Everest Academy not only has committed themselves to providing the highest quality of education to students, but to forming Christian leaders as well.
To accomplish this, the independent, private Catholic school directed by the Legionaries of Christ, focuses on three key elements, or “integral formation,” of a person — the academic, human and spiritual.
Principal Paul Flynn explained “a person is made up of several aspects. All of these aspects need to be actively formed. That is what we pay attention to.”
This unique style to teaching is, according to Flynn, what makes Everest Academy special.
With 375 students currently enrolled, Everest Academy is designed as coed preschool through second grade, with separate boys and girls schools from third grade to eighth grade. There are plans to implement a high school program in the coming years, beginning with the ninth grade, and adding the next consecutive grade annually.
Flynn said he believes it is positive to separate the boys and the girls. “It allows us to use different teaching methods and strategies. The way you appeal to a boy is different than how you appeal to a girl. It gives teachers an opportunity to tailor their approach. It also eliminates distraction.”
Flynn said the school’s academic formation program is designed for every student to work hard and do well.
Curriculum is divided between studies of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, physical education, religion and computer science. A unique aspect to the child’s education is Spanish instruction beginning in kindergarten.
Everest Academy also offers students a variety of academic competitions including forensics, spelling, catechism, writing, science and more. Flynn said students have been very successful in all categories in the school’s 11 years. There are also plenty of extracurricular activities to enhance an education such as Mad Science, band and choir.
Complementing the academic instruction is the human formation program. Richard Cross, assistant principal for the boys school, explained this teaching consists of developing good manners, focusing on physical presentation, and cultivating virtues within a student.
For example, Everest Academy students are taught to stand when an adult enters the room, to be neat in appearance and keep organized lockers among other important traits. Cross said the goal is to have students grow to pass these characteristics on to their own children someday.
“Many think human formation is simply external, but it is also internal because you need a strong will to achieve these goals,” Cross said.
Human formation is what one works to achieve individually, but it effects others as well, he said. “If you present yourselves positively, you’re going to effect others positively.”
Cross added, “Sports are a big component in human formation — the way kids express themselves, control themselves, and good sportsmanship.” Everest Academy offers a variety of intramural sports and tournaments.
Most importantly, Valerie McGovern, assistant principal of the elementary and girls school, said the development of the spiritual in a student.
“If the heart is formed, everything else is formed,” she said.
Offered daily is communion and mass as well as weekly confession for students and parents. Students are encouraged to participate in these activities, and McGovern said it is a way to form the will and conscience of a student, teaching them right from wrong. Teachers also help to do this with prayers in the classroom.
“We don’t see numbers, we see souls for the future to form for the society of the next generation,” she said. “They are our leaders of the future.”
McGovern hopes this spiritual growth in a student will spread to their families, bringing everyone closer to Christ. To help in the area, the school offers students and their families retreats, morning reflections and programs like Kids for Jesus.
Everest Academy’s Father Lorenzo Gomez, who has been an ordained priest for 30 years, is always available to aid in student and family spiritual maturity as well.
Everest Academy is located on a 40-acre campus at 5935 Clarkston Rd. in Clarkston. Call (248) 620-3390 for more information.