May 18, 2010
Dear Parents,
It’s
still too early to say that we are winding down the school year, so I won’t
bring it up. The teachers still have much work to do, and are anxious to end the
school year having completed their planning begun at the beginning of the school
year. Our teachers are extraordinary individuals. They work hard, plan hard,
play and pray hard and are very conscientious about the work they do. We have
just completed an in-depth study of our reading program from Kindergarten
through 8th grade and we were all surprised not only at how much we
do for reading readiness, but how much we do to analyze and ‘fix’ our students
who struggle in this subject area. Our action plan for the next three or four
years is to do more of the same, which means extra care for those who struggle
and challenge work for those who can excel. It’s this kind of dedication to our
programs that allow us to move our curriculum forward to provide the best
academic readiness for all our students. If you see your student’s teacher
before the end of the school year, be sure to say ‘hi’ and ‘thank you’ for all
their hard work. They will appreciate the sentiment.
Raffle!
Our tuition raffle is off to a rather slow start. Now
folks, this is one of the two events that I say is mandatory that you
participate in. I hate to use that word, but once again, like the broken record
I am, this is important because it offsets our operation expenses and keeps
your tuition down. If we didn’t have these fundraisers over the course of
the year, then our tuition would be astronomical. As it is, and I’ve said this
many times too, if all our families participated in all our fundraisers, then
the responsibility for keeping tuition low would be equally shared. As it is
now, that is not the case. There are incentive prizes for our salespeople
(kindergarten families are currently out ahead in sales) and bragging rights for
those who sell the most. There are wonderful prizes for the top seller and don’t
forget the payoff: the winner receives ONE WHOLE YEAR OF FREE TUITION OR A CASH
PRIZE FOR A NON SCHOOL FAMILY. Think of it! Smart Tuition would not bug you
for a whole year; how cool would that be? So buy some tickets folks. I’m
counting on you.
Alice in Wonderland.
As
you've known, Linda Bauman is leading a group of players to perform Alice in
Wonderland on June 1. We would like to host as many St. Finn Barr Catholic
School families as possible but ticket sales will be limited due to only one
performance and the lack of space in the parish hall. So, We will sell tickets
to the play only until May 26 2010. There will be no ticket sales at the
door, and absolutely no more sales after this date. Ticket prices are $5.00 for
every one. So if you want to come I would suggest you purchase your tickets
early because there is going to be a lot of interest. Many of our students are
players, so get on board early.
Rainy Days.
Parents, on rainy days, when the students are forced to be
inside, I’ve noticed that the upper grades have little to do. Although they’re
creative, sometimes they just get bored. So I’m asking for donations to the 6th,
7th and 8th grade class rooms for such items as decks of
cards, cribbage sets, board games, chess sets, checkers sets, Trivial Pursuits
for teens, anything that is not electronic and requires a bit of skill and
concentration. This will keep them occupied, and hopefully away from (not our
kids) mischief. Thanks.
Our Graduates.
As usual, we are proud of our graduating 8th
grade students, so we would like to share with you where they will be attending
high school in the fall. These students are under tremendous pressure to do well
and they always meet their marks. We will miss them and hope they come back many
times in the years to come to visit.
|
Alonzo Aguilera |
|
Washington High School |
|
Stephanie Aldama |
|
Immaculate Conception High School |
|
Monica Castro |
|
Lowell High School |
|
Frank Chu |
|
Lowell High School |
|
Derick Clemente |
|
Wallenburg High School |
|
Elora Cuenco |
|
Lowell High School |
|
Winter Curtiss |
|
Mercy High School |
|
Jianna Fontanilla |
|
St. Ignatius Preparatory High School |
|
Jenna Harkins |
|
Gateway High School |
|
Siyu Huang |
|
Balboa High School |
|
Brian Keane |
|
St. Ignatius Preparatory High School |
|
Sandra Lacayo |
|
Immaculate Conception High School |
|
Myka Macaraeg |
|
Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep. |
|
Sai McNamara |
|
St. Joseph/Notre Dame High School, Alameda |
|
Jordi Molina |
|
Washington High School |
|
So Jung Park |
|
The International School, Korea |
|
Edmund Phillips |
|
Washington High School |
|
Fernanda Rendon |
|
Gateway High School |
|
Jeremiah Secondez |
|
Washington High School |
|
Clayton Smith |
|
Haldane High School,
Cold Spring, New York |
|
Adriane Suangco |
|
Archbishop Riordan High School |
|
Luis Valle |
|
Lowell High School |
|
Whislie Wong |
|
Washington High school |
|
Tabea Wonnebauer |
|
St. Catherine Dominican High School, Monterey
|
Given the high cost of Private and Catholic High Schools in
the bay area, it’s clear that many of our parents have made the tough decision
to continue Catholic Education for their kids. There is no getting around the
fact that Catholic and private high schools are prohibitively expensive and
they’re not getting any cheaper. But our students can compete on every level, in
any high school, for any curriculum; of that I am sure and proud. I take my hat
off to our parents who have given their time, talent and treasure to St. Finn
Barr Catholic School, many for the past nine years. We will miss these students
and their families, but wish them well.
What’s Coming Up
|
05/19/10 |
|
3:00 PM dismissal Field Day at Riordan
High School
|
|
05/20/10 |
|
3:00 PM dismissal |
|
05/21/10 |
|
3:00 PM dismissal 8th Grade to Great
America
|
|
05/24/10 |
|
12:00 PM dismissal Teacher In-service
|
New Tuition Packets for 2010-2011
The new tuition packet will be coming to you shortly. The
tuition rates have been raised slightly and although our costs keep rising, we
have looked at our budget, and have determined that this small raise in tuition
will cover our budget needs for the new school year. The teachers, as you
recall, have taken an Archdiocesan mandated pay freeze this year, but expenses
know no such freezes. Medical, dental and pension costs are rising exponentially
next year, with no end in sight, and I still have to pay the utilities. We rely
on your timely payment of tuition to keep our programs running up to our high
standards. Look folks, this is no easy task for me to ask that you pay your
tuition on time. If you do, and have been, thanks for your commitment to the
school. If you are struggling, and yet still manage to pay our tuition, I’m
doubly grateful. But remember, because we collect our tuition through Smart
Tuition company, and you’re late, late fees are assessed and I have no control
over that – and I can’t write them off; it’s not my fee. So please don’t make us
last. Education, Catholic Education, is a gift of a lifetime; it will just keep
on giving. Remember our Catholic Schools Week slogan? Dividends For Life! Your
gift to your child today, will reap many benefits for years to come. Thanks.
The entire object of
true education is to make people not merely to do the right things, but to enjoy
them; not merely industrious, but to love industry; not merely learned, but to
love knowledge; not merely pure, but to love purity; not merely just, but to
hunger and thirst after justice.
John Ruskin
Your questions and comments are always welcome. Feel free to stop by my office anytime. Or you can also email me at t.dooher@stfinnbarr.org or call 333-1800.
Updated 05/20/10 fl
