Holy Name school launches Etiquette Academy

In hopes of countering public discord and mean-spiritedness, Holy Name Catholic School in Birmingham is launching a special program devoted exclusively to etiquette.

Dubbed the “Etiquette Academy,” the new program will be showcased on Sunday, January 27, at the school's Open House, which runs from 1 to 3 p.m., at 680 Harmon Road.

“In an age when too often civility and decorum seem to be under siege, we want our students to see the advantages of good manners and graciousness,” said Holy Name Principal DeAnn Brzezinski. “We're equipping our students with the mindset that courtesy, kindness and putting others first can be effective tools as they become leaders of tomorrow.”

The new program is in addition to the school's academic offerings, religious education and athletic programs.

Central to the Etiquette Academy will be certified etiquette instructor Danielle Kovachevich, who leads corporate etiquette trainings at Birmingham-based Bluestone Executive Communications.

“I applaud Holy Name for recognizing the importance of etiquette in helping our children navigate a complicated and often intimidating world,” Kovachevich said. “In reality, the rules of etiquette are really there to help us feel more confident in tricky situations, and we all want that for our children – both today and as we send them out into the world.”

The academy features age-appropriate programs across its K-8 classrooms with the most robust offerings for its middle school students, who will participate in four courses, including “Everyday Etiquette,” “Digital Decorum,” “Dine with Distinction” and “Speaking with Superiors.” The school also will offer “Manners and Mindfulness Surrounding Social Media,” and a series of other offerings designed to highlight and reward good manners and outstanding citizenship.

The school will implement some aspects of the program immediately and build to the full program in the 2019-20 school year.

“This is an exciting addition to our exceptional curriculum,” Brzezinski said. “Whether we're talking about table manners, phone manners, greeting guests, picking up messes or navigating awkward moments, manners matter now more than ever and we're proud to champion this important new offering.”