At Ave Maria Academy, students in the St. Anthony Program find relationships rooted in faith, acceptance, and encouragement.
Written by Kerry Smigielski, paraprofessional for the St. Anthony Program, Ave Maria Academy, Diocese of Pittsburgh, [email protected]
We often pray to St. Anthony to help us find things: the glasses on top of our head, the pen in our pocket, or the phone in our hand. Though his intercession can come in handy in these situations, St. Anthony has helped the students I work with find much more meaningful things. At Ave Maria Academy, students in the St. Anthony Program find relationships rooted in faith, acceptance, and encouragement.
St. Anthony’s is an inclusive educational program that serves students with disabilities in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. One elementary school served is Ave Maria Academy (AMA). Students in the St. Anthony Program can attend AMA from kindergarten through eighth grade. They join inclusive classes and participate in activities, sports, and clubs with their typical peers. As a paraprofessional in the St. Anthony Program, I have been blessed to experience how AMA students embrace our students across settings.
Part of the mission of AMA is to support their students’ whole development and form them as “protectors and mentors” of one another. By truly including their St. Anthony peers, AMA students reflect this mission. Here are some examples of social-emotional development in virtue that I have experienced in my time at AMA.
Joseph’s Learning Journey
“Joseph” has been in the St. Anthony Program since first grade, and I have had the opportunity to see him grow and now prepare for middle school. Joseph is a math whiz, and his AMA classmates often praise him for answering difficult questions correctly. However, he has been working to improve his reading and writing skills. Here is where Joseph’s classmates show social awareness. I have never heard anyone in Joseph’s class comment if he could not understand something in a textbook or convey his thoughts on paper. In fact, Joseph’s classmates keep him updated on directions and volunteer to help him read presentations. Their empathy not only allows them to grow socially, emotionally, and spiritually, but has also given Joseph the fortitude to persevere in his learning journey.
Faith’s Support System
“Faith” attended AMA from kindergarten through eighth grade, graduating in 2024. She made substantial improvements throughout her time in the St. Anthony Program, learning emotional regulation and communication skills. This improvement would not have been possible without the support of her AMA peers. Faith loves art and music, but can become overstimulated in a classroom environment due to having autism. This was especially true during practice sessions for AMA’s Dance-a-Thon during Catholic Schools Week. Each grade would come up with a song and a routine. I remember the girls in Faith’s class making sure she was lined up properly and could see the choreography as they planned it out. If she were in a different spot, the girls would gently guide her back to the group.
Elizabeth’s Friendships
“Elizabeth” was also in the St. Anthony Program from kindergarten through eighth grade, but knew many of her classmates since preschool. She just graduated this past June. Growing up together, Elizabeth and her peers formed lasting friendships. There were small gestures like waving and saying hello in the hallways, and giving high-fives. Her classmates never hesitated to include Elizabeth in group projects. Elizabeth and Faith loved attending middle school dances, and there were always pictures of them with their friends from both AMA campuses.
Elizabeth’s favorite class at AMA was gym. Having Down syndrome, she was not on the same developmental level as her peers. However, Elizabeth was always welcome on a team. Her friends even rallied around her, jumping and chanting her name when she joined their team. No matter the game, Elizabeth’s classmates were patient with her, always making sure she received a pass, kicked a ball, or scored a basket. Their empathy made Elizabeth so happy.
Lily’s Beginning
With two of our girls onto their next chapter, “Lily” is just beginning in the St. Anthony Program. She transferred from another school to AMA for first grade. Lily’s classmates welcomed her with open arms, guiding her through a transitional period. Lily has been working on her motor skills, and her friends help her carry supplies and work on projects. These little ones give hope that Lily’s experience at AMA will mirror that of our other students.
AMA students are a true model of virtue. Their love of God and neighbor shines through in how they embrace their peers in the St. Anthony Program. You can sense this love in the classroom, school, and community. The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) notes that “the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.” With their peers at AMA, St. Anthony students have a community where they are treated justly and able to thrive socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
St. Anthony, pray for us.
