Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in Tyrone enters the 21st century rich in cutting edge technology and religious tradition.

The school, which opened in September, is the first Catholic elementary school built by the Archdiocese of Atlanta in the Southern Crescent. It was designed to accommodate up to 250 grades kindergarten through eighth, and currently serves about 200 students.

Principal Nanci Pearson says the school has “great dynamics” with a terrific mix of students, teachers and parents. Pearson has been involved in every aspect of the school, starting with the blueprints sketched out over a year ago. Today she is greeted respectfully with “Good morning, Ms. Pearson,” from the older students, and hugs around the knees from the kindergartners. She comes to OLOV with experience as a former teacher at the Marist School, and first lay principal of St. Anthony's School, both in Atlanta.

The first thing a visitor notices upon entering the facility is its newness. Everything, from the furnishings to books, is fresh from the cardboard crates. The floors are shiny, the painted walls are blemish-free and the girls' blue, grey and white plaid uniforms are crisply pleated.

A small glass-encased cabinet contains a statue of Mary and a replica of the school's crest, which bears the motto “Our faith conquers the world.” The school's mission statement also is anchored by faith: ”Our Lady of Victory Catholic School exists to instill Christian principles and to foster spiritual growth...”

Religion is an academic subject on the same par with math and science at OLOV. Students are tested and receive a grade in religion, according to Pearson.

She also wants to instill in OLOV students their responsibility to others and help them to be spiritually healthy. This can be achieved every day through their academic classes, relationships with friends and outreach projects, such as the ongoing clothing drive, she explained.

Christian theology also is approached through the arts. Celeste Johnson, the school's art teacher, is broadening her classes' knowledge of other cultures through depictions and principles of Kwaanza. Interpretations of `moja' or `unity' are being illustrated in all mediums in the bright, airy studio.

The key subjects such as reading, math and science are taught traditionally and futuristically at OLOV. Reading groups clustered at a table in an open pod shared by grades K-5 read aloud to resource teacher Mary Ann Crocker.

“Two fat green bugs with two big eyes...” the children chant, moving the index finger from one word to the next.

An upper elementary math class focuses on a problem flashed on the board by an overhead projector as the instructor walks students through the steps.

Reinforcement of these two classes is likely to take place on one of the school's 150 computers, a resource Pearson said “truly makes it [OLOV] a 21st century school.”

Extracurricular activities are gradually taking shape, as evidenced by the announcement posted on the cafeteria's message board. News about student council elections, times for meetings of the science and environmental club, the school spirit club and debate club, vie for space.

Pearson said she expects to open enrollment for the fall 2000 school year in January or February. The school is open to children of all races, creeds and religions, but practicing Catholic families get priority. For information phone 770-306-9026.

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