingtondiocese.org

1700 Garwood Dr,Dumfries, VA  22026

Groundbreaking Ceremony Video of New Catholic High School