Schools

After a grueling one and a half hours and 200 words, the 2025 archdiocesan schools spelling bee ended with an unusual twist: the contest ran out of prepared words.

St. Frances Academy in East Baltimore will welcome its first middle schoolers at the start of the 2025-26 school year after receiving approval in May from the Maryland State Department of Education and accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

For two Archdiocese of Baltimore Distinctive Scholars, their alma maters were more than just a chapter in their past – they became the foundation of their future. 

As the first Knott Secondary Scholarship recipient from Western Maryland, Joseph Khachan fits the foundation’s mold nearly perfectly – pairing academic success with community involvement. 

Stephon Dingle, an anchor and reporter for WJZ-TV, was the keynote speaker for the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s 2025 Shine the Light Gala, which supports Catholic education. He said he was present not only as a guest but also as a “living testament to what a great Catholic education can be for you.”