After almost a year – my impression of St. Dominic Savio is still very good. I am very pleased, fewer hiccups than expected (ie for new school) and great sense of community, and better academics, athletics, activities than expected.
News coverage of Sister Mary Cecilia and the other nuns as they arrive in Austin
The new science teacher and others in her community arrive in Austin: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/09/08/0908nuns.html
Goal statement for the HS
The goals for the 1st year of the HS have been posted. See http://www.saviochs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/savios-goals.pdf
I admire the transparency and also the accountability that this implies. A few of the goals seemed aggressive to me at first but it shows the administration has great confidence in the coming year.
School spirit shown in first football game
The Eagles had a remarkable first football game. Not the score (a not surprising 48-0 loss given the small school population to draw from) but the school spirit. During and after the game, the support of the school for their new team was overwhelming and LOUD. The excitement was palpable, and promises a great future for the school.
Band concert
School events kicked off more than a week before the first day of classes (August 31st) with a band concert. They performed pieces they had worked on in their summer camp, and played for about 30 minutes a mix of choir and band pieces. The concert began with a solo electric guitar piece. They did well.
Volleyball Team off to strong start
The volleyball team is off to a strong start, winning their games and playing well.
HS off to very promising start with great Algebra Boot Camp
Overheard: “3 hours in class felt like 15 minutes” and “the class was great” and “she made things so easy to understand”
With feedback like that from students who attended the two week long “Algebra Boot Camp” (Algebra I review) earlier in the month, it sounds like the Math program at SDSHS will be fantastic!
Even in down economy the highest paying jobs require strong Math skills
The 15 highest paying jobs out of college in the most recent NACE survey once again show the need for strong Mathematics preparation.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/highest_starting_salaries/index.htm?postversion=2009072404
Engineering jobs dominated the “most lucrative degrees” list for new college graduates once again, even in this down economy. It is very timely that Dominic Savio will become the first STEM High School in the area, as it will be able to prepare students for the jobs of the future.
Another product of Catholic schools on the Supreme Court?
In an ironic twist, Catholics, who for most of our country’s history had been kept from positions of power, may add to their recent majority on the Supreme Court. In what seems to be a testament to the ability of Catholic Schools to teach well, especially to the disadvantaged, we see a Cardinal Spellman High School graduate nominated to the Supreme Court today (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Sotomayor). When I was in grade school 8 out of 9 on the court were Protestant. Quite a difference now … Catholic schools seem to win hands down in creating lawyers.
http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/the-catholic-court/
WSJ – “High-School Senior: I Took the SAT Again After 41 Years”
Fascinating article describing a Wall Street Journal writer (and mother) who retook the SAT on a dare from her high school age son.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124337711110856009.html#articleTabs%3Darticle
I too took the SAT practice exams, and found the Math section easier than I expected, but like the WSJ writer, was worried what the Writing test score would show 
I also found the new SAT (at least the practice tests) surprisingly appropriate – testing skills that seem very well matched to what colleges would expect.
