Ave Maria Welcomes Two New Schools

THE POPULATION HAS SOARED IN AVE MARIA MORE THAN DOUBLING SINCE THE 2020 CENSUS, THE MORE THAN 8,000 RESIDENTS, A NEW EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NEEDED TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND AND HIS WGCUS YOUNG PARK SHARES. THAT MEANS 2 NEW SCHOOLS ARE CHRISTIAN. THIS ACADEMIC YEAR TO SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN TOWN. >> AVE MARIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS THE TOWN'S VERY FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL OPENING TEST THIS WEEK AND SERVING PRE-K THROUGH 5TH GRADES. THE SCHOOL WELCOMED AROUND 375 STUDENTS. LESLIE RECORD TALLY SAYS THE SCHOOL HAS A COMMUNAL PRIDE OF EVERYONE IN TOWN. >> BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A COMMUNITY SCHOOL. THE PARENTS FEEL LIKE IT'S THEIRS AND THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING HERE. THE BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY, ITS THEIR SCHOOL. EVERYBODY HAS BY AN AND A STAKE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHOOL. I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST HERE. >> PARENTS ACCOMPANY THEIR CHILDREN, TUCK PHOTO MEMENTOS OF THEIR KIDS AND INTERACTED WITH THE SCHOOL MASCOT WHO IS TO BE NAMED BY THE KIDS. ALINA GRAY, AS A MOTHER OF A 3RD GRADER WHO SAYS HER FAMILY IS GRATEFUL TO FINALLY NOT HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO NAPLES FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING. >> I DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE TOO EARLY AND, YOU KNOW, ARE WARNING IT DID SO RUSH. SO IT'S NICE PRINCIPAL, BETH, BUT SINCE KEY, A LOCAL RESIDENT HERSELF. >> SAYS SHE CAN HOP ON HER GOLF CART TO GET TO SCHOOL EACH MORNING. >> I ACTUALLY LEFT BEING A PRINCIPAL IN COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TO RETIRE. AND THEN AFTER 6 MONTHS DECIDED THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND I WOULD WALK BY AND SEEING THE SCHOOL BEING BUILT IN DURING THAT TIME. I THOUGHT WHAT'S THE POSSIBILITIES? WHAT COULD HAPPEN HERE? >> SHE SAYS TWO-THIRDS OF HER STAFF ALSO LIVE RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. A SECOND BRAND NEW SCHOOL IN AVE MARIA IS WHAT ADMINISTRATORS DESCRIBED AS AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION MODEL FOR GRADES 9 THROUGH 12. CALLED THE FREEDOM INSTITUTE. IT'S THE SECOND COLLIER COUNTY LOCATION WITH AN INITIAL ENROLLMENT. A 52 STUDENTS. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF TOWN BEHIND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE INSTITUTE IS SO NEW THAT THERE IS NO SIGNAGE YET. CEO CHRIS MARKER DESCRIBES THE UNIQUE SETTING UP THE AVE MARIA LOCATION FACILITY. ACTUALLY, WE TOOK OVER. >> THE 3RD FOR I UNDERSTAND TO BE A CORPORATE BANK HEADQUARTERS. SO STUDENTS HERE ARRIVE BY ELEVATOR. IT'S HARD WOODEN SHANDEL YEARS. AND WHEN I SHOW YOU AROUND, YOU'LL SEE MY GOSH. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MATH AND WHAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A BANK BOARD ROOM. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SCIENCE AND WHAT WAS ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO BE AND EXECUTIVE SUITE WITH OVERLOOKS TO THE AVE MARIA COMMUNITY. IT'S ALMOST LIKE COMING TO A CLASSICAL UNIVERSITY BASED ON THE AESTHETICS OF THIS FACILITY. BARKER SAYS THAT THANKS TO FLORIDA SCHOOL VOUCHERS ARE. >> FREEDOM INSTITUTE HAS EXPERIENCED INCREASED ENROLLMENT. >> HE SAYS MOST OF THE STUDENTS ARE IN THE PERSONALIZED EDUCATION PLAN THAT REQUIRES TESTING. BUT HE ALSO SERVES HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES AS WELL AS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WHY IS THAT NAMED THE FREEDOM INSTITUTE? CEO CHRIS MARKER EXPLAINS THE ECONOMIC FREEDOMS FIRST. >> AND THAT IS OUR VISION UNDERLYING PIECES, THOUGH IT'S FREEDOM TO STUDY TO YOUR STRENGTHS. UNDER THE HOME SCHOOLER PUP WAS OF FLORIDA. PARENTS DECIDE WHAT CLASSES STUDENTS TAKE. THEY DECIDE WHAT HAS THAT WANT TO GO? >> PRINCIPAL JUST REYES SAYS SHE WAS IN THE INAUGURAL GRADUATING CLASS IN EDUCATION OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY. AND NOW LIVES HERE IN TOWN WITH HER FAMILY FELT LIKE DIVINE INTERVENTION. >> TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING AS INNOVATIVE AS FREEDOM AND AS A PARENT KNOWING WHAT THEY PROVIDE AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS THEY WEEK FOR CHILDREN WITH SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT. AND I WOULD WANT THAT FOR MY SON TO SO TO LEAVE IT AS IS TRULY AN HONOR. >> THE OPENING OF NOT ONE BUT 2 SCHOOLS IN AVE MARIA REFLECTS THE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH IN THE TOWN. BOTH SCHOOLS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO EXPAND IN THE COMING YEARS TO WELCOME FUTURE GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN IN THE AREA. FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M JAN JOO PARK.