By Will Schubert ’15
THE ROUNDUP
By the end of August most freshmen have become familiar with campus, classrooms and new faces of teachers and upper classmen.
For one group of freshmen though Brophy’s halls are familiar territory as they have already been in them for three years.
The first ever class of Loyola Academy graduates are adjusting to high school life after finishing eighth-grade, and say they are doing so with ease due to the demanding curriculum at Loyola Academy.
The Loyola Academy, a sixth through eighth-grade school located on Brophy’s campus, was started in 2011 with the goal of taking in academically gifted boys, and giving them an opportunity to succeed academically, as well as prepare them for Brophy.
“We want to take really talented, interested kids that are coming from schools that don’t typically send students to Brophy,” said Loyola Academy Director Ms. Kendra Krause. “ We seek to close any gaps that might exist from their K-5 education and then really push them so they are successful at Brophy and leaders when they get there.”
Last year 25 students graduated from Loyola Academy and 24 of them enrolled at Brophy.
“It was really easy for me because I already knew where to go and I also already knew a lot of teachers,” said Loyola Academy graduate Geovanni Salago ’18 of his transition into high school.
Saldago said he feels like he is doing well at Brophy because of the curriculum at Loyola Academy.
“My favorite part about Brophy is the brotherhood,” Saldago said. “Brophy has a lot of events so we can all interact and meet new people like Big Brother events and the frosh mixer.”
Students at Loyola Academy have the opportunity to take more advanced high school-level classes during their eighth-grade year, and because of this many scholars said they are taking more advanced classes their freshman year.
“My classes are going great, I think Loyola has really prepared me for this,” said Gustavo Rodriguez’18. “I really like the way Brophy students meet and greet each other.”
Loyola students are required to stay until 5:30 p.m. every day and Saldago said that helped him get a feel of how much homework he would be doing every night at Brophy.
Both students’ said their favorite subject is math and both are in advanced math classes.
Saldago’s said his favorite teacher is Mr. Timothy Sanford and he is currently is his Algebra II class.
Rodriguez and Saldago like to hangout in the Student Activity Center after school and play “Clash of Clans” with their friends.
Saldago plans on joining the soccer team this upcoming season while Rodriguez looks to join the track team in the spring.