Parish School of St. Mary's, Visalia
Founded in 1923
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE / CALENDAR / CURRICULUM / SPECIAL FEATURES /
FACULTY-STAFF / PARENT INVOLVEMENT / ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
TUITION ASSISTANCE / HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
GEORGE McCANN MEMORIAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
200 EAST RACE STREET
VISALIA, CA 93291
(559) 732-5831
EXTENDED CARE: 741-1556
HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION SCRIP:
732-7419
PRINCIPAL: SHEILA RAST
EMAIL: rastfamily@aol.com
July
2003
Welcome to the George McCann Memorial Catholic School site! We are
very proud of the fact that we will be celebrating our 80th year anniversary
this year! The school opened it's doors for the first time in
September 1923 and the ministry of Catholic Education began at that
time. George McCann Memorial Catholic School is an integral part of
St. Mary's Parish. As parents and students, administrators and
teachers, we come together in a Christ-centered community. George
McCann supports and assists parents in the role as their child's primary
teacher in the "ways of the faith". George
McCann School has served the community proudly through the years and we
continue to do so.
Our dedication to serving the community can be best evidenced in our school's mission statement:
"George McCann Memorial Catholic School is dedicated to the teaching and
nurturing of children. We are a family of parents, students,
educators, and parishioners who strive to create a Catholic faith community
through the vehicle of a quality education based on Gospel values. As
we center on Jesus and his message, we assist our students in becoming
responsible, respectful, loving adults. Our school community supports
and encourages parents in the growth and practice of their personal and
family faith so they can better fulfill their role as "the first
teachers of their children in the ways of their faith".
I am very excited as I look ahead to the coming year. I anticipate a
year filled with students' learning and growing. I am also looking
forward to all of us working together to make this a successful year.
The construction work on the front offices began just as soon as
school was let out for the summer. Tremendous progress has been made
in just a short time. You can really see the layout of t he new
teacher workroom, the front office, the athletic office, the principal's
office and the teacher lounge/meeting room! Mrs. Cisneros and I have
temporarily moved into the 8th grade classroom for the summer. Please
remember that the office will be closed from July 4th until August 1st.
If you need to contact us please leave a message on the answering machine
and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
If you have any questions regarding George McCann School, please do not
hesitate to contact me. The school office phone number is 732-5831.
Sheila Rast
Principal
FALL SEMESTER 2003
Dec 22nd - Jan 2nd Christmas Vacation January 5th School Resumes January 13th HSA meeting - 6:00pm January 19th Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No School January 25th Catholic Schools Week Mass - 8:30am Jan 26th - Jan 30th Catholic School Week Activities January 30th End of Catholic Schools Week Mass - 9:00am January 30th HSA Bingo Fundraiser
GMC is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). Students in Grs. 2-8 take the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) each school year in the fall so that the staff can plan more effective lessons based on student needs. Also, students in Grades 5 and 8 take the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE) midyear, the results of which are used to analyze the effectiveness of the religion program. As part of the religion curriculum, students also study "family life" and participate in school and class Masses, as well as daily prayer and special services on holy days and for other special occasions. Service to the community is an essential part of this religion curriculum and students participate in activities at the local soup kitchen, with the elderly, with young adults with special needs, and at the convalescent homes. Students are taught a "core curriculum" of language arts (English grammar and literature, composition, spelling, vocabulary [3-8], phonics [K-2], handwriting [K-4], mathematics up through Algebra I in Gr. 8, social studies, science, and of course, religion (daily classes). Physical education, music and art, and computer education are also taught.
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The school has just recently installed a large new playground structure for all grades to enjoy. |
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The school library on site contains reading books for K-3 and reference materials for all grades. |
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The computer lab, managed by a part-time teacher, will soon have Internet access. Students learn keyboarding, computer skills, and do curriculum enrichment activities. |
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The Extended Care Program provides safe, supervised care for students from 7:25 to 7:55 a.m. each school day, prior to the time the campus officially opens, and from after-school hours until 6:00 p.m. each school day. Fees are very reasonable; this is quality care for our students whose parents cannot pick them up right away. |
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The middle school grades (Grades 7 and 8 ) participate in a local league of small schools for after school sports (football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, track and field, baseball/softball). Sixth graders are accepted onto teams as space allows. |
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Students are offered the option of a hot lunch at least twice a week. |
There is one homeroom teacher for each of the nine grades (K-8), as well as a full-time PE teacher (who also teaches health science and serves as the Athletic Director), two part-time teacher assistants, a librarian, extended care personnel, a school custodian, a school secretary, and a part-time bookkeeper, all in addition to the principal.
The recognized success of our school is due in large part to the fostering of a strong sense of community and family. Parents are expected to be integrally involved in supporting school activities for the benefit of their children. Parents support the school not only through tuition payments, but by the performance of hours of service each school year (e.g. driving on field trips, supervising on the playground, working in the classrooms) and hours of fund raising efforts. Faculty and parents communicate through person-to-person contact, progress reports, phone calls, and report cards.
George McCann Memorial is an integral ministry of St. Mary's Church. Importance is placed upon a family's participation in St. Mary's Parish for whom first consideration for enrollment is offered. Space allowing, consideration is given to other Catholic families who are involved in and supportive of their own parish. Published "Admissions Criteria" guide pastor and principal in the admissions process. All students are screened by teachers for emotional / maturity and academic readiness.
Tuition Assistance
The school provides some assistance for those families who might need financial
assistance. Parents can contact the principal who will guide them through the process.
Information is kept confidential; final decision is made by the pastor and principal.
The Home and School Association
The Home and School Association is the parent club of our school. Parents
are asked to work cooperatively to help in providing a high quality, moderately
priced Catholic education for our children. Money raised contributes
directly to the daily operation of our school, supplemental tuition for all
families. The Home and School Association is designed to bring families
together, foster spiritual and educational growth and to contribute to the
financial stability of our school.
"I
would like to welcome back our returning parents and extend a warm welcome to
our incoming parents. I am so looking forward to having a memorable and
exciting year with the growing George McCann family. Our growing
enrollment proves to me that we have one of the best schools in the city and the
active participation of the parents contributes to this success".
Juan Alfaro
President, Home and School Association