Testimonials

What do parents think of St. Ephrem Catholic Academy? Here's what a few had to say.


St. Ephrem is a family community. The parent community is supportive and not competitive.  We work together to build a supportive environment to raise our children and educate them together.  My son loves his classes and his teachers.  A positive environment allows the children to grow and thrive and be the best they can be.
Emmy’s Mom

Our children have attended St. Ephrem’s since pre-nursery.  We know St. Ephrem has provided them with a warm and safe environment to grow and learn.  The teachers and faculty foster an environment of personal, spiritual, and academic growth. Participation in St. Ephrem academy offers academic Catholic education, STEM, art studies, and CYO sports, has enriched our lives and have served as a foundation moving forward.  We are proud to say that we are a THIRD GENERATION Harps of the Holy Spirit.
Diana’s Mom

Amazing teachers and staff! During the COVID pandemic of 2020, the principal and teachers transitioned the children into remote online learning effortlessly! and as a parent, it is comforting to know that your child will still have a quality education.  A healthy and safe educational environment for your child is exactly what St. Ephrem has to offer!
Anonymous

St. Ephrem Catholic Academy is our home away from home. My children are so blessed to be a part of this community. It’s not a community it’s a family. We have been a part of this community since 2018, and through the years, my children have grown and flourished so much. With such a loving and caring faculty and staff, I’m confident that they are in a safe and loving environment. They enjoy going to school each and every day. My children and I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. I truly thank the teachers of our school for always encouraging my children to do their best, boosting their self-confidence, and always helping them strive for the best.                                                                            Anonymous Parent

I am a parent of two children, one who has graduated and one who is still in attendance here at St. Ephrem.  We began our journey here in early nursery 12 years ago.   There aren’t enough words to express my love for this academy.  They have helped shape my daughters into smart, responsible young ladies with a love for their school, their faith, and their community.  The academics are better than I could have asked for in helping them achieve their goals.  We moved to Staten Island and sadly changed schools.  We quickly learned there was no place like St. Ephrem, and we returned after just one month.   I was deeply impressed at the way st. Ephrem easily transitioned our children to online learning during the lockdown of Covid 19. It was seamless, and our children did not miss a beat.   They have really grown over the years with the competing curriculums in other schools and have surpassed our students' needs by adding programs for them to thrive!  All of my years here with this school and being involved with my children have surrounded me with the love and respect of the teachers. This truly feels like a family.  I feel that my family has a strong sense of faith, love, and community because of St. Ephrem, and we are reliant on the strength and support our church has provided us to make us a strong family.   I feel my daughters wouldn’t be as grounded,  confident, and wonderful girls had they attended school elsewhere.  We will always carry fond memories of St. Ephrem within our home.             Melissa LoFaso, Parent

Our experience with St. Ephrem Catholic Academy has been an excellent one.  Although we transferred our child over from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Academy due to its closure, we could not have been happier with our choice.  We were welcomed with open arms into the community and treated as family. We are so grateful to our principal, teachers, and faculty for all they do for our child's academic and spiritual enrichment and the entire student body.             Anonymous Parent

I graduated in 1977 and have been involved with the parish and school in many different areas. I am so proud to be part of the St. Ephrem community. The priests, principals, teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers have contributed so much to benefit all, especially the children.                                                                  Sylvester J. Sichenze, SECA Board of Directors Chairperson 

St. Ephrem Catholic Academy has provided my daughter with a positive first school experience. Ms. Jennifer and Mrs. Angela go above and beyond every day for their students. As a teacher and mom I couldn’t have asked for a better Pre- K 3 experience.                                                                                                             Diana Varvara, Parent

I graduated from Saint Ephrem, and now 2 soon to be three children attend Saint Ephrem. Saint Ephrem is an amazing place where my children receive a great education. The teachers work hard to ensure every child is on a level to the best of their ability. The school is small, and everyone knows who your child is. Everyone is like your extended family. Other parents will ensure your child is well and happy if you cannot be on a trip or in school for a celebration. You do not have to be nervous about asking questions or asking other parents for help. Someone is always there to guide you. I cannot see my children receiving a better education anywhere else.                                                                                                     Adriana LoDuca, Class of 1998 and Parent 

St. Ephrem Catholic Academy is such a wonderful school. My son has grown and learned so much over the years here, and there are many extracurricular activities for the children to stay engaged and continue learning. Thank you!             Amanda Leonard, Parent 

Based on our family’s experience, we share what we believe your child and you can expect to experience at St. Ephrem Catholic Academy.                                     

The Academy has a quality academic program within a spiritually enriching environment, made possible by wonderful teachers, after-school staff, and an excellent principal, complemented by the priests and nuns at St. Ephrem Church. 

The academics are strong, and the extracurricular activities promote each student’s physical and mental health. The spiritual foundation at St. Ephrem is an essential part of each child’s development towards becoming a compassionate individual, confident in her or his abilities and fortified by his or her faith.  

The experienced teachers have a vocation for teaching and put in long hours to prepare for their daily instruction. They are approachable and available to discuss any issue having to do with each student’s learning progress and overall well-being. 

The after-school program is a safe place for students in which they are looked after, play, and do their homework. 

The principal, Mr. Estevez, is completely committed to the Academy. He often works 12+ hour days and weekends too. Every morning, along with Father Adamo, our senior Parish Priest, Mr. Estevez, greets students as they arrive. He is engaged in everything that goes on at the school. He often sits in on classes, knows all the students, and is accessible to students, teachers, and parents alike. He listens and will actively do what is best for your child if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns. 

St. Ephrem’s has ramped up extra-curricular activities following the pandemic, including sports, the art club, school band, and drama club. Sports organized by the school offer fun exercise and play in a supervised environment. The art club allows students to express their imagination on paper, canvas, or three-dimensional art, all of which is beautiful. The concert, highlighting the school band, and musical, featuring members of the drama club, are extraordinary productions. They display students' talents, encourage them to express themselves creatively, and feel the joy of performing before their classmates, family, and the entire St. Ephrem community. 

If you wish to learn more about our experience, reach out to Mr. Estevez, he can arrange for us to speak directly.                                                                                    Anonymous

       I have 2 children in grades 5 and 8 in St. Ephrem.  Now that my son is close to graduating and about to move on to the next chapter in his education, I have become very reflective.  Did my son achieve the education I wanted and planned for him from his grammar school?  I can confidently say “yes.”                                        I wanted an environment where my kids would grow academically, spiritually, physically, and mentally and learn how to “Live Jesus” in their everyday life.  To Live Jesus is something that was often said and seen inside the walls of my own catholic grammar school, but I did not fully understand what it meant until I was older. To me, to Live Jesus means to conduct yourself with kindness, compassion, and love in your heart for all of God’s creations.  Kids spend about 7 hours a day at school, and it was extremely important to me that my kids be in an environment with faculty that would foster this ideology and that it be ingrained into their education.                                                                                                                       When my kids were in their early years at St. Ephrem, they spent much time in after-school.  They had great after-school teachers that took the time to know them on a personal level, helped them with their homework, and comforted and nurtured them during those few hours between school and pick-up, but the unexpected surprise came from the older students who were always ready to help the younger kids and who quickly became part of my children’s lives.  Even outside of school, these older students would take the time to say hello, talk and joke around with my children for a few minutes.  My kids ate up the attention, and I remember thinking at the time, “wow, I hope my children can be that to another young child one day.”  By not being dismissed by the older students, they learned how to Live Jesus.                                                                                                              In 4th grade, my son was assigned a pre-k buddy.  He was so proud to be able to teach and help a younger student, the way he was once helped.  He didn’t know it then, but St. Ephrem was teaching him to Live Jesus.                                          When my daughter reached 4th grade, she had the opportunity to volunteer her time to the class guinea pigs.  Every day she came home with a new story.  She loved spending time with them, feeding them, and cleaning their cage.  No chore was too big or too gross when it came to the guinea pigs. She also learned how to Live Jesus.                                                                                                                         Now that my son has reached the upper grades, his friendships have strengthened, and the coursework has grown more challenging.  The teachers have used this learning opportunity to broaden the students’ views about the world and their role within it.  The kids themselves have faced their first big test, the TACHS exam, and the highs and lows of waiting to hear from the high schools.  Because of the small class sizes at St. Ephrem and the dedicated teachers, he was well prepared and has been accepted to all 3 of his high school choices.                         As my son and his fellow 8th graders learn that the world is more nuanced, they are comforted with the knowledge that God is always their biggest supporter. Because their catholic faith has always been intertwined with their education, they will remember the words of their teachers and mentors during all of the highs and lows in their lives, just as I continue to remember the words of my own catholic grammar school teachers and mentors.  I am and will always be a strong proponent of Catholic education.  There is nothing comparable.  Along with a solid education, at St. Ephrem, every student will benefit from small classroom sizes, compassionate and loving teachers, and the catholic support that will stay with them throughout their lives.                                                                                                                                       Dana Surace, Parent 

       My name is William Gillen, and I’m a St. Ephrem alum, Class of 1996. I’m one of 5 siblings who graduated from St. Ephrem from 1989–2000. I was baptized, had reconciliation, and communion, and married here in 2013.                                               I have so many happy memories from my time as a student here. I also am part of a Facebook group of St. Ephrem alum which is full of people from several generations who post pictures and stories and connect with old friends here.               Two years ago, I entered a new chapter with St. Ephrem, becoming a parent of a student here, with my oldest son Jack, starting Pre-k 3, who is now in Pre-k 4.            To say we’ve been thrilled with our experience as parents here is an understatement. The teachers have all been great, and Jack loves it here. At morning drop-off, Jack runs ahead of me to get in the door.                                         I was surprised at how quickly we became friends with the other parents. We don’t get to talk much at morning drop off/pick up but have been able to get to know each other at different events the school has, like Breakfast with Santa, the Halloween party, and the school play we just attended last week. It’s such a great atmosphere at every event, and you can tell all the kids have a great time together.                                                                                                                          We have such excellent communication from St. Ephrem, with regular emails to the parents from Donna Colon, Sylvester Sichenze, and Mr. Estevez, the principal, and the various classroom apps that keep us informed of what is going on in the classroom. It’s easy to get involved and feel like a welcomed part of the St. Ephrem community.                                                                                                                                                     William Gillen, Class of 1996, and Parent

       Several years ago, when it came to selecting a school for my children, there were many factors to consider. I was looking for a community that valued them as individuals and would challenge them to greatness in academics, spirituallly and individually.                                                                                                                         As a catholic graduate myself, a community that provided a faith-based education was most important to me. I am elated to see my children attending mass each week with their class and then celebrating as a school each month.  They are keeping Jesus as the foundation of their education, learning to live as Jesus did, and growing in faith each day.  Each student here is committed to growing their own Catholic identity.                                                                                Another important factor was finding a place where my children can get a good education.  As a teacher, I needed to find an environment I can trust to grow and support my children academically.  The educators here at St. Ephrem work diligently to engage students to be the best they can be.  I commend their commitment to strengthening our children in the classroom, that will help them lead fulfilling lives. I am also greatly satisfied that this school provides support for our struggling children, such as small group pullouts and Orten-Gillingham tutoring, as well as challenging them to their fullest potential, such as being part of our national junior honor society.  Our principal, Andy Estevez, provides transparency and an open door communication to make sure parents are receiving the education they are looking for, keeping our school community safe, and ensuring that our children are growing in faith.  This team of educators at St. Ephrem now know my children on a personal level and act as an extension of our family from home.   Again, I commend these amazing ambassadors of St. Ephrem’s that dedicate themselves daily to the teaching and strengthening of our community.                                                                                                                         Lastly, finding a place where my children feel welcome, and part of the community was also very important. This small structured building allows the children to find their place in the classroom and opportunities to interact with students across all grade levels outside the class as well.   As a parent, I appreciate all that Carol Fell, along with the HAA, do to provide memorable, family-oriented events that bring together our academy as one.  Such events as the Christmas breakfast or the upcoming father-daughter dance are moments that cannot be measured!  Due to these gatherings, there are many close relationships that developed with families inside and outside the school day.   To continue adding to our community, we have a wonderful chairperson, Sylvester Sichenze, who ensures the academy runs effectively for our teachers and children and contributes his time to our extracurricular sports activities.  These activities, like baseball and currently the basketball season, are at the forefront that shapes our children into independent individuals.  Anyone who has attended a Saturday at the St. Ephrem field for flag football could understand the great work that goes into organizing it and its impact on our children.                                                                                          I am proud to be part of the St. Ephrem Catholic Community.  It is the backdrop for who my children are becoming and one of the reasons for their childhood happiness.  This is all I needed, to know I made the right decision years ago in choosing St. Ephrem Catholic Academy.                                                                                                              Dawn LaBarbera, Parent


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