We are in the process of implementing the nineteen recommendations that came out of the self-study
conducted by the Principal, teachers and President. Additionally, twenty-eight recommendations were voiced at the
meetings we had with parents, of which many were duplicates of the self-study.
As of this writing, the following
are now in place: We have solidified the Science delivery program by identifying personnel who will effect
the innovations, and we will order textbooks soon ; we have completed the selection of Math textbooks and materials
and will order them within the next week or so; we will begin teaching conversational Spanish in grades K-4 after Easter
break[upper-grade instruction will start next year]; we have seated a committee on dress code consisting of the Principal,
two parents, a teacher and one or two students, and they will meet next week to finalize their recommendations; the Student
Council format is now in place and election of officers and inclusion of lower grades will take place within a few days; the
hot lunch program is in progress with three entities preparing proposals for us; the security system is installed, thanks
to the PTU and Principal for having initiated this weeks ago; the latch-key program is waiting for parents to respond so we
can start; the website has been upgraded with the President adding his weekly contribution and nearly every teacher updating
hers; and the strategies to increase enrollment began last week with an ad in the Trading Post that will run for
three more weeks, thanks to the generosity of some parish organizations.
With respect to increasing enrollment,
we are also going to write letters to families in parishes that do not have schools to invite them to enroll their children
in our school; I have placed myself of a speaker's bureau list of area organizations to promote the school; we are preparing
to contact students who left SSPP School to see if they might be interested in returning.
BUT, the most effective strategy
is to have all the present families make contacts with friends and relatives and share the innovations we are implementing
or will implement soon. With the renewed enthusiasm that is building daily, the new instructional delivery system, the
advanced curricular materials and presentations, the new programs designed to uplift the spirit of the students, the work
of the tireless volunteers whose dedication is unparallelled, and with God's help, we will move forward with a stride
that will give all of us cause for hope this school community justly deserves.
Until next week, God's peace.
