♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
Dear Parents:
Our 2007-08 school year was another very productive one. Our students were very successful in so many different ways and in many activities. As I sit here writing this letter, the construction work is in high gear. Our summer school is going well at the St. Francis site. The just-graduated class of 2008 had over $6,000,000 in scholarship offers and donated over 40,000 hours of community service in their time here. What follows is a summary of just a few of the highlights from various areas around the school:
• 15 retreats were held with several students from all four grade levels attending.
• Our performing arts students excelled. Choir had 26 Division I ratings at the state contest and seven singers were selected for All-State Chorus, while 5 of our instrumental music students were selected for the 2007 All-State Band. A total of 20 drama students participated in the Large Group Speech/Theatre contest, and 3 debate students qualified for nationals.
• Student council led the four classes by their example – raised $900 for juvenile diabetes – the four classes had their own accomplishments, too - freshmen got involved in entrance decorating for homecoming, juniors played a big part in planning this year’s prom, sophomores held a Valentine’s fund-raiser and seniors led the school in the Christmas baskets project.
• Our athletic and activities programs flourished. Several student-athletes signed letters with colleges, the majority of our athletes earned academic letters (3.25 or higher GPA) and both the speed/agility program and summer camps have very good enrollments. Academic Decathlon advanced to state, Entrepreneurial Studies began 2 new partnerships, 10 students were in Knowledge Bowl, and 1 team advanced to the championship competition, Mock Trial had 2 students named “outstanding” and science bowl had 4 students participate.
• Our students completed many hours of service work. The school sponsored 50 families for Christmas baskets, 250 students and our faculty/staff made over 500 ceramic bowls and then sponsored a soup supper for the fall project, Habitat For Humanity participated in seven building workdays, Hands & Feet donated part of a jeans day to African relief, National Honor Society provided Thanksgiving baskets to 25 families, Operation Smile was recognized by ChildServe for helping weekly with recreational therapy, People To People helped raise $2,200 for Heifer International and Students For Life sent 30 students to the March For Life. VIP had 106 members in grades 9-12, and helped several community organizations with service work.
No list such as this does every student or organization justice. What I hope it does, though, is give you a bit of an idea of the many, many accomplishments of our wonderful student body. This is typical of our students, and it occurs year after year at our school. On behalf of the faculty and staff, I thank you again for your support of our endeavors.
Yours,
James M. Dowdle, Ph.D.
Principal