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
Catholic schools showing rapid response to flu outbreaks
I was pleased to see in the news today that some US Catholic Schools were the first to carefully monitor and protect against the recent swine flu epidemic.
Duke TIP – 7th grade SAT
I noticed in the St. Theresa school newsletter that 7 of the school’s current 7th graders will be recognized at the State level (at Texas A&M next month) for their high scores on the SAT while only in 7th grade. This is great news, and combined with the outstanding performance at the distict PSIA competition last month, it shows that our Catholic Schools here are doing a great job. I hope that some of these students will continue to grow and be challenged as they go through Catholic High School, and that SDS HS can help them be the best servant leaders that they can be.
Summer courses announced
Summer courses have been announced:
http://www.saviochs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/summer-school-registration-form.pdf
and
http://www.saviochs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/algebra-i-registration-form1.pdf
Interestingly my 7th grader has expressed interest (strongly) in taking the summer algebra course … I wonder if it would be open to prospective students?
This is very exciting – students will be able to get some of their requirements out of the way, leaving more time for harder courses during the year.
High School newsletter for the month published
The Dominic Savio administration is doing a good job of keeping us up to date on the progress on the new High School by posting a monthly newsletter.
The newsletter for April has just been released: http://www.saviochs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/newsletter.pdf
Previous newsletters include biographies of some of the impressive staff that have been hired, and profiles of some of the students:
For March: http://www.saviochs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/march-newsletter3.pdf
February: http://www.saviochs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/february-newsletter.pdf
January: http://www.saviochs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/january-newsletter.pdf
Upcoming informational meetings
Last week we had a chance to hear some of the exciting progress on the school. Bulldozers should arrive on the site within a few weeks. A sign for the High School is now up. The principal has moved into the temporary portable building just beyond the Holy Family parking lot, adjacent to the High School site. Fund raising continues and is doing fine. Work on curriculum already has included discussions with retired university professors and experts in the various areas. I was pleased to see that the sense of community among the prospective parents is already visible and is growing, despite the differences in elementary schools and parishes.
Based on feedback from meetings with prospective students, interest has been even stronger than expected. A list of the next few informational meetings follows. The most current schedule can be found on the High School’s web site:
| Mr. Calkins will visit with 8th graders at St. Theresa on October 9 |
| Mr. Calkins will visit St. Louis Catholic Church on October 11, 12 |
| Mr. Calkins will visit with 8th graders at St. Ignatius on October 7th |
| Open House |
| October 22, 2008 from 6:30-8:30pm at Holy Family Catholic School, Gymnasium |
Dominic Savio Web Site on-line!
The principal has started and we are seeing a lot of progress.
The school now has a website (distinct from the Diocesan Campaign Site) – see http://www.saviochs.org
Phase Transition …
Phase transitions don’t just happen in chemistry. As we wait for the principal to start in the next few months, we are now in a quieter phase in which fewer new details at the various meetings about the High School are released (allowing him time to settle in and review the plans first). Debbie Ortiz and Scott would still love to hear from people interested in helping though, especially those who have not had a chance to meet them at the informational meetings and/or dinners. Contact debbie-ortiz@austindiocese.org for more information.
One detail that was mentioned was the possible addition of an entering 10th grade class (current 8th graders) along with the entering 9th grade class (current 7th graders) in Fall of 2009. After getting feedback from parents of current eighth graders at informational meetings, they are awaiting survey results (from current eighth graders) to see whether there would be enough interest to support this in the first year of the High School. The larger initial enrollment could be helpful in making more sports options practical, and in making more efficient utilization of the buildings in the first year or two.
More news coverage of SDSHS
Recent Round Rock Leader story covering the new High School:
http://www.rrleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=18611
News coverage of groundbreaking
Groundbreaking covered by News 8 Austin:
http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=206332
and others:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24232239/
I also now see that the official web site for the high school is now online:
http://www.austindiocese.org/StDominicSavioHighSchool.php
and has some pictures of the groundbreaking ceremony:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diocese_of_austin/sets/72157604676909986/
