History St. Aloysius started as a nursery school, founded in 1940 by one of the first orders of African American Catholic Sisters in the United States. Throughout the years, St. Aloysius has offered diverse programs and services for residents in Central Harlem and surrounding neighborhoods, meeting the changing needs and resources of those in the community. In 1990, after many challenging years, St. Aloysius School was in decline, with deteriorating facilities and low enrollment. Laurel D. Senger joined the school as Principal that year with the mission of revitalizing the school within the year. Otherwise, the school would close its doors. Ms. Senger developed a model with four distinct programs: the Mother Theodore Program for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten; the Pierre Toussaint Program for grades 1 through 5; and two single-gender middle schools, the Sister Thea Bowman Middle School for girls and the Gonzaga Middle School for boys. Ms. Senger implemented a challenging, literature-based curriculum and a model that nurtured the development of the whole child: educational, spiritual, social, and physical. In addition to strong core academics, St. Aloysius administration and faculty developed an array of rich programming, including vibrant visual arts, music, oratory, poetry, dance, sports and summer programs. After only 5 years, the school reached full capacity with the enrollment of 265 children. Over the years, a dedicated administration, faculty and staff were able to develop important relationships and generate increasing support for the school. Through the generosity of many friends and partners, including hundreds of volunteers, St. Aloysius was able to make significant changes, including the doubling of the main library space, two new computer labs, and the addition of the 5th floor for the Thea Bowman classrooms. In 2007, St. Aloysius reached an impressive milestone. After an intensive review of our program, St. Aloysius received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. This nationally-recognized accreditation will have a significant impact on our efforts to promote St. Aloysius, develop new relationships, and attract support. Today, St. Aloysius School serves 265 students, pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, of all religious and cultural backgrounds. In addition, over 100 alumni receive high school support services, including scholarships so that they can attend the best high schools, study hall and homework help, an array of after-school clubs and activities, SAT and college prep and more. In July of 2008, after Ms. Senger's retirement, St. Aloysius School was blessed with the arrival of Susan Abelein, Ph.D. Dr. Abelein comes to St. Aloysius with a wealth of experience as an administrator and educator. Joining her are a dedicated and talented faculty, administration and staff that have launched the school into a new era of growth and development...all for the children and families of St. Aloysius.