The school
board is an advisory board. If you have any concerns or suggestions,
please feel free to contact them.
August 2009
Dear Parents of St. Thomas Aquinas Grade School:
It is with great pleasure that the School Board of STAGS welcomes you and your family to a new and exciting school year. Whether you are new to our community or returning to the school, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to serve this school community. We know there are many new experiences ahead for all of us as we embark on another school year. Dr. McDermott has guided our teaching staff to work closely together to provide our students with the best education possible. We welcome our new staff members Mrs. MacCleary (4th grade) and Ms. Huschke (5th grade) and are grateful for our returning staff. The Board also welcomes several new board members Mrs. Kim Bacic and Mrs. Lorraine Hernandez-Dunn. We know they will bring new insight to the Board.
As we commence this school year, we want you to understand our role as a school board. We are an “Advisory” board that advises both Fr. Kieran and Dr. McDermott. We promote the spiritual, intellectual, cultural, social and physical progress of all our students. We encourage you to be involved with our Board and understand our mission. Some of the Board’s responsibilities are to ensure Catholic identity in our school, create/implement our Strategic Plan and review STAGS Bylaws and Policies yearly. We do not advise on any issues in regards to staff, discipline of students, curriculum selection or daily school operations.
Our minutes from monthly meetings are posted on the website. We want you to be informed so you will help us make STAGS a strong, faith-filled community. We invite you to attend any of the school board meetings. They are listed on the back of this letter. Also note our Strategic Plan which is review monthly.
We ask that you continue to keep all the families of STAGS in your prayers this year. The Board will be working diligently to ensure our mission is achieved.
God Bless,
Cynthia Scheller, President Kim Bacic
Mary Haluska, Vice President Rob Barker
Anne Myer, Secretary David McCarville
Brian Fitzmaurice Lorraine Hernandez-Dunn
Robert Bill
Note the following Advisory Board meetings for 2009-2010. Parents are welcome to observe and listen. If a parent has an agenda item, please contact the school office 5 business days prior to the meeting (see pg. 25-26 of handbook). Meetings are on Monday evenings at
6:30 pm and are in the conference room.
September 14, 2009 February 8, 2010
October 12, 2009 March 8, 2010
November 9, 2009 April 12, 2010
December 14, 2009 May 10, 2010
January 20, 2010 (Wednesday)
Goals for Strategic Plan
Goal #1: To promote Catholic Identity at Saint Thomas Aquinas School Community.
Objective 1: Establish and promote community service
Objective 2: Facilitate and increase spiritual growth in all STA Organizations.
Goal #2: To expand, foster and strengthen academic excellence at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Objective 1: Create a culture and expectation of high academic standards.
Goal #3: To develop and promote a marketing plan to share the good news about St. Thomas Aquinas through positive communication, feedback, advocacy and community outreach.
Objective 1: Conduct parent survey.
Objective 2: Encourage parent involvement.
Objective 3: Encourage all forms of effective communication.
Goal #4: To promote affordable Catholic education and support current and future financial needs.
Objective 1: Support CTO committee and other scholarship programs
Objective 2: Involve parents to get on Ron Johnson’s (Lobbyist for the Diocese)
E-mail list. AZCATHOLICCONFERENCE@DIOCESEPHOENIX.ORG
Objective 3: Promote prudent budgeting to balance our current and future needs.
Goal #5: To promote and foster staff training and development.
Objective 1: Encourage teacher workshops/National Catholic Conference
Objective 2: Provide materials/equipment needed for teachers to successfully achieve academic success with our students.
Objective 3: Continuing education in following areas:
-DWP
-Religious training
-Technology
