Fall-Winter 2014-15 A Newsletter for Alumni & Friends www.bishopheelan.org BISHOP HEELAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS In This Issue Champions of Family Fun Business, pages 10-11 • Donor Honor Roll pages 14-17. Greetings Heelan Alumni and Friends, Bishop Heelan High School marked a milestone this fall with the opening of our Fine Arts Building. In this issue we are proud to share news of our new facility, our academic Published for alumni and friends of Bishop Heelan High School, part of the progress, athletic achievements and student activities. city-wide Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools It is a typical fall at Heelan marked by great energy, great expectations and great PK-12 system. accomplishments! Student athletes competed for championships in football, volleyball Winter/Spring 2014-2015 and cross country at state levels. As our theater students presented the wonderful production of “You Can’t Take It With You,” our talented Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools 1018 Grandview Blvd. vocal students planned for the all-state music festival, and our Sioux City, IA 51103 resourceful debaters prepared for a major tournament. Of particular Editor interest were the impressive ACT scores recorded by our 2014 Janet Flanagan, director of annual giving graduates. (See below.) Donor Honor Roll Please, note our 2013-14 Donor Honor Roll on pages 14-17. We are Becky Meyer, office manager deeply grateful for the generosity of our supporters as it serves as a welcomed affirmation of our mission. Article Credits Sioux City Journal The Catholic Globe A Blessed Christmas Holiday Season to You! Photo Credits in this Issue Gene Knudson, Knudsenphotos.com Bruce Meyer James Tschann brucemeyerproductions.com President, Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools Heelan Yearbooks Heelan Staff, Friends and Alumni Jessica Brown Meredith Ritchie Heelan ACT Scores are Up National Merit Semifinalists Heelan’s 2014 graduates recorded a Bishop Heelan seniors Jessica Brown strong ACT average score of 23.4, higher and Meredith Ritchie are National Merit than local, state and national averages. Semifinalists and are being considered for Ninety-one percent of the class took the National Merit Finalist honors. ACT Exam. Students qualify for National Merit Enjoying classes and activities in Heelan’s average of 23.4 compares consideration based on PSAT/NMSQT the new Fine Arts Building from very favorably to the local public school exams they take as juniors. left are: Sam Aguilera, Martin Vanle, Michaela Wadzinski, average of 20.5, the Iowa average of 22.0 This fall, 57 Heelan sophomore and Aida Mengistu, Maria Perez- and the national average of 21.0. junior students completed the test. Bockholt, David Janssen, Keegan Students score strongest in the areas of Students in the top 20 percent of their Brown, Allie Logan and Jonathan reading, English and science. They meet class are encouraged to take the exam Neswick. benchmarks in college readiness and rank which measures math, critical reading above the statewide percentage. and writing skills. Serving Special Needs, Low Income and Ill Children Heelan students volunteered at local organizations and churches during Homecoming week in September. Dozens helped for the second straight year at the Special Olympics state bowling tournament Nov. 22 in Sioux City. Scores of students shopped for Thanksgiving Day turkey dinners with funds donated by their peers to benefit low income families. Still more students supported Miracle Makers, which last year donated some $8,000 to benefit a Make a ishW child. Students who accumulate over 15 hours of community service each year are recognized in the Silver Cord program at Heelan. Heelan students volunteer at the local food bank. > Crusader 2 Connection Fr. Al Leaves Scholarship Gift to Heelan The late Fr. Al McCoy will continue our annual spring assembly. His gift to support Heelan students after represents an investment in future his death through a generous gift of generations.” $163,000 to establish the new Father “We are honored to be named Alfred McCoy Scholarship Fund. after Bishop Edmond Heelan, an Fr. Al set up the endowed fund to Irishman and a great champion make sure several students could of education,” adds Jim Tschann, receive tuition assistance each Heelan system president. “We are year. The first awards will help grateful for the generosity of another students next fall. Irish educator, Fr. Al McCoy.” Fr. Al served as president of Heelan Fr. Al served as a priest for 58 High School from 1996 to 1998 and years and died at age 83 in 2012. He assisted administration for years was a parish pastor in over a dozen after that. He was known for his Irish communities, one-time mayor of charm, short but pointed homilies, Cherokee and an auxiliary chaplain Masses, afternoon announcements, to the 185th Iowa Air National Fr. Al was known for his humorous afternoon laughing with students and painting Guard. announcements. classrooms in summer. “This scholarship fund reflects “Fr. Al‘s powerful presence among Fr. Al’s affection for Heelan High students, faculty and parents gives, School,” says his nephew, Msgr. Fr. Al’s gift adds several more awards to the him a special place in the rich history Kevin McCoy of Fort Dodge, Iowa. growing list of scholarships to make Heelan of Heelan High School,” says Bob “It’s an extension of his priestly tuition more affordable. Consider a family Geary, director of guidance and ministry of bringing kids to the gift to set up a scholarship fund honoring counseling. “It will be an honor to gospel of Jesus Christ.” parents or a loved one. Call 252-1350 or announce his scholarship awards at email [email protected]. Lafferty Fund Helps Donors and Heelan If you are a Heelan alum, friend or business that owes Iowa taxes, you can purchase tax credits that reduce your taxes dollar by dollar and help support the Bishop Heelan school system. Persons who donate to the Monsignor Lafferty Tuition Foundation receive a 65 percent Iowa tax credit, plus a full federal charitable deduction. Donations to the foundation fund grants to help lower-income students attend Catholic school in Sioux City and other communities in the diocese. Timm Funk, CPA, a former school system board and finance committee member, says the Lafferty fund is a win-win program. “What surprised me was how much went to the school, and how much it reduced my state and federal taxes. In my case, 90 percent of what I contributed came back to me in reduced income taxes. “The benefits are that you can control where most of your state tax dollars go and you can help students who might not otherwise afford a great Catholic education. Ultimately, you feel good about helping our schools.” This year 609 students receive vital assistance to obtain a faith-based education in the Heelan system. Learn more by calling Janet Flanagan at Heelan 712-252-1350. Or visit bishopheelan.org/lafferty foundation. Crusader Connection 3 New Fine Arts Building Strengthens Heelan High School Education First Play in Auditorium Uses Large Cast This year’s fall play, “You Can’t Take It With You,” was the first New Music Stands for Band in the new auditorium. The 1936 classic follows the zany Sycamore Student musicians are now using modern new family and the young Alice Sycamore’s quest for love through music stands thanks to donations from Dr. Mike laughter and madness. Wadzinski, Milt Avery, Dave Schmit and Mike “The humor transcends the decades,” says Beth Dalton, theater Urbanos ’68. The new stands replace outdated, teacher. “The large cast gave more students the opportunity to dented, wobbly ones. perform on our larger new stage.” See page 18 for a special Class Note. Debate Team Success Heelan Debaters are practicing in the new Fine Arts Auditorium and are off to a winning start this year. Student Chapel Named for Pope Varsity Public Forum debaters swept 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at The new Heelan Chapel is now named St. John Paul the November Des Moines East Tournament, and Novice debaters II Chapel. St. John Paul II served as Pope for 27 years have earned awards at every one of their eight tournaments. Heelan from 1978 to 2005. When he visited Iowa in 1979, he hosted the annual Crusader Classic Tournament in November. drew 340,000, the largest crowd ever in state history. Presenting awards on the new stage marked another first in the new auditorium. Crusader 4 Connection New Fine Arts Building Strengthens Heelan High School Education Heelan’s new Fine Arts Building opened in August to rave reviews from students, teachers, alumni and donors. “Is this heaven? Yes!” was written on the classroom board in Laurie Dougherty’s art room. In addition to daily classes the school building hosts music concerts, special assemblies, student dances, special speakers, art events, diocesan and faculty meetings, the fall play, Masses and more. Carson Froehlich ’10 designed the Principal Chris Bork, left holds capsule landscaping below the fine arts memorabilia with teachers James Kunz, building’s exterior cross. He is Rachael Wragge, students Patrick earning a degree in landscape Dougherty and teachers Beth Dalton and architecture at Iowa State University. Laurie Dougherty. Artist Donates Kiln Time Capsule Captures Steve Kammerer, a 1960 Heelan grad and History for 2064 well-known area artist, has donated a new Teachers and students buried stoneware pottery kiln, a slab table and sculpting a time capsule near the Fine Arts materials to the art department in the new Fine Building’s entrance with items Arts Building. representing Heelan, society trends The new kiln, which reaches 2300 degrees, and Sioux City area news. is used to fire student class projects. The time capsule should be Pottery is an important expression of art and opened during the Homecoming a hands-on art form practiced since the Week of 2064, 50 years from now.