School Spotlight: St. Anthony Catholic School
St. Anthony Catholic School in Lakeland, Florida is a strong part of the Diocese of Orlando’s Catholic schools in Polk County. With a mission to build a solid faith foundation along with academic excellence and for every child to enter into God’s Kingdom, St. Anthony’s is committed to educating the whole child: mentally, physically, and spiritually.Educating children from kindergarten through eighth grade, St. Anthony’s uses curriculum that challenges students at every level of development. This basic premise of a quality education began in 1993 when St Anthony was founded as part of the St Anthony’s parish Catholic community. Living by their motto, “We are more than a school, we are family,” St. Anthony provides an exceptional earning atmosphere that allow students to grow, engage and develop as children of God.Today, students attend school at St. Anthony’s because of their nurturing environment and rigorous curriculum. Students learn Spanish, music, physical education, and have access to a media center with interactive materials for all students, including 30 computers housed in a computer lab. Many classes
have computer-based components, and middle school science students have the opportunity to participate in online science labs to bring learning to life.Training the body along with the spirit and mind is vitally important. Studies have shown that participating in athletic activities increases brain activity and gives students better scores on standardized tests. To this end, St. Anthony students participate in an intramural sports program encompassing four local Catholic elementary schools. For students not interested in competitive sports, physical education is offered throughout the year.St. Anthony participates in daily prayer to enhance student faith and remind them to live spiritually. The celebration of Mass is a 
solemn sacrament that students at St. Anthony Catholic School attend weekly. Reconciliation is also offered four times a year to strengthen and cleanse the spirit. Teachers and staff exemplify the spirit of Christ in their actions and words, making every day another positive step in your child’s spiritual journey with lessons in honesty, integrity, values, and responsibility built into their traditional learning plans.Call St. Anthony Catholic School at 863-858-0671 to enroll your child for the 2016-2017 school year, and discover how traditional Catholic values can meld with state-of-the-art technology and innovative teaching methods to help your child reach every goal he or she sets. The solid education your child receives will provide a foundation for high school and beyond. Read the blogs on the Diocese of Orlando’s website for more information on our Catholic schools in Polk County, education, and the role parents play in their children’s schooling.