“I get to learn more about Jesus.
June 2018
Dear St. Rose-McCarthy Supporter,
I don’t know about you, but that quotation above warms my heart. It comes from one of our dear students who was able to enroll at St. Rose-McCarthy Catholic School because of the generosity of a donor.
It was just one year ago that I wrote to you requesting a donation of full or partial tuition for a child — who otherwise might not be able — to attend our school.
Honestly, when I sent that letter I didn’t know what to expect.
I was happy when two scholarships came in within days of sending the letter. Even better, they were new donors, folks who had never given to the school before. When we hit the $12,000 mark, I was elated! I actually thought that was it and I was satisfied.
But then another scholarship came in and then another. At the three-week mark, we were at $34,000. But the summer wasn’t over. By the time we began the school year, over $50,000 was donated — 90% from new donors!
Those funds helped 14 families with a combination of partial and full scholarships.
I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt to offer scholarships to these special families!
Throughout this past school year, these parents continually thanked me for the assistance they received ...
“Having received this incredible gift is a Godsend and so much appreciated! Without the help, we would not have been able to have our children get the best Catholic education possible. We will be forever grateful to our sponsor.” —Appreciative Parents
And here are two notes addressed to sponsors …
“Thank you for helping us keep my son at St. Rose-McCarthy this year. We have been struggling financially to keep him in school and you made it possible. I am forever grateful and thankful that you choose to give in this way. He has grown deeper in his faith and has made tremendous academic growth.” —Thankful Parents
“My husband and I are dedicated to providing an excellent academic experience for our children in a faith-based environment. Your generous sponsorship to St. Rose-McCarthy Catholic School is such a blessing in our being able to ensure our children’s growth, not only academically, but in our Catholic faith as well.” —Grateful Mother
Donors also expressed how they are blessed …
“Sponsoring a student at St. Rose-McCarthy School has given us so much pleasure. Our children were not able to attend Catholic school and we are blessed to be able to provide a child with a Catholic education at this point in our lives. We enjoy seeing our ‘adopted’ student learn and grow deeper in her faith and we are committed to continue our sponsorship next year.” —Blessed Sponsor
“We love our communications with our sponsored student. Seeing her learn and grow is such a blessing. This is one of the best investments we are making for our school, our church, and our community. We look forward to continuing to be a part of her family’s lives for years to come.” Happy Sponsor
And here is an especially sweet note to a sponsor from the student we heard from earlier ...
“My parents just told me you are sponsoring me again next year! I’m so happy and relieved to know that I get to remain at SRM with my teachers and friends. You have no idea what this means for my family. I get to learn more about Jesus and grow in my faith every day. Please let me know if I can ever do anything to help you.” — SRM Crusader
I can’t tell you the joy that we all experience from this sponsorship program. Parents, students, sponsors, teachers, and support staff are all inspired by both the generosity of the donors and the dedication of the families.
Before I make an appeal for this year’s sponsorships, let me bring you up to date on what this past school year was like. 2017–2018 was full of fun and educational activities like …
- Watching the solar eclipse with NATO Eclipse Glasses
- Field trips — Monterey Bay Aquarium, Chaffee Zoo, Discovery Center, Burris Park Outdoor Education Camp, National Weather Service Forecast Office Hanford, Farm Day at the Ag Center, Art Center, Dairy and other Ag Venues, Police Station, Fire Station, etc.
- Christmas Program
- Walk for Life and Advent Baby Bottle Drive for Crossroads Pregnancy Center
- Jump-a-Thon and Lenten Food Drive for St. Vincent de Paul
- Grades 5–6 — Camp El Chorro, a science-nature camp
- Peach Blossom Festival — performing literary pieces at Fresno State
- Kids Day Newspaper for Valley Children’s Hospital
- Grade 8 — Train to Sacramento to tour California State Capitol
- Grades 5–8 — Team Sports: soccer, basketball, track, softball. All students get to play.
- Lenten soup meal with children leading Stations of the Cross at church
- Catholic Schools Week — Grandparents Day and talent show
- Science Day with National Park Rangers
- Kings County Spelling Bee
- Math Olympics
- Community Service Activities — to fulfill our motto Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve
- Vocal Choirs for school and Sunday Masses — including singing in parts
- Handbell Choir — school functions, rest homes, and other events
- Spring Fling — Around the World Theme
- Morning Prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a patriotic song. Our students know by heart: The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, This Land is Your Land, America, You’re a Grand Old Flag, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and God Bless America. How cool is that?
Academically, we have some exciting news to share about the upcoming 2018–2019 school year.
- We are raising the bar to increase academic rigor.
- All grades will use a new Religion curriculum from Sophia Institute Press, “Spirit of Truth.”
- Transitional Kindergarten is now using the Big Day curriculum.
- K–2 has a new and improved Superkids Reading Program with a stronger writing component.
- K–5 will continue to implement a stronger math program using Saxon Math.
- Grades 1–5 have weekly Social Studies on current events carefully curated for grade appropriateness and to include a Catholic perspective.
- For students experiencing reading difficulties, three teachers are being trained in two proven literacy methodologies: Orton-Gillingham and Evidence-Based Literacy.
We are most excited that next year all grades will be learning Spanish using the Rosetta Stone program. Teachers and parents will be able to learn along with their children. Students can log in online at school or at home. They will learn at their own pace. If the student already knows Spanish, he or she is free to learn another language using the platform.
Besides making academic improvements, we continue to spruce up the campus and keep up with maintenance.
Finally, I am happy to report that our enrollment continues to increase and our enrollment for the next school year is higher than last year at this time.
Over the years, your faithful assistance and support has helped us to maintain our school and keep our tuition and fees lower than the average private school.
Yet, even our low tuition is out of reach for many parents who dearly want a Catholic education for their children.
Just think, a future parish priest or sister could be inspired by a Catholic education at St. Rose-McCarthy … if he or she had a chance to attend our school.
Together, let’s make that happen!
David and I have recommitted to sponsor a child for the 2018–2019 school year. Won’t you join us?
If you are able to make a full scholarship commitment, we would like to thank you by giving you …
- Two tickets to the annual DeCampos Dinner — Friday, September 21, 2018
- Two tickets to Fish and Gaming Night — Friday, May 3, 2019
- Two tickets to Pancake Breakfast — Sunday, November 4, 2018
- Interactions with student (if both parties desire): Three letters a year and pictures
- Invitations to school programs — Christmas Program, Catholic Schools Week, Spring Fling, child’s First Holy Communion, Graduation, etc.
- Morning prayer for benefactors
If you are able to make a half-scholarship commitment to match with parent contribution, we would like to thank you by giving you …
- Two tickets to Fish and Gaming Night — Friday, May 3, 2019
- Two tickets to Pancake Breakfast — Sunday, November 4, 2018
- Interactions with student (if both parties desire): Three letters a year and pictures
- Invitations to school programs — Christmas Program, Catholic Schools Week, Spring Fling, child’s First Holy Communion, Graduation, etc.
- Morning prayer for benefactors
If you are not able to provide a full or half scholarship, we still welcome any size donation. For your donation, you will receive …
- Invitations to school programs — Christmas Program, Catholic Schools Week, Spring Fling, First Holy Communion, Graduation, etc.
- Morning prayer for benefactors
Of course the best thanks you’ll receive is the knowledge that you are helping a child to both receive a great education and to be well-formed in Catholic principles.
The new school year starts August 15. I know it’s just the beginning of summer, but, really, the first day of school is right around the corner.
We need your response by Wednesday, August 1st, in order to plan our programs and let parents know.
Remember, a family, earnestly desiring to enroll a son or daughter, is praying for you to say, “Yes!”
Please fill out the enclosed Reply Form right now.
Many of you who donated last year have already pledged to continue on with your student for the next school year. I thank you, again, for making that early pledge; it helps so much in our planning.
As always, we cherish your prayers for our students, families, and staff. We’re praying for you!
Yours in Christ,
Jamie M. Perkins, Principal
St. Rose-McCarthy School
P.S. It’s impossible to measure the almost imperceptible value of a child being exposed daily to the idea of God and what He tells us. If the child is willing, what he or she takes in will help throughout the child’s life, no matter the difficulties.
P.P.S. If you reply right now, a family won’t have to spend the summer worrying whether or not their child can experience a Catholic education.