From Canasaurus to Catholic Charities!
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www.stasaints.net 1 Table of Contents Community Calendar National Blue Ribbon ................................. 3 January Hall of Fame ............................................... 4 28 ���������Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas Mass: Archbishop Jospeh F. Naumann, Celebrant, and 25th Year .................................................... 8 recognition of alumni in or discerning religious Homecoming .............................................. 9 vocation 28-31 �����Catholic Schools Week Extravaganza ..............................................10 Alumni Feature .........................................12 February 2 �����������Trivia Challenge, 6:30 pm Baton Twirler ............................................13 6 �����������Mass of Remembrance, 7 pm Our Students .............................................14 13..........Ash Wednesday Mass, 9:30 am Performing Arts ....................................... 15 15-16 �����Alice in Wonderland play, 7 pm Student Highlights .....................................16 23 ���������Incoming Freshmen Student/Parent Orientation in Gym & Commons, 9 am Alumni Feature .........................................17 Coach Mirocke Golf Classic .......................18 March 2 �����������25th Year Gala and Hall of Fame Induction 2011-12 Annual Report ..............................19 at JCCC Regnier Center, 6:30 pm Saints Marrying Saints .............................. 29 12 .........Community Service Mass, 9:30 am Class Notes ............................................... 30 18-22 �����Spring Break Mass of Remembrance .............................. 33 31 ����������Easter Sunday In Memoriam ........................................... 34 April Reunions .................................................. 35 4 �����������Easter Mass, 9:30 am 12 .........Wigs Out Assembly 19-20 �����Gospel of Life Convention 26-27 �����Dinner Theater, 6:30 pm The Saints Spirit magazine is a publication of the Saint 27 ����������Saints Walk for Life, 9 am Thomas Aquinas Advancement Office. We welcome your 29 ���������Arts Week (celebrating 25 years of comments or questions. Call or write: Bryan Thrasher literary, performing, practical and fine arts) Director of Communications May [email protected] 4 �����������Father-Daughter Dance Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 14 ����������Baccalaureate Mass at Holy Trinity Church, 11411 Pflumm Road 7:00 p.m. Overland Park, Kansas 66215-4816 15 ���������Class of 2013 25th-Year Graduation at JCCC, 913.319.2425 7:00 p.m. William Ford, Ed.D. June President 10 ����������Mirocke Golf Classic Teresa Ahrens Director of Special Events Mary Bridget Kratofil Front Cover Director of Media Relations Saint Thomas Aquinas High School president, Dr. Bill Ford, accepted the National Blue Ribbon School award Michon Quick from Aba Kumi, Director of the NBRS program for the Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Department of Education, on November 13, 2012, in Cindy Winkler Washington, D.C. Accompanying Dr. Ford to accept the Advancement Office Manager award were faculty members Brian Schenck and Craig Photography courtesy of Michele Gress Moss, who spearheaded the five-year assessment and application process. 2 Cover Story Saint Thomas Aquinas High School Receives National Blue Ribbon School Designation On September 7, the United progress in improving States Secretary of Education, Arne student achievement Duncan, officially announced that levels as measured by Saint Thomas Aquinas High School is state assessments or a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School nationally-normed based on overall academic excellence. tests. The National Blue Ribbon Schools When he was award honors public and private notified of the award, middle and secondary schools that the elementary, middle, and high Dr. William Ford, President of Saint organization represents (more than schools where students perform at Thomas Aquinas High School, 80% of the private school enrollment very high levels or where significant congratulated and thanked the faculty nationwide). improvements are being made in and staff of Saint Thomas Aquinas To qualify for the NBRS students’ levels of achievement. Saint High School. “This nomination is designation, a school must meet Thomas Aquinas is one of 50 private validation of our school’s quality certain academic criteria over schools in the country to receive the academic programs and the conscious a five-year period including the designation, along with 219 public result of our school-wide effort to federal Adequate Yearly Progress schools from across the country. ensure that every student at Saint (AYP) measurement and the state’s “Our nation has no greater Thomas Aquinas has the opportunity Academic Performance Index (API). A responsibility than helping all children to learn and acquire tools for life-long total of 417 schools nationwide may be realize their full potential,” Duncan achievement,” he said. nominated for the NBRS distinction said. “Schools honored with the “It is especially fitting that this per year. In its 30-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award designation comes as we celebrate National Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to accelerating student our 25th year as a premier Catholic Program has bestowed this coveted achievement and preparing students high school in the Kansas City greater award on nearly 7,000 of America’s for success in college and careers. metropolitan area,” said Ford. Since schools. Their work reflects the conviction 1988, Saint Thomas Aquinas High Locally, Saint Thomas Aquinas that every child has promise and that School has graduated 5,889 young was awarded the Kansas Department education is the surest pathway to a men and women. Current enrollment of Education’s 2012 Governor’s strong, secure future.” at the four-year co-educational Achievement Award, which recognizes The program recognizes schools in archdiocesan high school is 937 schools that score in the top 5% of all one of two performance categories. students. high schools in both math and reading The first category, for which Saint To select National Blue Ribbon on the Kansas State Assessment tests. Thomas Aquinas has been honored, Schools, the Department of Education It is the only high school in Johnson is “Exemplary High Performing.” requests nominations from the top County to receive the recognition Schools in this category are education official in every state, this year. Since the state-assessment recognized among their state’s highest the District of Columbia, Puerto program was established seven performing schools, as measured Rico, the Department of Defense years ago in 2006, Saint Thomas by state assessments or nationally- Education Activity, and the Bureau Aquinas has received the Governor’s normed tests. The second category of Indian Education. The Council Achievement Award designation five is “Exemplary Improving,” in which for American Private Education times: 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 schools that have at least 40 percent (CAPE) also nominates 50 private and 2012. of their students from disadvantaged and parochial schools for the award backgrounds demonstrate the most from the 33,740 private elementary, www.stasaints.net 3 HALL of Fame 2013 Saints Hall of Fame Recipients Nominations for the annual award within the Archdiocese of Kansas City are based on exceptional achievement in Kansas. Named in areas of profession, vocation or Honorees are chosen by an avocation that may include but are Saint Thomas Aquinas High appointed Hall of Fame Selection not limited to fields of religion, arts, School is pleased to announce the Committee consisting of diverse athletics, business, human services, establishment of the Saints Hall of representation of the Saint Thomas industry, medicine, military, science Fame Awards Program to formally Aquinas community. Recipients will or volunteerism. Award categories recognize alumni, parents and friends be honored in the Saint Thomas are Alumni and Distinguished Service. who help define and advance the Aquinas High School Saints Spirit Additional awards that may be institution and its mission. Annual Report and at the 2013 Hall bestowed in any given year include the The Saints Hall of Fame program of Fame Induction Tribute. The Legacy Award, for long-time exceptional celebrates the four-year co-educational inaugural event will be held on service to the institution by members high school’s 25th year and its alumni Saturday evening, March 2, 2013, of the community, and the Marian and supporters. To date, 5,889 alumni at the Regnier Center at Johnson Award, for long-time exceptional have graduated from Saint Thomas County Community College in service by retired faculty and staff. All Aquinas since the school opened at conjunction with the Saints 25th nominees must demonstrate Catholic 114th & Pflumm in 1988. Year Gala celebration. values that represent Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and its mission Alumni Award The 2013 inaugural Saints Hall of Fame Alumni Award recipients are: Father Vince Huber, class of 2000; Erica Thesing Kratofil, class of 1997; Mikey Needleman, class of 2002; Benjamin Schloegel, class of 1996; and Brigid Molen Sullivan, class of 1995. Alumni Award nominees must be graduates of ten years or more. Benjamin Schloegel, ‘96, is a triathlete, firefighter and entrepreneur who embraces service to others. As a triathlete he has won numerous competitions at many levels and has raced in over 20 Ironman triathlons, frequently finishing in the Top-Ten. Although he never swam, biked or ran competitively while growing up, Schloegel