St. John the Beloved School Annual Report 2013 - 2014
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St. John the Beloved School Annual Report 2013 - 2014 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! “Where Charity and Love Are, God is There.” Class of 2014 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 our school will instill a knowledge and love of God, self, and others. 2. We believe that reverence, respect and responsibility will be the foundation of developing a Catholic school. 3. We believe that parents, teachers, administrators and clergy share responsibility for the education and religious formation of the children. 4. We believe that the whole child will be developed spiritually, intellectually, personally, socially, and physically. 5. We believe that all children have a right to learn in a safe, caring environment. 6. We believe that our responsibility is to foster the self-esteem of each student by addressing individual learning styles. 7. We believe that we will be stewards of God’s creation and all of earth’s resources as we follow in the Franciscan tradition. 8. We believe the parish school supports and shares in the mission of the parish. Class of 2014 September 6, 2014 Dear Parents, Parishioners and Friends of St. John the Beloved School, The Mission of St. John the Beloved Roman Catholic Elementary School is to teach and model the Gospel of Jesus Christ, foster academic excellence and encourage service to others. As we begin a new school year I want to once again thank all of you for your faithful and generous support of St. John the Beloved School. I am keenly aware of the sacrifices that are made each and every year by families and parishioners, so that, so many children may attend our school. We are very proud of our school and its tradition of meeting the goals and objectives of our Mission Statement. Which is, to teach Christ’s Gospel message, model service to others in the world and to help our students reach their God given potential. I am aware of what is expected from a Catholic education and it is one of my highest priorities as Pastor. The Parish and its parishioners are committed to Catholic Education and the financial and spiritual support of our Grade School, Religious Education program, Youth Ministry, Social Justice and Outreach programs. Our goal is to allow all of our children to learn the lessons and teachings of Jesus Christ. With the sincere hope that they will take those lessons and teachings and live lives as true disciples of Jesus Christ. To love others as God has surely loved us and to be of service to those who are in most need in the world and our community. I am exited also to announce that part of our goal for the Diocesan Sustaining the hope Capital Campaign is to begin an endowment fund for our School. The goal of this endowment will be to help keep the cost of a Catholic education affordable for our families. Thank you again for your continued support and your personal sacrifices. Our faith calls us to great responsibility. To whom much is given much is expected. We have been given so much and we have the blessing of a wonderful parish community. May God continue to bless each of you, Rev. William T. Cocco - Pastor Class of 2014 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, “Where charity and love are, God is there” was the theme for our 2013 – 2014 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. 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 people inside the building who are committed but by our school families and parish at large that support us financially, allowing us to move forward to instruct the next generation in the faith and preparing them for academic success and a life of service to others. Yours in St. Francis, Richard D. Hart Principal Class of 2014 Page 2 Highlights Accomplishments 2013 - 2014 CATHOLIC IDENTITY CURRICULUM Celebrated monthly liturgies Middle States Reaccredited Prepared second grade for First Adopted the new Terranova testing Communion program – 4th and 7th grade only Celebrated First Reconciliation & Emphasis placed on Step Up to Communion for second grade Writing Program school wide Spotlighted a student choir for Expanded Spanish Program liturgies Instituted an in-depth memorization Participated in the Faculty Retreat program for multiplication in grades Day three through five (Skills Tutor) Created a retreat experience for our New Wonders reading program K-5 sixth, seventh, and eighth grades All Curriculum has online component Presented our Distinguished Graduate Award at Catholic FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS School’s Week Liturgy 2 new Middle School Classrooms Instructed Kindergarten in prayer Reconfigured Classrooms assisted by their eighth grade buddies New Desks grades 1-3 Recited the Rosary in October and New Science Lab May as a school community New Security Doors in front hall Pantomimed the Joyful Mysteries New PA system including with the assistance of our third administrative phones graders in October New switches for computer system Participated in the Stations of the Cross during Lent MAINTENANCE Eighth grade performed Living Stations Stripped and waxed all floors School community honored Mary by Area Carpets Cleaned participating in a traditional May Windows Cleaned Crowning Asbestos Inspections Students participated in a monthly service Overall School Detailed project that benefited various Organizations Instituted the Franciscan Award at eighth grade graduation Class of 2014 Page 3 COMMUNITY OUTREACH Lap Tops for Middle School Raised $5,000.00 for various charities IPADS – ECP through 2nd grade Including Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upgraded technology curriculum Lymphoma Society, SJB Food Closet Math Skills tutor program Easter Baskets for Ministry of Caring Expanded Teacher Web-pages and Honored our Veterans on Veterans Week in Review Bulletin Board Day with a special celebration School Reach Broadcast System Raised money for John Paul II school Web-based curriculum for Math, in Nicaragua Science, Social Studies, Reading & SJBAC (Students Joining the Battle Vocabulary Against Cancer) raised $10,000.00 Smart Boards in all classrooms Memorial donations made to recently deceased members of our school ACHIEVEMENTS & RECOGNITIONS family Received acceptances of all Graduates Raised over $24,000.00 during the into a High School of their choice Wacky Walk-a-Thon Fourteen students receive eighteen scholarships to various High Schools STUDENT ACTIVITIES, ATHLETICS Presented Mr. David Ballintyn, Mrs. EXTENDED CARE & SUMMER Ballintyn’s son, with the SCHOOL Distinguished Alumni Award Hosted Art Fairs in January and April Received first and/or second place by HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION/ several athletic teams in all sports EDUCATION COMMITTEE Fourth grade hosted Career Week Finances the following after school Performed an annual Christmas programs: Italian Club, Young concert kindergarten through third Rembrandts, Mad Science, Math with school Choir and Drama Dept. Leagues, Science Olympiads, Lego Middle School trips for Character Robotics, It’s Academic, Jr. and Sr. Education/Leadership & Team- Chess Club Building Coordinates Recess Volunteers Bricks for Kidz Breakfast with Santa and Santa’s Expanded Band Program Secret Workshop Wacky Walk-A-Thon ASSEMBLIES Grade Level Socials Honors Awards and Breakfast of Family Night Bingo Champions Multiple Business Take-Overs Slim Good Body Tuition Assistance Pep Rally “Life of St. Francis” PARENT PARTNERSHIP JMT Productions of “Good Donuts and Dads; Muffins and Moms Samaritan” and Special Persons Week Mad Science Coffee and Conversation with the Principal TECHNOLOGY Curriculum/TerraNova Night with New Network Administrator hired Dr. Louis DeAngelo Class of 2014 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 the 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.