ELBERTA, Ala. — St. Benedict’s Catholic school in Elberta has a curriculum that often sees unique classes and teachers. This year when not in art class, the computer class or Spanish the students are learning Chinese.

“All the children go see our Chinese teacher, Wang Zhenghai, at some point in time through the entire year,” Assistant Principal Leslie Mapp said. “In middle school they transition out into nine-week block type systems so they get it for an intense nine weeks and then they move on.”

The Chinese program at St.Benedict’s came as a result of a grant the school received out of more than 200 applicants, and Zhenghai was even featured on an episode of NBC’s Dateline.

“We’re so excited about Mr. Zhenghai being here,” Mapp said. “Out of all the schools that applied across the nation, a Catholic school in Elberta got it. It’s wonderful.”

Zhenghai has a trailer on campus that he uses as an office and to house his belongings. For months at a time, families in the community will invite Zhenghai to stay with them in their homes. The school also taught him to drive a car to help acclimate him to his new surroundings.

“It’s a culture shock for him to be here and not see any people,” Mapp said. “That’s why he doesn’t live in his trailer. The very first thing he said when he got here from China was ‘Where are all the people?’”

St. Benedict’s challenging curriculum is designed to shape not only the mind and body, but the spirit of it’s approximately 165 students.

“We have a Christian environment,” Mapp said. “We educate the whole child, meaning mind, body and spirit. We go from K3 to 8th so we have a wide range of who all we reach and get to touch throughout the day.”

Unlike many other Catholic Schools, St. Benedict serves six parishes in the area: St. Bartholomew in Elberta; St. John in Magnolia Springs; St. Joseph in Lillian; St. Margaret of Scotland in Foley; St. Thomas-by-the-Sea in Orange Beach and Our Lady of the Gulf in Gulf Shores.

Through individual class service projects, the school works to reach all areas of the community.

“We do Red Cross and American Heart Association,” Mapp said. “We do so much I’d have to get a book to tell them all. You name it, we find a way to provide service. The goal is that each class pick one service project, at least, to do a year. That way we know we are going to hit 11, if not more.”

Last year the school raised the money to provide a bulletproof vest for police dog Sissy and participated in most national service projects like Red Ribbon week.

The school has Title 1 services and a federal lunch program.

Students participate in mass every Friday, but not every student at the school is Catholic. In fact, 30 percent of the school’s students are not Catholic.

“You absolutely do not have to be Catholic to attend,” Mapp said. “We have two Muslim students this year. They enjoy going to mass. They are open to the fact that different people have different beliefs. It’s all very interesting to them.”

Next year, the biggest change to the school will come in a new resource-based program called High Hopes.

“It’s a program for special-needs students,” Mapp said. “It’s not for high needs, they have to be mobile. But we’re really excited about these students having their own resource teacher.”