New Catholic high school opens

e newly opened Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School in Midtown started o the school year with a “dra .” Nearly 160 ninth-graders at the school are taking part in the Corporate Work Study Program, which pairs up students with top Atlanta businesses for an entry-level job within the country for the entire school year.

Representatives from 40 businesses, including e CocaCola Company, Cox Communications, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot and UPS,were at the school for “dra day” on Aug. 15. Teams of four students were selected by each company and given a company t-shirt, hat and photo with the company executive.

e Corporate Work Study Program is a core component of the Cristo Rey model, allowing each student to work ve full days a month in a corporate work setting, in addition to carrying a full load of classes. Earnings from the Work Study Program pay for the majority of students’ education costs, and students also gain invaluable experience and mentorship by college-educated adults. e students’ con dence grows because of their success on the job, and they begin to believe in their own potential.

“Like in professional sports, our ‘dra day’ is a time of excitement, and beginnings that are full of promise,” said Bill Garrett, President of Cristo Rey Atlanta. “ rough working with these wonderful corporate partners, our students will learn workplace skills, gain job experience, and make valuable connections with other professionals.”

Students began a two-week training program for their corporate jobs on at the school’s Business Training Institute on the rst day of school, learning computer and other workplace skills in preparation for their placement with an Atlanta business.

For more information about Cristo Rey, visit CristoReyAtlanta.org.