r e p o r t s c h o o l o f t h e s t a t e

STATEOF THESCHOOLREPORT

20

21

EDIT

ION

St. Thomas Aquinas SchoolInternational Falls, MN

Prepared by Jerry Hilfer, Principal

March 9

Mission Statement

We Believe

Anchored in the teachings of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Schoolprovides a clean, professional and encouraging environment to achieveunrivaled educational excellence through a supportive community.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School is committed to the development of eachsutdent. The educational process encompasses all phases of a child'sdevelopment. Working together - faculty, family and parish create the learningenvironment for the success of each child.

STATE OF THE SCHOOL REPORT /PAGE 2


Advisory CommitteeThe Advisory Committee meets the third Monday of each month to provide advice andcouncil to school leadership.

Our MembersAndrea Pastor – Chair Molly French – SecretaryJed BeckerAngela DavisSabrina EtienneMark GierszewskiFr. Ben Hadrich/Fr. Thomas GalarneaultBrad KrasawayBrittany Lemieux


School Enrollment

Presc

hool

Kinderga

rten

1st Grad

e

2nd Grad

e

3rd G

rade

4th Grad

e

5th Grad

e

6th Grad

e

20

15

10

5

0

Red: 2019-20Blue: 2020-21

2020-21 Total Enrollment: 42 Students2019-20 Enrollment: 56 Students (down 14 students)


Enrollment TrendsA summary of the school's enrollment since the2000-01 school year.

2000 (K-8)

2002 (K-8)

2004 (K-8)

2006 (K-8)

2008 (K-8)

2010 (K-6)

2012 (K-8)

2014 (Pre

K-4)

2016 (Pre

K-4)

2018 (Pre

K-5)

2020 (Pre

K-6)

125

100

75

50

25

0

Enrollment in August, 2020, was very volatile. Our enrollment numbers changed daily asparents decided how best to keep their children safe during the COVID Pandemic. 30% ofour students left St. Thomas School. Seven new families enrolled.


School ProfileA summary of the 2021 school year

Number of Families 32 1 child enrolled * 22

2 children enrolled 83 children enrolled 04 children enrolled 1

*6 families have preschoolers enrolled only

Number of Students 42 Preschool 9

K - 6th Grade 33Parishioners 23Non-Catholic 19

Grade Configuration and StaffingPreschool1 Full-time Teacher - Brittany Lemieux

Kindergarten1 Full-time Teacher - Marnie Kostiuk

Grades 1/21 Full-time Teacher - Jane Pierce

Grades 3/41 Full-time Teacher - Joan Ecklund

Grades 5/61 Full-time Teacher - Sydney Raboin

Music1 Part-time Teacher - Kathy Tompkins

Art1 Part-time Teacher - Mary Martha Watters

Phy ED1 Part-time Teacher - Shaila Spry

Teachers' Average Salary$25,435 Full Time$4,825 Part Time

Tuition Assistance12 Students Enrolled$20,895 Total in Assistance

2020-21 Tuition RatePreschool Program Fee: $200/yearTuition: 1st Child $2,870 2nd Child $2,500 3rd Child $2,200Technology Fee: $150 (included in thetuition rate)

Budget


A look at our school's budgetOur budget is met with four forms of income, including: Tuition, Parish andEndowment Subsidies, and Fundraising/Donations

Fundraising/Donationns35%

Tuition and Fees30%

Parish Subsidy18%

Endowment Subsidy17%


Budget BreakdownA summary of our school's budget

Income Budget Breakdown $349,958

General Fund Donations 15,000 4%Tuition Assistance 14,240 4%Smart Tuition Pledges 90,710 26%Parish Subsidy 62,808 18%Endowment Subsidy 54,800 16%Fund Raising/Annual Giving 106,000 30%Script 1,500 0.4%Activities/Programs/Milk/Lunch 9,000 2.5%Music Fund 200 0.06%

Expense Budget Breakdown $373,044

Salary and Benefits 248,233 67%Purchased Services/Janitorial/Advertising/Bank 21,745 6%Program Supplies/Materials/Music/Tech 50,959 14% Parish Programs/Professional Meetings/Fees/Travel 2,300 0.6%Misc/Tuition Assistance/Fund Raising 1,750 0.4%Admin/Legal/Accounting/LayPention 1,428 0.3%Fixed Charges/Insurance/Liability/Prop/WorkComp 9,844 3%Plant Operation/Utilities/Office Equipment 25,685 7%Plant Maint/Equipment/Repair/Parking Lot 11,100 3%

Major Income Sources:Tuition and Fees $105,790Parish Subsidy $62,808Fundraising/Donations $121,000Endowment Subsidy $56,500

AccreditationAccreditation byMinnesota NonpublicSchools AccreditingAssociation (MNSAA)

What is Accreditation?

All Catholic schools in the Diocese ofDuluth must be accredited by MNSAA,which has been sanctioned by theMinnesota Department of Education.

St. Thomas Aquinas School has been anaccredited school since 1989. Tomaintain our accreditation, every sevenyears our school is required to completean extensive self-evaluation ("SelfStudy") using MNSAA's structure andtemplates.

The results of this Self Study is used todevelop a seven year "School StrategicPlan" (SPP). Once to Self Study and SSPare completed, a team of qualified,impartial educators visit St. ThomasAquinas School to analyze compliancewith legal requirements and MNSAArequirements, to validate our Self Studyand SSP, and to provide objectivefeedback on our educational program.

The process is rigorous. Byparticipating, St. Thomas Aquinas Schoolcontinually seeks to provide the bestpossible educational progam for ourstudents.

Our last self-evaluation took place in the2016-2017 school year. We arecurrently in year 4 of the MNSSAAccreditation Cycle.


Seven Standardsof MNSAA

Accrediation

Mission and PhilosophyTeaching and LearningClimate and LearningCommunity RelationsLeadership and GovernanceSchool Strategic Plan

School newsletter, "The Saints Snapshot", has been developed and is in its third yearof publication.Marketing activities have been curtailed since March, 2020, because of COVID-19. Fundraising events continue, but with limited success.In August, 2020, many families, including our marketing director, decided to leaveSt. Thomas School because of COVID-19. In September, 2020, Fr. Ben suffered astroke and left STA Parish. These two people were the driving force of ourmarketing efforts. We have not identified people with their skills to replace them.With the departure of our marketing director, the building principal took over thepublishing duties of our school newsletter in September, 2020.Two teachers and 11 families have left STA School as a result of COVID-19 (17students)Seven families have enrolled at STA School as a result of COVID-19 (9 students)With the large turnover in school population, it appears we have a more cohesiveand committed school community. Our focus this year has been more on CatholicSchool Identity and less on marketing strategies.

Objective 1: St. Thomas School will communicate effectively withstakeholders to increase enrollment and retention of students in theschool.


Strategic PlanHere's the progress we've made during the 2020-21 school year.

Strategic Plan


August, 2020, Professional Development sessions via ZOOM with ISD #361 staff includedintroduction to distance learning platforms Zoom, Google Classroom, and See Saw

August, 2020, Math Expressions teacher training session with HMH Math specialists via ZOOM.

October, 2020, Google Classroom training with Gertie and Larry Refsland from Waking Girl andSee Saw training with Karli Boyle from ISD #361

January, 2020, 12 teacher training sessions via ZOOM sponsored by the Northwest ServiceCooperative in Thief River Falls. These sessions were developed specifically to meet the Stateof Minnesota Teacher Relicensure Requirements. The following topics were covered.

Identifying Students with Mental Health NeedsUnderstanding Foundations of PBISCultural CompetencyAccommodations, Modification, Adaptation of CurriculumSucide Prevention in SchoolsDeveloping a Continuum of Tiered Support SystemsFive Areas of Reading for All Grade LevelsTwo Tech Tools to Transform your Class (Elementary Math)Supporting ESL Needs of Students (COVID-19) (fufills Mental Illness Relicense Area)Behavior Management Strategies that Actually WorkBest Practice Strategies for Supporting English LearnersBringing Student Engagement to Your Math Class, It's Easier Than You Think

Because of COVID-19, Three Catechetical Formation Days sponsored by the Diocese of DuluthOffice of Education were not conducted this school year.

Principal participated in four Zoom Planning and Training Meetings with Catholic SchoolPrincipals from around the Diocese: Nov 13, Jan 12, Mar 5 and May 7.

Objective 2: St. Thomas School will meet the academic, physical, emotional,and spiritual needs of each student.

Staff Development Initiatives

Teacher annual self-evaluation and goal setting took place September - Novemberand were reviewed by the building principal in December.

Formal teacher/classroom observations by the building principal are scheduled forthe weeks of : Feb 8-12; Feb 22-26; Mar 8-12; Mar 22-26; Apr 19-23.

Teacher Evaluation Initiatives

New K-6 Math Series, Math Expressions, was purchased and implemented in August,2020.

V Math and Reading Naturally, new Title I intervention materials, were purchased inSeptember, 2020.

Fundraising campaign for new Reading series took place July-November, 2020. MyView (gr.k-5) and MyPerspective (gr.6) were purchased in November. Implementation of new Reading programs for grades k, 5/6 took place in January,2021. Grades 1-4 implementation will begin September, 2021.

Science Curriculum samples were ordered for teacher review in February , 2021. Decision about new Science program will be made before the end of the schoolyear. Purchase and implementation will take place in September, 2021.

Curricula Initiatives


Strategic Plan (Objective 2 continued)

Virtues in Practice, a program from the Dominican Sisters at Aquinas College inNashville, TN, has been added as an insert into our monthly newsletter, Snapshot. Insert contains saint profiles, prayers, and a home activity for each grade level. Program is designed for all students to study the same virtue each month. Theprogram covers 27 virtues over a three-year cycle, with 81 Saints held up as modelsof the virtues. We are in the second year of the cycle.

Students and teachers attend weekly St. Thomas School Mass on Thursdays.

Lighting of Advent Wreath Candles conducted with students and staff on Mondays during the Advent Season.

Stations of the Cross service conducted with students and staff in STA schoolhallway during Lent.

Three teachers hired in the Fall, 2020, are non-Catholic. They have expressed aneed to receive training in "basic Catholicism". Arrangements have been made forFr. Thomas to provide training during the Spring, 2021.

Growth in Awareness of Catholic School Identity Initiatives


Strategic Plan (Objective 2 continued)


Strategic Plan Summer, 2020, building principal developed a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan whichestablished new protocols for maintaining the health, safety, and Catholic identity of STASchool, while allowing students to attend daily classes on-site, fact-to-face.

42 students and 7 staff members have been quarantined 206.5 days since the beginning ofthe school year. STA averages 4.13 days absent because of COVID.

STA School has had 2 confirmed cases (1 family) of COVID-19.

Small Town Tech, Inc. has been identified as STA local technology provider.

Sabrina Etienne has agreed to be STA in-house go-to person for technology needs. Sabrinais the main contact person for Small Town Tech when technology needs/problems arise.

Sydney Raboin is STA teacher representative on the technology committee.

January, 2021, Technology Committee conducted a building walk-through to evaluate STA'stechnology status and to identify current and future needs.

Objective 3: St. Thomas School will be a safe. inclusive, 21st Centuryenvironment for student learning.

Tuition income is very good considering we have 11 fewer student than projected lastMarch, when this year's budget was created. ($35,7667 vs $45,355)

Tuition Assistance Needs down $5,915 from last year. (2019-20: $26,810; 2020-21: $20,895)

COVID-19 has made fundraising very challenging. To date, STA has raised only 50% of itsfundraising goal.

Total STA School income is ahead of budget by $38,673. Factors include EndowmentSubsidy of $56,500 fully paid for the year and $30,870 CARES Funds received.

STA School COVID-19 expenses incurred since March, 2020, $34,394.85

Objective 4: St. Thomas School will be financially stable and sustainable forfuture students.

Math 8/26 = 31%Reading 14/26 = 54%Language 9/21 = 43%

High Achievement 24%Low Achievement 76%High Growth 47%Low Growth 53%




Fall 2020 Students At or Above Norm Grade LevelMean Rit

Growth/Achievement Percentile - Math

Growth/Achievement Percentile - Reading

·Growth/Achievement Percentile - Language

Met Projected Growth Target






Winter 2020-21 Students At or Above Norm Grade LevelMean Rit

Growth/Achievement Percentile - Math

Growth/Achievement Percentile - Reading

Growth/Achievement Percentile - Language

Met Projected Growth Target


NWEA Fall and Witer SummariesKeep in mind, this is a snapshot in time. Data is more useful when looked at over a period oftime. Due to our low sample number, percentages can be deceiving. Minor movement of oneor two students up or down can change percentages greatly.


OtherUpdatesNew Staff MembersPreschool Teacher: Brittany Lemieux5th/6th Grade Teacher: Sydney RaboinMusic Teacher: Kathy TompkinsPhy Ed Teacher: Shaila Spry

School website upgrade by Waking Girl to accommodate distance learning needsPurchased new telephone system form NetCenter Technologies for school andparishPurchased 3 Dell Laptop replacement computers for teachers.Purchased 20 Acer Chromebooks and charging cart from Small Town TechUpdated air ventilator units in 4 classrooms WIFI Internet LAN Data Network Equipment update20 new Ipads from ISD 361 using CARES/ESSER funds6 cameras, tripods, and Microphones to facilitate distance learning from ISD 361using CARES/ESSER funds

Utilities, Equipment Upgrades and Improvements

First Responders AppreciationOutdoor Science ActivitiesNight Sky Zoom Presentation with Voyageur National Park RangerVisit Koochiching County Museum/Coffee LandingCreativity Day-building group/individual structures/sculptors

Community EventSt. Thomas School participated in the following community connections during Catholic School Week, Jan 31-Feb 5, 2021.

Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society ofMinnesota, February 2021

Annual Food Shelf Food Drive, March 2021

FundraisingRake-a-Thon/Oct 2 Goal: $15,000 Raised:$9,465

Reading Legacy Campaign/Aug-Nov Goal:$25,000 Raised: $25,000

Grocery Bagging/Nov 25 Goal: $1,000 Raised: $3,535

Catholic United Raffle/Jan 15-Feb 28 Goal:$30,000 Raised: $15,020

Spring Gala/Silent Auction/Apr 17 Goal:$35,000 CANCELLED Spring Gala/Silent Auction has been cancelled for the pasttwo years because of COVID-19

$5,563 Diocese of Duluth CREED Fund$5,000 Kenneth L. Kellar Foundation of Aitkin$3,534 St. James Church of Aitkin and Holy Family Church of McGregor$2,500 Greg and Jessie Hatchette of Fairfield, Iowa$2,300 Tim St Cyr of McGregor$2,000 anonymous donation in memory of Elmer and Velma Adam$1,000 Fr. Ben Hadrich

$10,000 John and Judy Miner$2,100 Jean and Jerry Hilfer$2,000 Anthony Brenning$2,000 Anthony and Teresa Stone$1,000 Genie Nagurski and Rich Jama

$11,000 Stuart and Susan Nordquist$5,000 Leanne Crompton$2,500 Mindy Einarson$2,150 Jean and Jerry Hilfer$2,000 Cynthia Michael Foster$1,000 Jackie Glowack

Major DonationsTuition Assistance

General Fund

Reading Legacy Campaign for New Reading Series


Valuable Volunteers

Audrey Chute SCRIP Coordinator

Dave Chute Boiler Operator

Marcia Glover Classroom Aide

Science, Grades K – 6. (Selection to be made by end of year.)MyView, Grades 1 – 4.

Organize a parent work crew to clean, organize and paint areas of the schoolbuilding.Replace floor tiles in the Kindergarten classroom

3 Computers for principal’s office and 2 classroom teachers3 Smartboards and projectors

New Curriculum Focus this coming year will be the implementation of new Science (K-6) and Reading (1-4) Curriculums. New resources include:

Summer Projects

Technology Purchase

Hire New Principal


Future PlansLooking forward to more developments in 2021-2022

The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education 2021 Notional Conference“Regaining a Catholic Vision in a Secular Age”, a four day conference with 40speakers and 250 attendees from Catholic Schools throughout the Mid-west. Thiswill be a great introduction to the vision, content and the energy surrounding theexciting renewal of Catholic Liberal Education. This conference will take place at theUniversity of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, July 26-29.

MyView and MyPerspectives Literacy Professional Development, Literacy ProgramActivation Session is a combination on-site/virtual training. Two separate sessionswill be scheduled. One during the summer and one in late September or earlyOctober.

On-line virtual sessions from The Roche Center for Catholic Education atBoston College

Catholic Educators Come Face-to-Face with Race, April 13-15Lenten Retreat for Catholic Educators: Come Away…and Rest Awhile, Sundays: Feb21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28Beyond Test Scores: Measuring the Contributions of Catholic Schools andUniversities, March 9Risking to Live and Love Like Jesus: The Heart of the Teacher in a Catholic School,May 11

Teacher Training The following Staff Development opportunities are being offered to STAteachers.


Future Plans (Continued)

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