Letter from the Principal 2011

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The holidays are now upon us and first semester is quickly coming to an end!  As I write this letter, the students are on their way to lunch, and the halls are filled with the cheerful sounds of student chatter and laughter, the sound of music from the grand piano in the entry way, and a female student loudly singing the school’s Alma Mater.  They remind me that St. Bernard High School is very much alive with the hopes and dreams of all our students.  They drive my commitment to keep St. Bernard strong for all those we serve.  The annual appeal is crucial to the ongoing success of St. Bernard High School.  I implore you to join me in my efforts to make this the most successful annual appeal ever.

During this Christmas time of giving gifts to those we love, we often consider what that person needs or what that person wants. Except for children, I find it hard to shop for people who have all their basic needs covered and I try to figure out what they would want. Sometimes I get it right and sometimes I don’t. Many of us have Christmas gifts that we hardly ever use and have been stored in our closets and garages for years.

Some of our students have a real need, and that need is a decent education – one that is based on 1,500 years of Catholic educational tradition started by St. Benedict and his monastery schools and refined by St. Bernard of Clairvaux during the 1100’s. These monastery schools were supported by donations from kind and generous people who understood the need of a strong education.

Over 50% of our families qualify for federal lunch programs and many make under $30,000 a year.  The annual appeal raises funds for financial assistance; it also helps fill the gap between the cost of educating a student and the cost of tuition and fees paid by our families. Currently the cost to educate a student at St. Bernard is approximately $9,500 and the cost of tuition and fees is $6,900 for a Catholic student. Given the economic downturn, more families are requesting financial assistance than ever before. While we realize the downturn may have impacted you as well, your gift can change the life of a student in need by providing a safe, protective environment for students and their families.  All donations - regardless of the amount - are truly needed to meet the operating expenses not covered by tuition and will be received with heartfelt gratitude.  

On behalf of the entire St. Bernard family, I ask you to join us in preserving and strengthening the history and tradition of St. Bernard High School.  Thank you for your generosity.

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season.  

Sincerely,



Michael Alvarez
Principal

Highlights of the 2011:
  • Enrollment increased for the second year in a row
  • To-date over 700 man-hours of grass-roots campus clean-up by parents, students & faculty since August 1, 2011
  • 2011 Graduates: 100% post-secondary plan; 11 accepted to UCLA; 7 Seniors sat for interviews with Harvard University
  • Marine Biology Lab construction completed (Funded through $250,000 grant from the Fritz B. Burns Foundation)
  • State-of-the-Art Viewing & Presentation Room construction completed
  • Girls Locker Room/Fitness Center upgraded through generous donation from Curves.
  • Grand Opening of Student-run store: Bernie’s Breezeway Café and Store, real-world project of Business Finance course
  • $240,000 William H. Hannon Foundation Grant for STEM Academy technology upgrade
  • Boys Basketball: 2011 CIF Southern California Champions
  • Girls Basketball: 2011 CIF Southern California Champions
  • School-wide Rooter Bus trip to Arco Arena, Sacramento for Boys and Girls Basketball State Championship
  • Football: Ends the season undefeated to become the 2011 Del Rey League Champions
  • Athletics: Girls Volleyball and Girls and Boys Cross Country made it to the first Round of Play-offs
  • Junior Dance Academy grows to also include Theatre, Vocal, Drum line, Cheer & pep Squad.
  • Special visit and presentation from Debbie Allen and her Dance Academy Professionals
  • Establish Community Partnerships with LMU Family of Schools & Lexus for marketing research
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