Al Winkelmann, Associate Superintendent for Elementary School Administration for the Archdiocese of St. Louis and active member of the ACCESS Academies Board of Directors, has retired after 30+ combined years of service to our community.

“Al is a role model for living your faith. By using the teachings of the Catholic church, he has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of education in our faith-based schools while expanding services and support to students and families in need. It is no surprise that his accolades outnumber his successes, and we wish him a peaceful retirement,” said John Vatterott, Board President.

We would like to announce that ACCESS Academies has moved to the campus of St. Louis University! It has been an exciting transition, and we look forward to settling into our new home. Please stop by and visit us in our new location:

• Our physical address is Wuller Hall, Suite #222, 3672 West Pine Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
• Our mailing address is 3711 West Pine Mall, #222, St. Louis, MO 63108
• Our campus phone number is (314) 977-6359
• Please note, our former phone number (314)898-0430 also remains in operation during the transition.

We would also like to send a special note of thanks to Paul Miniorini and the Boys Hope/Girls Hope family, who, for the past several years, has generously shared office space with us in their corporate headquarters.

 

Photo descriptions:

• Betsy Liberatore, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies, is welcomed by Peg Weathers, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations, and Fr. Christopher Collins, SJ, Assistant to the President, Mission and Identity.
• Betsy Liberatore, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies, and Fr. Christopher Collins, SJ, Assistant to the President, Mission and Identity, celebrate new beginnings.
• Nick McDowell, Graduate Support Director at Most Holy Trinity School & Academy, brings several hardworking students to help with the move. These guys were awesome and we are eternally thankful for their support!
• Bobby Wassel, Assistsant Director-Service & Outreach for the Center for Service and Community Engagement, helps the team move and settle into the office.
• Nick McDowell, Graduate Support Director at Most Holy Trinity School & Academy, brings several hardworking students to help with the move. These guys were awesome and we are eternally thankful for their support!

Marie Kenyon Named Director of Peace & Justice Commission

In January, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson named Marie Kenyon the director of the newly-formed Peace and Justice Commission of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The goal of the commission is to address societal issues such as poverty, racial tension and the lack of educational opportunities from a Catholic perspective.

The commission was among several initiatives the Archbishop announced at a Mass for Peace and Justice at the Cathedral Basilica following the death of Michael Brown.

“I urge this new Commission to assist the citizens and public officials throughout all 11 counties of our Archdiocese in the effort to achieve peace and justice for all.” Carlson said in a statement.

Previously, Kenyon served as the founder/director for the Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry, which provides free family and immigration legal representation to low-income clients. Annually, the Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry litigates on approximately fourteen hundred civil law cases.

Kenyon holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Bradley University and graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law. She is a past president of the St. Louis Bar Foundation and Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and has served on the Missouri Bar’s Gender and Justice Task Force, the Women’s Place board and the Economic Justice Task Force of the Missouri Catholic Conference.

Kenyon has served on the ACCESS Board of Directors since 2005.

ACCESS proudly provides the following resources for students and their families. Check back often as new resources are added often!

Middle School

• Parent’s Guide to Making the Move to Middle School
• Parent’s Guide: Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence
• Parent’s Guide: Helping Your Child with Homework
• Preparing for Middle School
• 7 Steps to Succeeding in Middle School
•  Managing the Middle School Years
• How To Fit In When You’re In Middle School

6^th Grade

• What to Expect: 6^th Grade Academics
• What to Expect: 6^th Grade Social Changes

7^th Grade

• What to Expect: 7^th Grade Academics
• What to Expect: 7^th Grade Social Changes

8^th Grade

• What to Expect: 8^th Grade Academics
• What to Expect: 8^th Grade Social Changes

High School

• Preparing for High School
• High School Time Management: The Have-To’s, the Want-To’s and Goals
• Fitting in the Social Scene in High School
• 9^th Grade Checklist: Academic and Financial Preparation
• 10^th Grade Checklist: Academic and Financial Preparation
• 11^th Grade Checklist: Academic and Financial Preparation
• 12^th Grade Checklist: Academic and Financial Preparation

College Planning

• Scholarship Opportunities
• FAFSA Support and Applications
• College Preparation Checklist
• Choosing a Career

ACCESS would like to congratulate the 37 Academy students at St. Cecilia who made the Honor Roll for the first semester!

2014 – 15 First Quarter Honor Roll

1^st Honors – 3.5 +

8^th Grade

• Carley B.
• Yesenia G.
• Samantha H.
• Christian M.
• Maria P.
• Brenda S.-R.
• Frieda V.

7^th Grade

• Harry B.
• Abby B.
• Raphael M.
• Gretchen M.
• Manuel O.
• Andrea S.-R.
• Humberto V.

6^th Grade

• Ian B.
• Cassie H.
• Noelle H.
• Manny N.
• Aaron T.
• Alex V.
• Leslie V.

 

2014 – 15 First Quarter Honor Roll

2^nd Honors – 3.0 – 3.49

8^th Grade

• Omar C.
• Monique G.
• Carrie J.
• Michel Q.
• Jeezel V.

7^th Grade

• Heavyn B.
• Jordyn H.
• Fernando M.
• Susi N.
• Benjamin T.
• Christian Z.

6^th Grade

• Miguel A.
• Elian D.
• Karina G.
• Jasmine M.
• Esmeralda R.

 

Betsy Liberatore Appointed as Interim Director of ACCESS Academies

ST. LOUIS, MO. October 23, 2014- Mrs. Betsy Liberatore has been appointed the Interim Director of ACCESS Academies. She replaces Blake Youde who stepped down as the Executive Director in September.

Liberatore, who has served as ACCESS’ Event Director since 2011, has helped to raise over $1,570,000 in high school tuition dollars for NativityMiguel students. Previously, she has held a variety of leadership roles including Executive Director of the Saint Louis Ambassadors, Inc.

“Betsy has done an outstanding job for ACCESS Academies, and will continue her focus on fundraising efforts,” said John Vatterott, chairman of the Board of Directors.

ACCESS Academies provides a unique college preparatory education for economically and/or socially disadvantaged students in under-represented neighborhoods through the St. Louis NativityMiguel Model of Education program, which:

• Extends the school day and school year from 6-8th grade to provide additional academic support. This includes a robust academic curriculum, homework assistance, service projects, and enrichment.
• Encourages family involvement to further support the physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being of each student.
• Eases the transition to high school and into college through graduate support. This includes, but not limited to, tutoring, mentoring, academic scholarships, and monitoring each student’s individual academic growth and achievement through high school and into college.

Currently ACCESS serves more than 135 middle school students at three Archdiocesan partner schools, and over 215 NativityMiguel graduates at more than 20 college-preparatory high schools in St. Louis. Since its inception in 2005, more than 600 students have benefitted for ACCESS’ services.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, by calling (573) 268-0639.

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