By Skip Korson

Sacred Heart School’s 285 students in Warner Robins have a new principal, Sylvia F. Villarreal. A teacher for 14 years at Catholic schools in her native San Antonio, she says "Sacred Heart School provides an environment where God’s presence is acknowledged and welcomed all day."

Now in her first full school year after assuming her duties in December 2000, she adds that God and education go hand in hand at Sacred Heart where students are enriched via morning prayer, daily religion classes, and weekly Mass. "Christian morals are modeled all day," Villarreal adds.

Principal Villarreal reports that Sacred Heart students continue to do well in outside competition. "Our students all placed in a regional social studies fair in Warner Robins and placed well in a local science fair. We have a band again, a choir that sings at Mass and an active student council with four officers and six class representatives, formed three years ago." The school now has a small flag corps and cheerleading squad—she expects both groups to grow. 

The principal and her husband Paul, a civil service mechanic at Robins AFB, have a son, Matthew, 19, a sophomore at Macon State College in Macon, and daughter, Severa, 8, a second grader at Sacred Heart. 

This school opened in September 1955. The Sisters of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, founded in Ireland in 1775, have taught here since 1956. Sister Teresa remains at Sacred Heart as its spiritual leader and fifth grade teacher. This order provided the school its principals from 1956 through 1995.

As a result of the school’s historic commitment to sound educational principles, students have tested consistently well above the national average on national standardized tests. A diverse and adaptable curriculum prepares them well for upper level studies. 

Uniforms are required. K-4 through fifth graders wear navy blue shorts or slacks with white polo shirts. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders wear khaki shorts or slacks with Hunter green tops.

Several lay teachers could be said to have tenure at Sacred Heart: Sharon Worley, 6th grade homeroom teacher, has 18 years. She teaches reading/literature to 6th, 7th and 8th graders; English and math to 6th graders. Jean Horan has been P.E. teacher for 17 years. Eighth grade homeroom teacher Shirley LaVecchia, in her 12th year at Sacred Heart, teaches social studies and religion to 7th and 8th graders and English to 8th graders. And, yes, diagraming is taught at Sacred Heart in 6th and 7th English classes.

All students have art, music and computers. Formerly the school band took part in the Warner Robins Christmas parades and was in several St. Patrick’s Day parades in Savannah. On March 16, it will march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin. The band rehearses after school. This year students are learning Spanish from Maria Garrido from Venezuela, a full-time addition to the staff. Toni Siebenmorgan teaches art to all students.

Stephanie Webb, a Sacred Heart and Mount de Sales graduate who majored in music at Berry College, Rome, Ga., is a first year music teacher at her old school. Earlier, her mother, Suzanne Webb, taught music at Sacred Heart as well as eighth grade literature.

The school now has one K-4 class, two classes for K-5, lst, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and one each for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th. Quality instruction in smaller lower grade classes results in the development of better reading skills. K-4 teachers share a paraprofessional at each class level. Sister Teresa has an aide to support 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. 

Martin Mickalonis heads the Sacred Heart school board. Other members are Margie Rossi, Suzi Ayer, Cleo Bennette, Stephanie Hall and Richard Malto. Nancy Deighan is president of the Home and School Association. Other officers are Dobbie Luppino, Linda Bratcher, Colleen DeLiberato. Parents work with these groups to support the school’s annual fund-raising Fall Festival. 

Adults pay $4, kids $2 for the "Oodles of Noodles" Lenten suppers held between 5-7 p.m., Friday with entertainment and a silent auction which began Feb. 15. At the final supper March 22, three lucky persons will go home $1,000, $250 and $100 richer. Child care is provided at each supper as well as a separate play room for bigger children.

If you want to see what this school is all about, an open house will be held 2-4 p.m. March 10. Student registration begins at 9 a.m. March 11 at the school office, 250 S. Davis Drive, Warner Robins. For details call 923-9668.

Skip Korson is a freelance writer living in Warner Robins.