December 5, 2011
Dear Star of the Sea Community,
As the year draws to a close, I thought it might be worthwhile to reflect on some of the major accomplishments here at Star over the last few years.
Of course, the biggest one would be that we are still a very tight knit family community. It is my firm belief that this, more than any other factor, accounts for the many accomplishments here. Children who feel loved are far more likely to be successful and confident. That also applies to us adults, and this small Catholic community is very nurturing.
In the area of academics, the most obvious success is the incredible jump in our Iowa Test scores. One parent pointed out that one really bright class could skew the school average, but that is not the case with these scores. Significant growth was seen across all the grades. Not only that, but as the highest scores improved, so did the lowest ones. Faculty members have really studied test results for the last several years and that has made our efforts to better meet the needs of each child pay off handsomely. This year our entire school average on the Iowa Test was in the top 21% nationally, the junior high was in the top 18%.
Our graduates’ acceptance rates at a number of excellent high schools remains very high. Star is traditionally a great feeder school to SHC, SI, Riordan, Mercy, Convent, and ICA. But the most impressive statistic recently is the increased rate of acceptance at Lowell High School.
Arts seem to be the orphan programs in most school districts, but at Star we continue to provide a full range of Music, Art, P.E., Computers, and Library. Add to that the multiplicity of after school programs offered, and the special art projects and you see a truly well rounded program of arts. By the way, please try to be here at 2:00 on December 9 for the “Opening Ceremony” when we officially unveil the newly decorated north wall. Under the direction of Professor Eric Hongisto, four art students from the University of San Francisco (working with our first graders) have created a beautiful mural / mosaic on the wall between Star and the Academy (Laurel School). Thanks to Claudine Van Delden, Laura Adachi, and Aly Pence for all the time they put into coordinating this project.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph who established this school in 1909 are quite fond of the phrase “neighbor helping neighbor” and I am very proud of our students for the community outreach programs in which they participate. The food drive, Christmas Families, Pennies for Patients, the Breast Cancer Walk, visiting the elderly at several sites around the City, visiting the V.A. Hospital, collecting socks and blankets for the homeless are just a few of the ways Star students live the Corporal Works of Mercy. I hope the Sisters know we haven’t forgotten what they taught us about being good neighbors.
Several physical plant projects have been taken on over the last several years and they too are very important. The biggest project was the renovation of two Academy classrooms into the new Father William Duggan Science Lab. Through the generosity of two foundation grants ($105,000), one alum ($100,000), and the hard work of this community ($120,000) we not only built a beautiful lab, we had it paid off before it was completed! A group of Dads worked very hard to upgrade the gym and they did a great job. Several schoolyard beautification projects were completed, including the mural / mosaic mentioned above, the mural in the alley between the school and preschool, and the tile work done by all the kids in the main yard. The Tire Garden evolved into several new trees planted both inside and outside the yard. The preschool garden has been well maintained by one of our Moms for the last several years, so our little urban schoolyard has some sense of nature present.
It was only a few years ago that Star of the Sea Preschool opened, and that has been a great success! Most of the funding for that came from a long time parishioner who was very generous to Star in her will. She left a sizable sum to the parish and the pastor and his staff immediately offered to use those funds to establish a preschool.
As we look backward, it is clear that Star of the Sea is not a building; it is a community of very diverse people who share one thing in common, a love for Star. I think we should all (from the Sisters who opened this school in 1909 to the youngest preschooler) take pride in our accomplishments.
As we look forward, it should be with faith in God and love for our sisters and brothers as the foundation of this special community.
Have a great Christmas and a glorious 2012!
Sincerely,
Terrence Hanley
Principal
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