About Us

St. Catherine of Siena Academy is a small liberal arts and sciences elementary school in the Catholic tradition located in Canton, NY.

The Academy is seeking to reclaim the Catholic Church’s strong tradition of rigorous education that is rooted in time-tested methodologies and encourages students to become lifelong learners, well equipped for success in this world and the next.

The term “liberal education” has its roots in the Latin word for free, liber. The aim of this liberal education is to set a person free, using knowledge as the key. When a child is surrounded by the true, the good and the beautiful, they are unrestricted to discover their full potential. A growing trend in many schools is to direct children towards subject specialization earlier and earlier in their education. We believe, however, that it is far more important to educate broadly and completely; to nourish a child's intrinsic sense of panoramic yearning and to help them develop and habituate the skill of critical thinking. Through this broad lens, students are then emboldened to develop their God-given strengths and talents with which they can serve God, society, their communities and their future careers. 

Children have an innate curiosity. This is a good and beautiful thing which is fostered at Siena Academy. Approaching education from the world around them and guiding students through the unfolding of the depth and layers preserves that curiosity and encourages it further.  

We seek to develop the whole child, seeing each person as a unique individual made in the image and likeness of God. Our academics are rigorous, but we do not focus on good grades alone. Our ultimate goal is heaven. The vigorous academic program is rooted in Christian virtues, Gospel values and Catholic culture with a focus on faith formation. Through the integration of truth, beauty and goodness, we focus on teaching students how to think, not what to think. Afterall, a lifelong learner is better equipped to succeed in this life than a child who tests well but then is unable to learn the next set of required skills. Additionally, we unite the spiritual life with work, study, and play, believing that modeling this in an educational setting leads to a blueprint for a well ordered adult life.

Our school is centered entirely on Christ. All that we do points back to Him. We want every child to develop an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. The cultivation of wisdom and virtue during their time with us will enable children to have a strong foundation for a life rooted in Gospel truths. This foundation will be that rock that they are able to find strength in during every season of their lives in order to find the peace and assurance of a life rightly ordered towards God. We help students to develop a faithfulness to the Magisterium and teachings of the Catholic Church as we honor both the revelation of God and the wonders of the natural world.

The development of wisdom and virtue will also create leaders with a passion to serve their communities. Every graduate will model and inspire excellence in his or her family, academic pursuits, secular profession, social organizations, and religious community.

St. Catherine of Siena Academy recognizes the parents and guardians as the primary educators of their children. As such, the Academy takes on a support role to assist parents as they live out their God-given duty. We seek to promote a love for truth, beauty, and goodness and form disciples of Jesus Christ set free to realize their full potential by living joyfully in accordance with the revelation of God as discovered through the Catholic Church and the natural world. This is intended not just for our students, but their entire families.

We look forward to welcoming you into our school community and look forward to getting to know your family better!

*Saint Catherine of Siena Academy is not formally associated with, operated, or financed by The Diocese of Odgdensburg or any parish, school, or entity of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. The foregoing notwithstanding, Saint Catherine of Siena Academy seeks to operate in the tradition of the Catholic faith and is required to comply with the Bishop of Ogdensburg’s requirements relating to religious curriculum, approved religious texts, and adherence to the teachings of the Church.