ST. LUKE SCHOOL 2012 ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 ST. LUKE SCHOOL 2012 ANNUAL REPORT

2 LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL LETTER FROM THE PASTOR Dear Friends of St. Luke School, As the educational leader of this distinguished school, I welcome you to take a closer look at our story. For over 65 years, St. Luke School has presented wonderful opportunities for children in a faith-filled community. With a focus on Faith, Family, and Future, we are proud of the educational, spiritual, and extra-curricular programs which help form students into the leaders of tomorrow. St. Luke School boasts a highly qualified and experienced faculty who are dedicated to faith, excellence, and stewardship. With a student/teacher ratio of 15:1 our teachers successfully apply a variety of teaching methodologies and are current in educational practices. Technology is integrated into various subjects on a daily basis and different learning modalities are addressed in every lesson. We are extremely proud of our St. Luke students who are trained to think critically and solve problems. In the past three years, 100% of our graduates have been accepted to the private or parochial high schools of their choice. On average, 97% of our graduates attend private or parochial high schools. Our alumni successfully integrate the educational and moral values that have been instilled in them at St. Luke School to high school, college, and beyond. Our strong curricular program not only focuses on the foundational skills taught in core subject areas as we take pride in educating the whole child both in and out of the classroom. St. Luke students are exposed to the arts through our music and Meet the Masters programs. They strive for physical well-being through our comprehensive physical education program and the CYO sports program. Spanish class is incorporated into our K-8 curriculum. Leadership opportunities offered at our school include Student Council and Liturgy Committee. We have an award winning Robotics Team who placed second at the 2009 Vex World Competition. Our Academic Decathlon Team earned 10th place in the Super Quiz in both 2008 and Most recently, our Speech and Debate Team has won several awards at league competitions. Our Catholic identity is evident in everything we do. From daily prayer to weekly Mass to community-wide service projects, our students are given opportunities and tools to grow in their faith. Our goal is to teach young people to integrate Christian values into all aspects of life. We provide students with educational and social skills needed to be active, productive members of the church and community. St. Luke students are very happy and well adjusted. Dear Friends of Saint Luke School, I am privileged and blessed to be part of this wonderful educational community that remains vital to the mission and ministry of St. Luke the Evangelist parish family. Since 1947, St. Luke School has provided strong leadership in the ministry of education and formation of the youth of our area strengthening the bonds of understanding in Faith, Family & Future. Our goal is to build young people who understand well the academic disciplines taught and to prepare them for their years of study in high school and university. We desire to build honest and virtuous men and women of the future strong in character and living life with integrity. Our mission is clear: to form those entrusted to us through study of academics, practical faith, sportsman-like athletics and co-curricular activities. I believe that the administration, faculty & staff continue to be models of excellence for our students and families and inspire the best in learning in those entrusted to their care. I encourage your continued support of our wonderful success story at St. Luke School and to help us bring our mission to fruition through your volunteering, financial support and presence. Our mission is not complete without you helping us to create the leaders of tomorrow. May the good Lord bless our every effort and guide us into a bright future in the years ahead. Reverend Mark A. Strader Faith. Family. Future. St. Luke School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and certified by the Western Catholic Education Association. We operate on an extended year calendar from mid-august to the end of June with traditional breaks throughout the year. Thank you for your interest in our story and as we look to the future, I encourage your support in forming the leaders of tomorrow. Sincerely in Christ, Erin C. O. Barisano Principal

3 MISSION AND VISION St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School is a family community that provides a strong spiritual and academic foundation. We strive to educate the whole child. In partnership with parents, our goal is to graduate our young adults as effective witnesses of Christ in the world. We, the community of St. Luke School, embrace our mission of helping our students to learn the message of Jesus Christ through the experiences of worship, community, and service. We strive to build a Catholic Christian foundation that will ground them in Christ throughout their lives, thus enabling them to spread the Good News. We endeavor to lead them to an ever deeper perception of the precious gift of faith through active participation in the sacramental and spiritual life of the Church. We help students to recognize the many talents God has given them. We challenge students to a life of Christian service, as well as to an acceptance of their Christ-mandated role as justice-seekers and peacemakers in our multicultural society. We are aware that our ever-changing society often promotes values incompatible with Catholic Christian beliefs. We very consciously work at creating in our school a community built on principles of responsibility, love, respect, and forgiveness. We strive to enable each child to realize his or her own self-worth and to develop a healthy sense of self-esteem. We seek to promote the holistic growth of each child. While always striving for academic excellence, we recognize that each child is a unique individual. We provide varied learning experiences in order to encompass the diverse learning styles, creativity, and physical development of our students. We recognize that parents are the primary educators of their children. We join together with them to foster the academic and spiritual education of our students. This enables faculty, parents, and students to work together as one to create a harmonious learning experience in our St. Luke Community. WHO WE ARE Situated on a beautiful campus in a quiet Temple City neighborhood, St. Luke School is a Catholic Parish School offering kindergarten to eighth-grade classes. We seek to educate the whole child, providing a community where children thrive physically, intellectually, and spiritually. And we offer something for everyone when it comes to extra-curricular activities and school programs. From the debate team to athletics, our students participate in programs that enrich their lives and make them well-rounded individuals, both during and after school hours. WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT? Sometimes described as a small town within a small town, St. Luke School is a family that welcomes students of all faiths. The values we teach help to develop a strong moral character, no matter what spiritual background a child may come from. In an environment that emphasizes strong values, academics, and leadership, our student first mentality produces young men and women that exceed academic standards and go on to attend top high schools and universities. In fact, on average, 97% of our graduates attend Catholic or private high schools. Continued investment in professional development for our teachers ensures that students receive the best possible education. Our students experience a welcoming, friendly atmosphere at St. Luke School, where they forge relationships that often last a lifetime. We embrace differences and encourage our students to develop as individuals. Children learn values and how to put them into practice in their daily lives. This community, built on faith, family, and future, is what sets St. Luke School apart.

4 1946 St. Luke the Evangelist Parish established ST. LUKE HISTORY 1956 A new wing of the school was completed; over 800 children were enrolled 1989 Computer Lab installed Accelerated Reader Program started New parish hall built New playground equipment was installed 2007 Security gates installed to enclose campus 2009 April 30 VEX Robotics World Championship Tournament Dallas, Texas 2nd Place World Championships Robotics Team re-named to St. Luke ElectroLions 2011 April VEX Robotics World Championship Tournament Orlando, Florida Design Award Hard wired network installed in upper building K-3 classrooms equipped with ELMO interactive equipment Gr. 5-8 equipped with projectors California Streaming used in all classes St. Luke School begins 200 day school year Spanish class incorporated into K-8 curriculum St. Luke School founded Before and after school daycare program established The school was renovated (added air conditioning, Science Lab, Art Room, and Library) Kindergarten class started Full hot lunch program established Wireless internet was installed throughout school Speech and Debate Team established St. Luke School Kamikaze Robotics Team established March VEX Robotics Championship of the Americas Omaha, Nebraska Tournament Champions, Excellence Award, Create Award, Engineers Award St. Luke Children s Choir sang at Holy Childhood Association Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral St. Luke School hosts Deanery 10 Science Fair March VEX Robotics U.S. National Championship Omaha, Nebraska Educate Award, Engineer Award Summer Hard wired network installed in lower building September Transitional Kindergarten class begins

5 STUDENT COUNCIL Comprised of a body of nine elected student representatives from grades seven and eight, the Student Council serves as a liaison between the student body and the school. They foster school spirit by hosting community events and seek to promote the Catholic identity of St. Luke School. Members develop civic and leadership skills and learn what it means to be a responsible citizen in our world. The St. Luke Student Council proudly attends an invitation-only leadership camp each year. Student Council members continue to serve as leaders in various clubs and organizations during their high school years. SPEECH AND DEBATE The Speech and Debate Team competes in tournaments held by the Catholic Speech and Debate Middle School League. We compete in three tournaments per year in debate and interpretive events. We average 25 students on the team in grades six through eight. The purpose of the Speech and Debate Team is to improve students public speaking skills and to coach them to be competitive in the tournament world. Students gain the following benefits from their participation: Develop confidence Acquire skills in vocal and bodily expression Understand the basics of vocal productions Learn to read orally in an effective manner Experience an outlet for creativity Appreciate speech as a performing art Apply research skills in debate Organize and support facts Think critically in debate Learn the art of debating politely in the tournament world Since beginning the Speech and Debate Team four years ago, our students placed in the top three positions in each tournament. We won numerous debate awards, including first place. In addition, our Interpretive Event students placed in the top positions, including first place, in the various categories in this field. Participants often express an interest in pursuing debate, mock trial, and drama in high school. Some students even develop an interest in a career in law or dramatic arts. Alumni often return to judge in speech and debate tournaments.

6 ACADEMIC DECATHLON St. Luke Junior High students participate in the annual Archdiocese of Los Angeles Academic Decathlon. Up to 100 schools send a team of ten students to compete in Logic and Super Quiz team competitions and in individual subject areas. Student who have an 85% in all subject areas and a B in conduct qualify to join the St. Luke team. If more than ten students sign up, a support team is formed to replace team members when necessary and to serve as study partners. Parents and teachers volunteer to coach the students, preparing them for the day of the competition. All study topics and materials are posted on an Archdiocese website in the fall. The competition is held in the spring, usually the first Saturday of March. This program provides an opportunity for advanced students to demonstrate their gifts and talents in various academic areas. This competition also teaches students to work as a team and collaborate to achieve a specific goal. St. Luke takes pride in its students, who receive awards whenever they attend the Decathlon. Twice they placed in the Logic Team event and twice placed in the Super Quiz. Students also placed in single subject area tests. St. Luke students received from 10th to 2nd place medals when competing against 100 schools in different subject areas. In over 13 years of participation in the Decathlon, teams of eight students competed in eight individual subject areas and earned at least two medals in the event, and many times, even more. ELECTROLION ROBOTICS TEAM The St. Luke ElectroLions Robotics Team competes in VEX Robotics local, national, and international competitions. These competitions expose an average of 12% of students in grades five through eight to the design, build, and programming process of three competition level robots. Over the past four years, the team has earned second place in the world championship event, two national championships, seven local tournament championships, four excellence awards, and 15 special recognition awards three of which were awarded to the fifth-grade junior team. Team participation cultivates collaboration skills, and students in the captain and co-captain positions refine their leadership skills. ElectroLion alumni continue to support the robotics program at St. Luke School, as well as contributing to their high schools existing competitive and championship level teams at La Salle High School, St. Francis High School, Bishop Amat High School, and the California Academy of Mathematics and Science.

7 GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM Established in 2006, the St. Luke Graphic Design Team is open to St. Luke School s seventh and eighth-grade students. Tryouts take place in the fall, and the team is made up of ten members chosen by a panel of judges who assess a trial project. Using yearbook software and Adobe Photoshop, students learn key techniques for capturing amazing photographs, photo editing, and creating page layouts and designs. Students work collaboratively to create a lasting and memorable school yearbook. The third edition of the digitallyproduced yearbook became available in June The Graphic Design Team meets from 3:00 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in the school s computer lab. Team members participate in an annual digital photography contest offered by the California County Educational Technology Consortium. St. Luke students in grades K-8 and the school s faculty may participate. Over the past three years, the Graphic Design Team received recognition through participation in several contests. They placed first in 2011 with a winning photograph and received 8 honorable mentions in the California Streaming Digital Photography Contest. In addition, they received a participation award in the Art for Peace Festival. The team also participated in the Bishop Amat High School Graphic Design Contest, where they won second and third place, as well as one honorable mention. LITURGY COMMITTEE The Liturgy Committee consists of eight to nine members. They represent the school as student leaders and consistently model positive Christian behavior in their interactions with others. They are responsible for attending weekly meetings, leading weekly masses, assisting with planning special religious events and school-wide service projects. The committee introduces a monthly character value at the school assembly and encourages the entire student body to practice that value throughout the month. They also participate in Parish functions, such as youth rally and youth ministry. ATHLETIC PROGRAM The St. Luke Athletic Program offers interscholastic opportunities to students in grades three through eight. Working within the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) framework, our students participate in Cross Country, Flag Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Golf, and Track & Field teams. In conjunction with the Physical Education program, St. Luke seeks to develop respect, knowledge, and athletic skills with the same enthusiasm that we cultivate the mind and the spirit of every student. Our alumni have gone on to play or coach at the high school, college, and professional levels.

8 THE FUTURE Preparing our students for the future means that we establish and achieve goals that continue to advance the school. We strive to provide the best possible environment for students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in an increasingly competitive world. Continued improvements to facilities, implementation of new technologies, development of new programs, and maintaining strong academics all contribute to this objective. Our current goals consist of the following: 1 Expand technology throughout all classrooms, including the addition of interactive white boards and one-to-one mobile devices for students and teachers. 2 Intensify our focus on integrating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) throughout the curriculum. 3 Increase our focus on foundational early childhood education through our transitional kindergarten program. 4 Our facilities, though beautiful, are over 60 years old. Maintenance plans include new bathrooms, new energy efficient windows, updated electrical and plumbing. We rely on the generosity of our community to help us achieve our goals and continue our mission. Your generous donations also help us to purchase the items on our wish list that are needed to help us meet our current goals. For more information, please refer to the Ways to Give section below. Wish List 1 Energy efficient windows for upper building 2 New bathrooms for upper and lower buildings 3 Updated electrical and plumbing in upper and lower buildings 4 Shade canopy for playground 5 New sports equipment (footballs, volleyballs, basketballs) 6 Mobile bleachers for after school games 7 New uniforms for sports teams 8 ipad for each student and teacher 9 Sponsorship for overnight science camp for junior high students

9 FINANCIALS 2012 Revenue and Public Support 2012 Expenses CONNIE LESPRON Connie Lespron joined the St. Luke family in 1977 to teach fifth-grade. After three years she started teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students and remained with St. Luke School for another 27 years. A native of Southern California, Connie s passion for teaching stems from a deep love for her students. Teaching is very rewarding, she states. She gleaned satisfaction from the sparkle in a child s eyes when they finally got it after working on a difficult problem. You have to teach from the heart, she says. Connie built strong bonds with her students and maintains contact with many of them. Success seems to follow Connie s students. A few of them earned Ph.D. degrees, and are now teaching at the university level. Another student now pursues a master s degree in fine art. Others became doctors, attorneys, and teachers. Now a famed artist, one young child s drawings caught Connie s eye and she advised his mother to encourage his fledgling talent. His work is now collected by celebrities and other prominent figures. When asked about St. Luke School s role in the community, Connie replies, There s something there we give them that they re not getting elsewhere. We re teaching values. She frequently taught children of former students who wanted to give their children the same experience they enjoyed at St. Luke School. Connie earned a bachelor s degree from California State University, Los Angeles while raising her four children. An avid reader who recently celebrated her 57th wedding anniversary, she collects hardbound books. She enjoys drawing and painting with oils and watercolors. Looking back on a fulfilling career, Connie retired in An invaluable part of the St. Luke School family, she continues to work with us as a substitute teacher when needed. Tuition & Fees Contributions Auxiliary 2 Scrip STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES 1 For the year ended June 30, 2012 with comparative totals year end June 30, 2011 Salaries and Benefits Operatons Education Capital Auxiliary Temporarily REVENUE AND PUBLIC SUPPORT Unrestricted Restricted Tuition & Fees $932,620 - $932, $896,546 Contributions 95,134 13, , ,306 Auxiliary 2 32,276 7,150 39,425 43,004 Scrip 18,566-18,566 12,961 TOTAL REVENUE AND SUPPORT $1,078,595 $20,841 $1,099,436 $1,064,816 EXPENSES Salaries and Benefits $955,686 - $955, $885, Operations 95,627-95,627 75,889 Education 79,342-79,342 51,527 Capital 4,623-4, Auxiliary 6,648-6, TOTAL EXPENSES $1,141, $0 $1,141,926 $1,013,409 CHANGE IN NET ASSETS -$63, $20, $42, $51, Notes: 1. The Statement of Activities was prepared using the cash basis of financial accounting. Accordingly, all receipts and disbursements are recorded at the time they occur. The information contained in this report was prepared by Taproot Foundation and reviewed by St. Luke School. It was neither audited nor reviewed by an independent third party accountant. 2. Includes primarily income from facilities rental and endowments/savings, Our investments and other factors led to a deficit for FY While costly, continued investment is critical for maintaining the high standards of St. Luke School. Specifically, the deficit we experienced occurred for the following reasons: Increase in un-funded student scholarships ($50,000) Investment in new programs and materials: Spanish for grades K 8, Math for grades K 3 Investment in technology: Mathletics online program, Elmo systems for grades K 3, projectors for grades 4 8, installation of hard-wired network in upper & lower building, and Gradelink online grading system Increase in professional development and a decrease in Title II federal funds

10 FAITH. FAMILY. FUTURE. At St. Luke School, we educate the whole child. Our strong academics and programs prepare your child for attendance at top high schools and universities, giving them the foundation necessary for the best possible future. We welcome students from all faiths, seeking to instill in them the faith-based values that will shape their character for life. If you re already a supporter or parent of a student, we thank you. If not, we would love to get to know you, and we invite you to become a member of the St. Luke family. Contact us today! St. Luke School principal@stluketemplecity.org WAYS TO GIVE Please consider giving a gift in any amount to support our mission. Your tax-deductible donation ensures that, together, we continue to make a positive impact on the lives of children and on our community. If your life or your child s life has been enriched by St. Luke School, making a charitable gift is the best way to give back to our community. There are several ways to support our mission: 1 Make a gift on our website at or through the parish website at 2 Sponsor a Lion Scholarship to ensure a Lion s future at St. Luke School Tuition Full Tuition = $ 4610 Semester Tuition = $ 2305 Month s Tuition = $ 461 Make checks payable to St. Luke School. 3 Other ways the school can benefit from giving: Donate a car Benefits of Estate Planning Stocks Please contact the school office for additional information. St. Luke School principal@stluketemplecity.org

11 DEVELOPED THROUGH A SERVICE GRANT FROM THE TAPROOT FOUNDATION