Building Success: Cogito Academy expands to serve more students for 2024-2025 school year

Due to parent requests and the popularity of the program, Elk Island Catholic Schools’ Cogito Academy has expanded to two additional schools for the 2024-2025 school year. 

École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) in Sherwood Park and Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School (OLA) in Fort Saskatchewan have introduced Cogito Academy to their schools starting next year. Specifically, Cogito Academy is available for students Grades 5 and 6 at OLPH, and Kindergarten to Grade 4 at OLA.

“Cogito Academies are among the best schools in the province, and there always seem to be two or three in the top 10 schools in terms of Provincial Achievement Tests performance. That’s something to take note of. Teaching students work ethic pays off,” said OLPH Principal Stefan Johnson. “Our Cogito Academy will include a classical component, introducing our students to the best humanity has to offer, whether in science and math, or in the areas of literature, art, and history. This isn’t just learning curriculum, or learning to work; it’s transformative.”

The academy’s focused goal of delivering quality education is consistent with the academic excellence that all EICS schools strive to provide through their mainstream programs.

Enough interest in Cogito Academy was shown by OLPH parents that the school will open it a year early. One of the oldest schools in Sherwood Park, OLPH has established a reputation for quality English and French Immersion education and athletics programs. “Cogito Academy follows a tradition of excellence that goes back decades, but in a new way,” Johnson said. 

By offering Cogito Academy in Fort Saskatchewan, OLA Principal Michele Yuzdepski said she is excited for parents to have a more active role in their child's learning journey. “The learning environment and instructional approach emphasizes structure and organization,” she explained. “Like other successful Cogito academies, our focus is teaching work ethic, confidence, independence, and mastery to prepare students for their futures. We are excited to offer this to families who are looking for this learning environment.”

This school year, EICS successfully launched its first Cogito Academy program at Madonna Catholic School in Sherwood Park for Kindergarten to Grade 3. As is the case for all schools within EICS, students are not required to be Catholic to attend; all students are welcome. More information is available at eics.ab.ca/cogito.