Mother of God Academy History
In the spring and summer of 1993, Miss Amy Farfaglia, now Sister Aimee Dominique, organized the school under the guidance of Fr. Timothy Pfeiffer. Much of the school's foundation was taken from the Dominican Girls' School in Post Falls, Idaho and from St. Joseph's Academy in Richmond, Michigan. In September 1993, Mother of God Academy opened with twenty-one students in grades 1 through 8. Five part-time and four full-time teachers taught in improvised classrooms.
In September 1994, there were twenty-four students with eight part-time and five full-time teachers.In the summer of 1995, before entering the Dominican Convent in France, Miss Farfaglia assisted Mr. Michael Decker in taking over the job of Vice-Principal.
In September 1995, Fr. Peter Scott started the new term with the blessing of four new classrooms and a teacher's room. Because the basement of the Church was so high, it was possible to divide it into 2 floors, making room for the classrooms. With these new rooms, and one classroom from the old structure, Father Christopher Leith, began as the new Principal of twenty-four students and one part-time and four full-time teachers. There were twenty-one students with one part-time and four full-time teachers in the fall of 1996 under the guidance of Fr. Leith.
In the summer of 1997, Fr. Leith appointed Mrs. Kathleen Amato Vice-Principal, and the school year opened with the new official name of Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God Academy. Mrs. Amato was a teacher as well as an administrator for the twenty-three students and four full-time teachers for grades 1 through 8. After an abrupt departure of one of the teachers, a capable replacement was quickly found.
The school opened in September 1998 after a summer search for new teachers and a devastating Labor Day storm. Fr. Pfeiffer became the new principal and Mrs. Amato continued as Vice-Principal and teacher. There were fifteen students in the school, which now ran from kindergarten through the eighth grade with four part-time and two full-time teachers. In late spring, one teacher was dismissed and was replaced by Mr. William Murphy. Miss Angela Snyder also joined the faculty.
The new term in 1999 brought Father Gerardo Zendejas and Sister Mary John to the school. Father Zendejas became the Principal and Sister Mary John, the Vice-Principal. At this point, there were 19 students who attended the classes from Kindergarten through the 12th grade. Three teachers helped Sister Mary John.
Father Philippe Pazat became the Principal in September of 2000. Sister Mary John was still the Vice-Principal. There were 19 students being taught by 6 teachers in the K-12 grades.
In September 2001, Father Pazat and Sister Mary John, with the help of 11 teachers were teaching 38 students in the Kindergarten-12 grades. By January of 2002, the number of students jumped to 47 and by the beginning of the next term, September 2002, the number of students grew to 54. This year, 2006, there are 116.