How Our Lady's Academy Is Educating And Engaging Its Students

Our Lady's Academy is a Catholic school located in Waltham that strives to provide a high level of education and an environment that supports the academic, athletic, artistic, social and spiritual needs of its students as they grow into young adults.

The tight-knit community puts an emphasis on love, respect and tolerance for people from all backgrounds and faiths and their highly certified and committed faculty members are always there to support students. Read on to learn more about Our Lady's Academy and how Principal Chandra Minor is helping instill a Catholic education in her talented and successful students.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?

Minor: Being a principal of a Catholic school that spans grades pre-k through grade eight brings many challenges. However, the biggest challenge I face on a daily basis is ensuring that I have done everything I can to create a rigorous academic, yet compassionate and caring atmosphere that supports the Catholic teachings and the high expectations we have set for our students and our faculty. Each day I leave my office I ask myself, “What more can I do to help ensure that all the students at Our Lady’s Academy have what they need to achieve their highest level of success?”

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Minor: The most satisfying part of my job is walking through the classrooms and witnessing students engaged in the learning process. In a time when we as a society are surrounded by negativity, I am fortunate enough to be able to get a glimpse of what our future looks like. Every day I witness teachers acting as facilitators of learning – fostering self-exploration and collaboration. Every day I observe students cooperating with one another to complete difficult tasks. Every day, I get to see the pride on the students’ faces when they have mastered a concept. Every day, I witness daily acts of kindness between students. Every day, I am a spectator of empathy, optimism, and genuine joy. As challenging as my job may be, I realize that I am truly blessed to play a part in shaping our future through the education of our youth.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?

Minor: At Our Lady’s we have made a commitment to educating the whole student. We understand that a successful education system addresses more than just teaching the students reading, writing, and arithmetic. Our Lady’s Academy is very aware that to be successful in every aspect of their lives, children need to know they have a voice and that they need to learn how to use it. At Our Lady’s, no question is stupid, and new ideas are allowed to be developed and explored. We encourage our students to be free thinkers and to be confident in their thoughts and beliefs. Our students know that what they think and say is valued and is supported by faculty and fellow students alike.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Minor: I am incredibly excited about the evolution of the technology program at Our Lady’s Academy. Years ago, it became a goal of mine to prepare the students for the technology centric society that they will be entering. Long before it became a norm, our middle school was equipped with 1-1 iPads, and each classroom had a SmartBoard. To maintain our technology edge, last year we added a state of the art technology lab – The Innovation Lab. Our Innovation Lab is equipped with a contemporary SmartBoard , 24 state- of-the-art computers, 3D printers, and an interactive weather station. Beginning in Kindergarten our students are encouraged to use the Innovation Lab to explore and develop ideas. Recently, I watched a middle-school student use the 3D printer to make a model of a boat. Much to my delight, when I inquired what he was doing, he responded, “I am testing the laws of buoyancy.” Witnessing our students employ technology to explore ideas, analyze real-life problems, and create models to test their learning, makes me excited to see what the future holds.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Minor: Our Lady’s is very proud to honor and support the multiple intelligences of our students. We make sure to spotlight the many different ways our students demonstrate their gifts – both academic and artistic. On Saturday, December 16, our Choir is performing Handel with the Waltham Symphony. In February, we will host our annual Science Fair. In April, we will host our Social Studies Fair and Art Show. And finally in May, our student body will be performing the production “Dizzy For Disney.” We encourage our community to attend these events, or one of our Open Houses, to learn about all the wonderful happenings going on at Our Lady’s Academy.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Minor: For more information, we recommend readers to explore our website, or to contact the school at 781-899-0353 or by email.

This Patch article is sponsored by Our Lady's Academy.

Photo Credit: Our Lady's Academy