For the past 10 years, the NativityMiguel School of Scranton has been a light with the local community. The school offers a private, Catholic, co-educational, tuition-free/all-scholarship institution. It proudly serves ethnically and religiously diverse students in need from fifth through eighth grade. NativityMiguel offers an extended school day, starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 4:45 p.m., while also offering an extended school year for students who can participate in a summer program.

This year marks the 10th anniversary since the school opened. The president of the school, Ron Prislupski, answered several questions regarding the past, present and future of the school. When asked what inspired the founding of the school, Prislupski said that in 2012, the local community came together to address a critical need within the region.

Prislupski states, “In 2012, a group of visionary provincial leaders from religious congregations with a longstanding tradition of service in the Scranton area, alongside dedicated local business and community leaders, came together to address a critical need in our region. Recognizing the educational and social challenges faced by low-income middle school students, they endorsed an innovative initiative designed to provide these children with a pathway to academic success and personal growth.”

The school also took inspiration from the NativityMiguel model, which the president said is “a proven approach that combines rigorous academics, character development and extended support, this collaborative effort gave rise to our school.”

The model has three priority areas which include a faith-based environment, effective administration structure and supporting students from low-income families beyond graduation. NativityMiguel schools have impacted students and families across the country. The model was founded in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City and has expanded to schools across the country within the past 50 years.

Prislupski states that their mission has always been clear, which is “to offer a high-quality, faith-based education in a nurturing environment, ensuring that every student, regardless of their financial circumstances, has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Throughout the past decade, Prislupski said that the school has grown from a singular fifth grade class with only 15 students, to a school that is currently thriving, while serving over 70 students from grades five to eight. Over the past 10 years, they have continued to enhance their curriculum while also deepening their support of their graduates.

NativityMiguel also secured a home on Marywood University’s campus that is nothing short of beautiful. Prislupski said that moving onto Marywood’s campus has “not only provided a nurturing and inspiring environment but has also fostered a meaningful partnership with the Marywood community, allowing students to engage with faculty, students and resources that enrich their educational journey.”

The first two graduating classes of the NativityMiguel have completed high school and entered college. Prislupski says that this achievement “is a testament to the impact of NativityMiguel School, validating the leap of faith that students, families and supporters took when we first opened our doors. Their success is a shared victory for our entire community.”

One of the most striking aspects of the NativityMiguel school is the fact that they are a tuition-free institution. Prislupski says that without direct government funding or tuition, operating the growing and thriving school requires tremendous dedication and effort. He says that the school exists “purely because of the generosity of our community, a testament to the shared belief in our mission.”

Although there is beauty in the model, there are challenges involved to ensure continued growth and financial stability. Prislupski says that it is essential to expand their resources to continue to provide the high-quality education that their students deserve. The school can only continue with “the ongoing generosity and support of our community. Their commitment is the foundation that allows us to empower students, expand opportunities and secure a brighter future for every child we serve.”

The students enrolled currently in the NativityMiguel school hail from 14 different countries, speak 13 languages and practice eight religions. When asked how the school creates an inclusive and supportive environment for their students, Prislupski said that the school “serves 70 students in grades five through eight, representing a very diverse community.” He says that “this diversity is more than just a statistic, it is a core strength that enriches our school culture, broadens perspectives and prepares our students to thrive in an interconnected world.”

Because of its diversity and inclusivity, there are many who are interested in attending the NativityMiguel school because of its success rate, as well as the continued academic, career and social/emotional assistance to the graduates as they continue into high school, college and post grad.

Each year, NativityMiguel welcomes 18 new students in its incoming fifth grade class, but the demand for enrollment in the school far exceeds capacity. The school receives around 30-50 applications for the limited spots. When asked about their future goals, the school’s vision for the future is to double in size, allowing them the opportunity to expand its impact.

The principal of the school, Sister Regina Bathalon says, “The fact that our school community is small contributes a lot to fostering a love of learning among the students. The teachers know the students very well and go above and beyond in order to help our students reach their full potential. Knowing that there are people who believe in them and support them has a huge impact on our students and their drive to learn.”

When it comes to the school community, they are able to celebrate successes both big and small. The NativityMiguel School has six core values that drive the character formation of its students: faith and honor, integrity and respect and leadership and perseverance. Each month, the students are recognized for demonstrating growth and virtue in embodying the core values. The faculty also work together to choose a student of the month. The students also put in hard work throughout the year to make the honor roll. While the students’ big successes help them shine, their small successes are not overlooked.

The school’s honor roll system recognizes all students, with first honors (awarded to each student who receives no grade lower than 93 and does not receive a satisfactory grade or below) and second honors (awarded to each student who receives no grade lower than an 85 and does not receive a needs improvement or unsatisfactory).

Bathalon says that “the teachers are quick to recognize students for their success whether it is academic or otherwise. It is a joy to see the smile come across the face of a student who has been recognized for a job well done.”

Like Prislupki, Bathalon also recognizes that while families do not pay tuition, they still contribute to the schools in many other ways and she voices that the school is always grateful for the families’ support. She says they “never underestimate the value of having families come to our school whether it is for conferences or celebrations, the gift of their presence enriches our community.”

During the school year, the students write personal notes to the school’s sponsors to let them know more about themselves, and although the school is an “all scholarship” school, families still contribute by paying a $150 activity fee (one $50 payment per trimester) throughout the year.

The families are invited to many special events throughout the course of the school year, such as: back to school night, Thanksgiving prayer service, the Christmas concert and party, culture day, end of the year awards ceremony, school Mass, the art show and parent-teacher conferences, which are held twice a year. Bathalon spoke very highly of the community, and said that “Our school community is enriched when we have the warm presence of family members.”

Bathalon also spoke about how the school balances providing a high-quality education with the resource constraints that come with working at a tuition-free school. She says that the “teachers are top notch. Their diligence and commitment to the mission make all the difference.” She believes that without their team of people, their education would not be possible.

School leaders say NativityMiguel continues to inspire and build up the younger generations and prepare them for all that is to come, and in Prislupski’s words, hopefully “bring the NativityMiguel dream to even more students.”

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