Dear Parents and Students:

The last several weeks have been very busy (and productive) here at school.

We have received about seventy applications for next year’s kindergarten and Ms. Gines and I have met with and assessed almost all the candidates. We try to make this a very casual process. So many schools have ‘official play dates’, ‘official test dates’, and ‘official interviews.’ Our philosophy is to meet people and let them share their hopes as we introduce them to our school. Ms. Gines, who has done the majority of this work, has been fantastic. She impresses parents and puts the kids at ease.

Seventy applications seems like a lot, but with families ‘shopping’ for schools, we expect to be right on target with twenty-five 5 year-olds who really want to be in kindergarten at Star.

There have also been a few applications in other grades. Parents who want their children to transfer into grades 1-8 bring in applications, transcripts and recommendations. Then their children become our guests ‘shadowing’ two days on campus. This gives us the opportunity to see if they can succeed academically as well as socially. The ‘visitors’ get a sense of our Star community. This allows all of us (kids, parents, and teachers) to make well-informed decisions.

Like last year, approximately twenty applications for 6th grade have been submitted. Mrs. Poon has become our unofficial junior high admissions director. Her ability to welcome our ‘shadow visitors’ and get a sense of their desire and enthusiasm to join our school has been tremendous.

With all the work to get students in, we have also been working hard to help our eighth graders move on to the high schools of their choice. The members of the Class of 2008 have applied to: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Saint Ignatius, Archbishop Riordan, Mercy, Marin Catholic, Lowell, and Gateway.

The junior high team (Mrs. Lundy, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Quintilian, and Mrs. Hill) have prepared transcripts, recommendations, and evaluations and sent them off to the various schools. Over the next few weeks, high school admissions directors will call to discuss the applicants and in mid-March will send out acceptance letters. Over the years we have seen our graduates do very well at these schools and we expect to have lots of good news to share with you next month.

Finally, I’d like to express my great appreciation to my colleagues. I am blessed to be surrounded by 27 talented, loving people. Their simple kindnesses, sense of teamwork and commitment to inclusive Catholic education makes them very special and I love being a part of their team.

Sincerely,

Terrence Hanley
Principal

* The Finance Committee has begun to work on next year’s budget and tuition rates. This process takes several weeks but we will let you know the final plan by March 15, 2008.

* Our Science Fair will be in the auditorium this Wednesday and Thursday. Please feel free to drop by. We need parents to judge on Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. or from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Winners will be announced at morning assembly on Friday, February 22.

* This Friday, the school is sponsoring Soup and Scripture beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium. A simple dinner is followed at 7:00 p.m. by Stations of the Cross in the Church. All are welcome.

* Next Monday, February 25th is a 12:30 dismissal for an Archdiocesan In-Service. Extended Care will be open as usual.

* Congratulations to Christine Sellai Kaniewski! Our graduate and Mom of three of our current students has been selected to be the new manager of San Francisco CYO Athletics. Catholic Charities CYO is very excited about Chris coming on board to lead the CYO into the future, and as a former coach, I share their enthusiasm.

* Thanks to Anne Gisslow and Brenda Kittredge who have accepted the challenge of replacing Chris as our Girls’ Athletic Directors.

* A reminder ��� the day a student returns to school after being absent, a written, signed notice of excuse should be given to the teacher. It is a California State requirement that a signed note be sent to school explaining why the student was absent.

Homeroom/classroom teachers will ask the student for a note from parent/doctor to explain absence from school. If there is no note, the student will be sent immediately to the office to call a parent. The parent will be requested to fax a note (415-221-7118) explaining the student’s absence.

Thank you for your support in this matter. It really keeps difficulties to a minimum and maximizes teaching time when requirements are met.

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