September 8, 2009
Dear Parents and Students,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generous support of Star of the Sea School. The Centennial Mass we celebrated this last weekend was wonderful! The Archbishop was very impressed, not only by the number of parents and students who joined us at Mass and the rededication of our school, but by the genuine affection expressed by all present. Having so many alumni return to their old “home away from home” was very encouraging, and the support of our parishioners is truly appreciated.
I also want to offer a special THANK YOU to the many parents, grads, faculty and staff members who worked so hard to make this event so successful. Their hard work, patience and great humor made the extra hours not only productive but very enjoyable. There are still more centennial events (the fashion show, spring gala and alumni reunion weekend come to mind) but for a few weeks we can rest.
It’s also a good time to remember that as we celebrate the first hundred years of Star, we also continue to move forward into our second century.
The little ones in kindergarten have quickly become part of the family. They love their teacher and teacher’s aid (congratulations Mrs. Kinner on your new grandson, Travis Michael Looney).
The eighth graders are actively looking at the next leg of their educational journey. Representatives from Sacred Heart Cathedral, Saint Ignatius, Mercy, Immaculate Conception Academy, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Archbishop Riordan and Stuart Hall are all going to visit Star in the next few weeks. Soon after that, our eighth graders will be setting up “shadow dates” to visit these schools to help decide where they will go to high school.
Iowa test of Basic Skills will be administered to all students in grades two through eight beginning September 21. The point of the ITBS is to assess each student’s skills and needs. This helps teachers to plan curriculum more effectively for the class and individual students. This does not affect report card grades, but is a very useful assessment instrument. Please do not schedule medical or dental appointments during ITBS week.
Open House for perspective kindergartners will be held Wednesday, September 16 at 9:00 a.m. (tell a friend). After introductory remarks by the principal, parents will be given school tours by members of the Class of 2010.
And so we go on, pausing to celebrate 100 years of educational excellence in San Francisco and moving forward into our second century. Expect the usual: children will learn to read, to think, to discern fact from fiction from opinion from untruths, to daydream with the confidence that they can make some dreams come true, to generously donate to those less fortunate, to come to believe that they are loved and thereby called upon to love others.
Thank you all and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Terrence Hanley
Principal