COVER STORY – St. Joseph’s Academy

DR. JENNIFER SUDEKUM, ED.D., MARCIA NIEDRINGHAUS AND JENNIFER MILLIKAN WITH ST. JOE’S STUDENTS

COVER STORY A PLACE TO LEARN

ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY by stephanie wallace

LIBRARIES ARE AT THE CENTER OF EVERY SCHOOL as a place for students to explore interests, engage in their education and work together to solve problems. St. Joseph’s Academy in Frontenac recently renovated its library to better serve students. Inspired by the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the all-girls Catholic high school is dedicated to providing an environment where young women are challenged to grow in faith, knowledge and respect for themselves and others.

Built in 1955, the library needed an update, according to principal of academic affairs Jennifer Sudekum, Ed.D. “Prior to the renovation, it was a bit like stepping into a time warp,” she says. “Now, the space can really reinforce our mission to cultivate intellectual distinction and overall excellence through a balanced education that supports the whole woman.” The library’s update is part of a larger renovation project that began at St. Joseph’s Academy in 2019 and encompasses the school’s second and third floors, including the new Weidert Center for Integrated Science and the Sisters of St. Joseph Humanities Hall.

The library’s renovation was funded by a donation from alumna Kathleen Moore Matecki (’74) and her husband, Paul. Matecki has always been passionate about reading, so she was interested in meeting the needs of St. Joseph Academy’s library and inspiring its students to become avid readers. The renovated space was named the Matecki Library, and it has a special section called “Kathleen’s Favorites,” which is filled with meaningful books. “We could not complete projects like the Matecki Library without the support of alumnae,” Sudekum says. “We are so grateful to Kathleen and Paul for their belief in Catholic education. Their donation has allowed us to create a space where our students can learn and grow.”

The renovations have made the library a more usable space with a new circulation desk allowing students to more easily conference with a librarian and workstations for them to use their laptops for projects and research. Along with quiet study areas, there are collaborative learning spaces where students can work together, just as they would in a college environment. “All of these additions are combined with our great research databases and collection of fiction and nonfiction works,” Sudekum says. “The new library is ideal for developing the 21st-century skills necessary in college prep education.”

With the start of the new year, students are already enjoying the Matecki Library–whether it’s through collaborative work, research projects or independent study. The space also is now home to virtual reality equipment, which will be used to provide an immersive, interactive experience in a variety of subjects. “It’s a cross-curriculum learning platform that is already being used by English, theology and science classes, as well as by our Global Education program,” Sudekum notes. “The library has always been an important place for students. Now, it just better complements St. Joseph’s Academy’s dedication to preparing young women to go out and make a profound impact in the world.” &

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