New school brings pride to Camden

The new Octavius V. Catto Community school in East Camden welcomed students yesterday with a new twist on the three R's: revitalization.

It was built using state funds as a "demonstration" project, and planners hope it will help the blighted neighborhood to rebuild.

The first new school built in Camden in 15 years, the Catto school drew rave reviews yesterday from students, teachers and residents who believe it will help eventually transform the entire neighborhood.

Resident Catherine Vicent, who dropped off her daughter Taina at the school, said Catto has already given the neighborhood a new look.

"It doesn't look like Camden at all. It's beautiful," said Vicent, 51, standing in front of the 90,000-square-foot school at Westfield Avenue and Dudley Street. "I've never seen anything like it."

The school is a technological marvel - from smart boards and sensor lights that come on automatically - to computerized thermostat controls. The entire building is wireless, and every teacher will be assigned a laptop.

"I like the automatic stuff," said fourth grader Rosemary Irizarry, 9. She added: "We're going to listen to our teacher and learn."

Although it kept its old name, the school has a new mission: the curriculum focuses on math and science. Classes are small, with no more than 20 students.

The school has adopted weather as its theme for this year, and students will conduct experiments and projects around that concept.

Unlike most elementary schools in the city, Catto has a state-of-the art science lab. The school also has an oversize gym, rooms for computer, art and music, and facilities for virtual and distance learning.

"It's absolutely magnificent," said veteran fourth-grade teacher Pat Nicgorski.

The sparkling building replaces the nearby antiquated 76-year-old Catto and the crowded Dudley Elementary.

As students reported for their first day of classes, there were nervous jitters, tears and a few glitches. (Before school began, a contractor had to hastily fix the spelling of the school's name on the building.)

Five-year-old Isaias Chevere was overwhelmed by the prospect of school. With tears streaming down his face, he repeatedly cried out for his mother as a security officer tried to console him.

A short time later, the youngster was laughing and smiling as he lined up behind his new teacher for a tour of the spacious two-story school that enrolls about 540 pre-K through sixth graders.

"The first few days are hard. But they get used to it," teacher Evelyn Mendez said.

There were also some disappointments yesterday. Tamara Gray was among several parents who live nearby who said they were unable to enroll their children because the school was at capacity.

Her daughter, Jazmyn, 6, sobbed inconsolably. The family recently moved to the neighborhood and the girl wanted to attend school with her new friends, her mother said. She was headed to the district office to see where she could enroll her.

For those assigned there, the buzzword around the school was wonderful.

For head custodian Manny Mitchell, the school has special meaning. He was shot in the back 19 years ago while walking in a park where the school now sits.

"I'm excited and I'm not even a kid," said Mitchell, 34. "I've been living in this city all my life and we never had anything like this."

Located on an 81/2-acre site on what was once Dudley Grange Park, the $78 million school was created to offer more than new learning opportunities.

Designated as a redevelopment area, the school project was required to include amenities that could be used by the community and to benefit residents socially and economically.

Project manager Dwaine J. Williams said the community has already benefited and believes there will be more payoffs.

About 211 families have been relocated from an apartment complex across the street from the school, and 52 of those are now homeowners, Williams said. The complex will be razed and replaced with a park when the remaining two dozen families move out, he said.

An abandoned railroad track near the school has been replaced with a bucolic bike trail and walking path. Tennis courts and an amphitheater for outdoor performances were added to the spruced-up grounds.

"The goal is to make a difference in that neighborhood," said Williams, who also lives in East Camden, an area in the impoverished city that is struggling to make a comeback.

The school is named after Octavius V. Catto, a 19th-century African American educator and political activist from Philadelphia who was shot to death during an election day riot in 1871.

It adjoins a new Boys and Girls Club, the second in the city, which is scheduled to open this month. The club has an indoor pool, meeting rooms and recreational facilities that will be open to the public.

About 1,200 youngsters are expected to use the club annually, said executive director Milford Liss. Students can get tutoring and leadership training after school, he said.

Camden competed against eight districts across the state to land the state-funded demonstration project. Similar projects were approved in Trenton, Vineland, East Orange, Newark and New Brunswick.

South Jersey's largest public school system, with nearly 16,000 students, Camden was promised state funds to replace about half of its 31 schools. But plans were scaled back to four schools after the state Schools Construction Corp.'s $8.6 billion fund emptied sooner than expected, leaving hundreds of projects across the state unfinished.

Gov. Corzine last month said he wanted to revive the school construction program, possibly increasing highway tolls to pay for it.

To see a slide show of the Catto school's opening, go to http://go.philly.com/cattoEndText