By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Sister Elizabeth Worley, archdiocesan chancellor for administration, presents the ADOM Virtual Catholic School diploma to high school graduate Marnus Vanschoor of Holy Family Academy.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Sister Elizabeth Worley, archdiocesan chancellor for administration, presents the ADOM Virtual Catholic School diploma to high school graduate Ian Ongjoco of Holy Family Academy. At right is the school's principal, Wilma Villaronga.
MIAMI | The ADOM Virtual Catholic School awarded diplomas this summer to its first graduates from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ian Ongjoco and Marnus Vanschoor had already graduated from Holy Family Academy on the island of Providenciales. Holy Family is the mission school built by Miami Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino during his 15 years of work on the island, prior to being appointed to Miami.
“The TCI school system is an 11-year program and without that 12th year, the students have little opportunity to qualify for U.S. or Canadian colleges,” explained Sister Elizabeth Worley of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, archdiocesan chancellor for administration, who traveled to the island to present the diplomas.
Holy Family Academy already incorporates virtual education into its regular curriculum, so it was easy to add a fully “virtual” year as an option so the students could qualify for a high school diploma from the fully accredited ADOM Virtual School.
“The outreach of ADOM virtual school to this mission territory provides a unique opportunity for these students,” Sister Elizabeth said.
Two more Holy Family students will complete the program this December.
“Ian has opted for a college in Canada where he will begin in January, 2017,” Sister Elizabeth said. “Marnus is continuing his virtual education at Ashworth College and is now a member of the Turks and Caicos Islands national volleyball team.”
See related story: Miami pioneers virtual Catholic education
