ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SCHOOL, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO

Saint Vincent

Cape

Saint Vincent De Paul School was established in 1877. Its first site was next to Old Saint Vincent's Church on South Spanish Street. In 1957 the school was relocated to its present location at 1919 Ritter Drive. There are presently 378 students attending Saint Vincent's in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. The school is accredited by the Missouri Chapter of the National Federation of Non-Public School State Accrediting Association. The school prides itself on its outstanding academic programs and its focus on traditional Catholic spiritual and moral development. These attributes are defined by the school's mission statement. "Saint Vincent De Paul School is dedicated to providing a basic education to the whole child in an atmosphere that is success oriented for each individual. Saint Vincent's emphasizes Spiritual and Moral development as contained in Catholic Tradition. We encourage the development and growth of a community that desires to serve and share with those most in need in the spirit of our patron, Saint Vincent De Paul.

LIVING OUR MISSION

"To Serve and Share with those most in need" is lived every day by the students here at Saint Vincent's in many ways. We would like to share with you just a few of these.

The student council sponsored a mitten tree that yielded 270 pairs of gloves which were donated to Toybox.

The student body collected $5,000.00 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital which was donated in Trey Springer's name.

A special collection was taken at our Thanksgiving school liturgy for Birthright and $100.00 was donated. At Christmas the students collect many baby "needs" such as clothing, formula, and baby food as well as collecting an additional $100.00 for Birthright.

"Living the Beatitudes" was a topic for discussion in our 7th Grade Religion class that quickly led to action. Possible ways to reach out to others in the community were discussed and the class voted to adopt a local nursing home. The class visits Cape Girardeau Nursing Center the third Wednesday of every month for the last hour of the school day. The students visit or sing, sometimes bringing posters or cards, and young and old share refreshments. The girls discovered some Nursing Home romances. The boys found a gentleman with lots of stories for the students and colorful language. It has been an opportunity to rethink their feelings about the elderly and the whole class looks forward to the monthly visits.

Our fifth grade visits both hospitals during the holiday season. They sing carols and bring good cheer to those confined during Christmas.

The students in one sixth grade class took turns preparing an Advent Prayer service. They had an Advent Wreath in the classroom and had special prayers each day. Of course, prayer is a daily focus in each and every classroom here at St. Vincent's. Students are given the opportunity to share feelings and special needs for themselves, family, and friends. Prayer intentions are given immediate attention by the classes and school community.

We have "adopted" several servicemen who are serving their country during this time of crisis and are sending letters and other items to brighten their days as well as remembering them daily in prayer. As some of the dads, brothers, and other relatives of our own students are now being called into service we plan to do more and more to show our love and support for them, and pride in their patriotic deeds.

Our faculty and staff, too, live our mission. They have contributed to St. Jude and have made special contributions to a family in the parish during times of need.

Students and teachers are reminded daily of Christ's love for them and attempt to find ways to share this love with others.

ACADEMICS

We pride ourselves in having one of the finest academic programs available. Research has shown that Catholic school students typically score higher in academic achievement than their public school counterpart. We are no exception to this. While our grading standards are extremely high we still have nearly 60% of our students achieving averages of A and B.

Each year Duke University has a talent search where they look for 7th graders who have exhibited exceptional achievement on a national normed test. We use our Fall achievement tests to conduct this search. Students must score at or above the 97th percentile in the mathematics or language areas. Identified students are given the opportunity to take the ACT or SAT (college entrance exam) and are given special recognition as well as opportunities for summer experiences. This year 30% of our seventh grade students qualified for this distinctive honor.

Students in the junior high (grades 6-8) compete annually in both Science Fair and History Day. Our students have had great success in these activities, most notably in History Day competition. In two of the past three years we have had students win at the local and state level and advance to national competition in Washington, D.C.

Our faculty are all degreed professionals and continue their professional growth through coursework and workshops. Over 40% of the faculty hold a Master's Degree in Education. They are committed to the children and the school and do "whatever it takes" to make our program successful.

PARENTS

Research has shown that increased parental involvement is a key to academic success and faith formation in our youth. One of the great strengths of our school is the active involvement of our parents. They not only instill high academic expectations in their children but work hard to assist the school in reaching these expectations. As with many Catholic schools, we rely on our parents, not only as primary educators of their children, but as active participants in their child's school. The Home and School Association supports the school financially through fundraising and by actively pursuing ways to make the climate of the school as safe, secure, and conducive to learning as is possible. Parents serve in numerous volunteer roles; cafeteria help, classroom support, field trip drivers, assistance with school pictures and yearbook, school board and public relations, school nurse, coaches and booster club, and numerous other projects.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL WEEK

ACTIVITIES

Like the varied bits of colored glass that fall together to form a kaleidoscope's shifting patterns, people of many ages, backgrounds, cultures, races and religions join to create the dynamic patterns of the individual Catholic school. Catholic education provides a special framework for this kaleidoscope of people; within it, the ever changing patterns of work, people and experiences are defined and illuminated by Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Catholic Schools Week 1991: A Kaleidoscope of People is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity that helps to create the beautiful patterns within that very special framework of today's Catholic schools.

A specific theme and special activities have been scheduled for each day of Catholic School Week. On Monday the theme will be The Classroom. The children are requested to wear clothes of differing patterns and in the classrooms they will be making kaleidoscopes emphasizing the different people that affect our lives. On Tuesday the theme will be Community. The classes will be writing letters to our servicemen serving us both in the United States and overseas. On Wednesday the theme will be the World. The children will study different ethnic groups in their classrooms. On Thursday the theme will be Family. The children will be requested to dress up for this day. The parents will be invited to spend time with their children in the classrooms and join them for lunch. In the afternoon an all-school prayer for peace will be offered and the parents and other friends will be invited to join us for this. On Friday the theme will be Friends. At the all-school Mass a presentation will be made to a friend of Catholic Education that graduated from this school. The children will be asked to wear green on this day to show school spirit. An exciting raffle will also be held and the money earned will be used to prepare CARE packages for our friends serving in Saudi Arabia.