Change.Sometimes it’s feared. Other times it’s welcomed. And sometimes what looks like change isn’t really change at all.In 1952, the population of Warrenton was somewhere between 1,200 to 1,500 residents.Gasoline cost 20 cents a gallon. A loaf of bread was 16 cents. The United States was fighting in the Korean War. Polio attacked and killed more than 3,000 children. A small but steely nun in India, now known as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, had just opened her first home for the dying.And Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary School opened its doors in Warrenton on Sept. 8.Although the original building that housed the school was replaced by a brand new facility in 1985, the goals of the school have remained the same throughout its 60-year history: to teach the fullness of the Christian faith; nurture students both in their spiritual and academic lives; and prepare them for life in a world where change is a constant.“The parish has always been committed to assisting parents in their role as the primary teachers of their children in the ways of faith,” said Father Patrick Driscoll, the new Parochial Administrator at Holy Rosary Parish. “Our school is a part of that commitment. We offer an educational environment that allows children to live their faith in Jesus Christ in school where prayer and worship are part and parcel in the way we educate because God is everything to us. We teach the fullness of the Christian faith.”New academic initiatives will be implemented this year at Holy Rosary School.“Our new curriculum has been put together with much thought, prayer and self-study,” said Holy Rosary School Principal Jim Ford.The changes include a new math program, interactive learning via new projector technology, and a course where students learn the fundamentals of vegetable gardening.Also this year, students will write and produce music CDs as part of music class. This is a first for the school and will provide students an opportunity to use talents their peers and teachers might not know about.New interactive technology for the classrooms will help bolster students’ achievements in math.“Holy Rosary School will be installing the McGraw-Hill math program, a unique, research-based math curriculum for grades K-eight,” Ford said.Emphasizing vocabulary, problem solving, and real-world applications, McGraw-Hill math addresses the “big concepts” included in the national math standards.Designed to foster student engagement, this math program includes high-quality, visually appealing, consumable books that help students make the programs their own and a digital component that will allow students to use the latest technologies to be successful in math.State-of-the-art Epson projectors are also used in the classrooms for a variety of subjects.“The teachers in all our classrooms have been able to teach the curriculum with the integration of the Epson projectors in the daily lives of the students,” Ford said.Students solve math problems with the interactive capabilities of the Epson. Students view historical journeys with the interactive maps on the Epson. Students view biblical videos with the ability to annotate key words, places and ideas right on the screen by way of the Epson.“The Epson is a wonderful education tool that contributes to the success of our students,” Ford added.In addition, each class will have a raised garden bed. Students and science teachers will plan what grows in the beds, and watch what happens as nature unfolds in front of them.“It’s God’s creation in the beds,” Ford noted.Holy Rosary School offers before and after school care, and extracurricular activities including choir, computer, dance, Spanish and art clubs, plus music lessons and sports.Holy Rosary School currently has open enrollment for grades K-eight and welcomes students of all faiths. In addition to a generous subsidy provided by the parishioners toward the cost of tuition, an additional $300,000 in financial aid and scholarships is available to students not currently enrolled in Catholic schools through the ALIVE IN CHRIST program, according to Angie Shelton, Community Relations Specialist for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.The funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.For more information about ALIVE IN CHRIST, parents can log on to www.archstl.org/ttef.To schedule a tour of Holy Rosary School or to inquire about enrollment, call 636-456-3698. Parents can also log on to the school’s website at www.holyrosarywarrenton.net.