St. John the Beloved School Annual Report 2014 - 2015
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St. John the Beloved School Annual Report 2014 - 2015 St. John the Beloved School • 905 Milltown Rd. • Wilmington, DE 19808 www.saintjohnthebelovedschool.org MIDDLE STATES Accredited NCEA Member AMLE MEMBER ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY, SERVICE, WORSHIP! “Lead me, Lord.” Class of 2015 Our Mission MISSION STATEMENT The MISSION of St. John the Beloved School is to teach and model the Gospel of Jesus Christ, foster academic excellence, and encourage service to others. BELIEF STATEMENTS 1. We believe that Reverence, Respect and Responsibility are the foundations of our Catholic School. 2. We believe that the whole child will be developed spiritually, intellectually, physically and socially. 3. We believe that the academic and Catholic religious formation of our students is a shared responsibility among the home, the school and the parish. 4. We believe that the diverse academic needs of students are met in a rich learning environment with a challenging curriculum and dedicated teachers. Class of 2015 November, 2015 Dear Staff, Students, Families & Friends of Saint John the Beloved School, Catholic education is a great benefit for us. Our parish and staff are able to hand down what is most important to us, the evangelization of the Gospel. Our students and graduates are privileged to be handed to them this discipline in the discipleship of Jesus Christ. Our families and friends make sacrifices to enable this to occur and, most often, reap the goodness in the world around them. As a product of Catholic Education, I cherish what I received from those who loved me and most often are reminded, in my daily routine, of the fundamentals that I was taught. More than the solid basics, Catholic Education establishes a spiritual fabric that is essential for the diversity of life. Rooted in Jesus, Catholic Education seeks to be holistic and promote holiness. The efforts that are spent for this purpose are never wasted. As we celebrate our sixtieth anniversary as a parish this year, may the continued blessings of our parochial school enhance the world. God Bless You! Rev. Joseph J. Piekarski Pastor Class of 2015 Page 1 St. John the Beloved School Serving 4 year old Early Childhood through 8th Grade 905 Milltown Rd. • Wilmington, DE 19808 • 302-998-5525 A Catholic school in the Franciscan Tradition. www.saintjohnthebelovedschool.org Dear Friends, “Lead me, Lord” was the theme for our 2014 – 2015 school year. Keeping this phrase in mind, I am happy to present to you our Annual Report. Our Mission Statement - “The mission of St. John the Beloved School is to teach and model the Gospel of Jesus Christ, foster academic excellence, and encourage service to others” – is alive and well. It is visible on a daily basis in the interactions of faculty, staff, parents, and students and is the driving force that holds our school together. Each and every one must be committed so that it is not only lived out between school families but impacts the larger community. In short, we have strived to become what we are today. Our school has a rigorous academic program as evidenced by our yearly TerraNova results for grades two through eight and the number of scholarships attained by the class of 2015. The gospel is lived out in our religion classes and our worshipping together as a community. Our service to the larger community is quite visible through our participation in Neighbors to Nicaragua and our sister school, John Paul, II. The outstanding efforts of our Student Council and student body enable countless agencies to benefit from our fundraising activities. Our mission is not just made possible by the committed people inside the building. Our school families, as witnessed by our Home and School Association, our Enrichment Association as well as the parish at large support us financially. This allows us to move forward to instruct the next generation in the faith and prepare them for academic success and a life of service to others. Yours in St. Francis, Richard D. Hart Principal Class of 2015 Page 2 Highlights Accomplishments 2014 - 2015 CATHOLIC IDENTITY CURRICULUM Celebrated monthly liturgies Middle States Reaccredited Prepared second grade for First Adopted the new Terranova testing Communion program – 2nd to 8th grade Celebrated First Reconciliation & Emphasis placed on Step Up to Communion for second grade Writing Program school wide Spotlighted a student choir and band Expanded Spanish Program for liturgies Instituted an in-depth memorization Participated in the Faculty Retreat program for multiplication in grades Day three through five Created a retreat experience for our New Wonders reading program K-6 sixth, seventh, and eighth grades All updated Curriculum has online Instructed Kindergarten in prayer component assisted by their eighth grade buddies My Math program grades 2-5 Recited the Rosary in October and Wonders Reading 6th grade May as a school community New Spanish Books 8th grade Participated in the Stations of the Cross Vocabulary Workbooks grade 3 during Lent 1:1 Chromebooks 6th & 7th grades Eighth grade performed Living Stations Chrome Book Carts grades 3-5 School community honored Mary by Additional iPads for primary grades participating in a traditional May Crowning FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS Students participated in a monthly service New sidedwalk between buildings project that benefited various Parking lot resurfaced and relined Organizations Updated school roof Franciscan Award at eighth grade Replaced Ceiling tiles graduation Peacemaker awards awarded each MAINTENANCE trimester to those who model our Stripped and waxed all floors Franciscan Values Area Carpets Cleaned Continued support to our sister school with Windows Cleaned Neighbors to Nicaragua Asbestos Inspections Participated in Diocesan Pilgrimage Detailing of Student bathrooms Initiated school wide service requirements Class of 2015 Page 3 COMMUNITY OUTREACH IPADS – ECP through 2nd grade Raised $5,000.00 for various charities Upgraded technology curriculum including Multiple Sclerosis Society, Math Skills tutor program Lymphoma Society, SJB Food Closet Expanded Teacher Web-pages and Easter Baskets for Ministry of Caring Week in Review Bulletin Board Honored our Veterans on Veterans School Reach Broadcast System Day with a special celebration Web-based curriculum for Math, Raised money for John Paul II school Science, Social Studies, Reading & in Nicaragua Vocabulary SJBAC (Students Joining the Battle Smart Boards in all classrooms Against Cancer) raised $10,000.00 Memorial donations made to recently ACHIEVEMENTS & RECOGNITIONS deceased members of our school Received acceptances of all Graduates family into a High School of their choice Raised over $52,000.00 during the Fourteen students received twenty- Bi-Annual Bid-A-Mania. one scholarships to various High Schools STUDENT ACTIVITIES, ATHLETICS Acknowledged Mary Ann Thompson EXTENDED CARE & SUMMER and Marie Malatesta with 30 years SCHOOL service each. Hosted Art Fairs in January and April Fifteen 8th grade students received Received first and/or second place by U.S. President’s Award for several athletic teams in all sports Educational Excellence Fourth grade hosted Career Week Celebrated Sr. JoAnn McPolin’s 50th Annual Christmas concert K – 3rd Jubilee with school Choir and Drama Dept. Middle School trips for Character HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION/ Education/Leadership & Team- EDUCATION COMMITTEE Building Finances the following after school Bricks for Kidz programs: Italian Club, Young Expanded Band Program Rembrandts, Mad Science, Math Leagues, Science Olympiads, Bricks Soccer Shots for Kidz, It’s Academic, Jr. and Sr. ASSEMBLIES Chess Club Honors Awards and Breakfast of Coordinates Recess Volunteers Champions Breakfast with Santa and Santa’s Slim Good Body Secret Workshop Pep Rally Wacky Walk-A-Thon JMT Productions of Christmas, Grade Level Socials Easter and First Penance Family Night Bingo Mad Science Multiple Business Take-Overs Tuition Assistance PARENT PARTNERSHIP Donuts and Dads; Muffins and Moms Special Persons Week Coffee and Conversation with the Principal TECHNOLOGY Curriculum/TerraNova Night with Lap Tops for Grade 8 Dr. Louis DeAngelo Class of 2015 Page 4 Our History Celebrating over 50 years of Catholic Education In 1953, after two years of searching for a desirable site, his Excellency Bishop E. J. Fitzmaurice and Monsignor John J. Lynch decided to purchase a nine acre farm on Milltown Road, which included a nine room house. Boundaries for the proposed parish were loosely drawn up and some 500 families began congregating at the armory on Kirkwood Highway for Sunday service. Bishop Fitzmaurice appointed Rev. John J. Sheehy, the founding pastor of the parish, to select a new name for the community, to organize a building program and to establish various parish committees. During this time, a contract for the design of the school was confirmed. Construction began in the summer of 1956 and in August 1957, seven Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia moved into their new home and began preparations for students to enter their new school. On September 4, 1957, Sister M. Eutropia, the grade school principal, along with four sisters and four lay teachers, opened the doors to approximately 500 students. The school at this time was a nine classroom structure. With time and the expansion of surrounding suburbia, St. John the Beloved’s much heralded school became increasingly crowded. Enrollment increased from 500 in 1957 to 940 in 1963, requiring the scheduling of split academic sessions, under the principalship of Sister Edward Augustine, OSF. To meet the demands of this growth a new junior school was built and on September 6, 1964, it opened to provide much needed classroom space. In its first 15 years of growth, St. John’s experienced many clergy changes; the second and third pastors respectively were the Rev. Alex Gorski and the Rev. Monsignor John H. Dewson, and the third principal was Sister M. Synesia, OSF. Later, in 1971, Sister M. Rita Thomas, OSF, assumed the principalship of the school and introduced updated teaching methods in reading and mathematics.