Newcomer Suggestions

If you are new to this electronic bulletin board ("blog") and want to know what I've posted since I started doing this, please look to the right side of your screen. Do you see "Archives"? Good. Put your cursor on the month you're interested in and click to see the postings for that month.

 

Sept. 2 - 5 High School Duty Roster

Click Here for details.   Note: Mon. Sept. 1 is Labor Day (no school)

 

St. Joseph Computers running five times faster!

As of today, all 70 St. Joseph High School Computers are zipping along at speeds five time faster than yesterday. Why? Because this afternoon, we completed installation of our new cable system. Tomorow afternoon, all 35 computers at our elementary school will also be hooked up to the new system. Up to now, our computers used the older DSL phone line system which was slow and clunky. Mahalo to the St. Joseph computer science teacher, Stofer Smith, for spearheading this impressive upgrade which continues to keep our school at the cutting edge of high school technology. Further improvements now underway include expanding our existing Wi-Fi network (wireless computing) and the installation of a VPN (virtual private network) to enable our students and staff to use the St. Joseph servers from home over secure lines. Our servers feature firewall routers for additional security and, of course, we use the most current spam-blocking software for the entire system.     St. Joseph School. At the cutting edge of high school technology.

 

St. Joseph Scores ' A' in Economics

Today's Hawaii Tribune-Herald front-page Business section headline, "Hawaii gets 'D' in Economics," does not apply to St. Joseph. Why? Because St. Joseph already offers an outstanding no-nonsense Business Economics course - called "Personal Finance" at some schools. St. Joseph School recognizes the importance of economics in its school curriculum. As U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka notes, "...some of the financial troubles faced by people in Hawaii ... could have been mitigated if they had received pragmatic, standards-based education in economics and personal finance from a young age, when individuals are forming habits that they use throughout their lives." Click Here to check the depth and high quality of our cutting-edge St. Joseph economics course for Juniors and Seniors that is currently underway.

 

Principal Live on KPUA Breaking-News Special at 9:30 a.m. Firday

Ken Huff, News Director for the New West Broadcasting Corporation, will be interviewing me at 9:30 a.m. , live, tomorrow morning (Friday, 8/22) on KPUA, 670 AM. I'll be talking about the recent financial and enrollment turnaround we've accomplished at St. Joseph School over the past two months with the latest data (see 8/15 posting, below, "St. Joseph is Here to Stay"). We'll also discuss our new focus on strategies to establish St. Joseph School as the premier college-prep institution on the Big Island during this half-hour breaking-news special.

 

St. Joseph School is here to Stay

Here is a brief summary of what I reported to the St. Joseph School Alumni Association two nights ago.

(1) We are in the black (i.e. not incurring deficits) and, in fact, have
been in the black for about 6 weeks -- with the prospect of staying well in the
black for the duration of my 12-month contract and beyond.

(2) As of today our enrollment is about 380 (it fluctuates day to day
as parents withdraw kids and others enroll -- this goes on until about the
end of the month which is normal). However, the trend is DEFINITELY up, and
we may approach 390 and beyond before things settle down by early September.

(3) Our "breakeven point" set by the management group was 365. That number was based on careful analysis of the downtrend of enrollment the past half dozen years or so prior to my arrival. (For background, see the Bishop's News Release on this). Since we are already way past that point, it is very obvious that St. Joseph is in absolutely no danger of going into a deficit situation for the rest of the school year, even now. It is clear that for the first time in years, we may well have turned the trend around.

(4) Now that we are clearly out of the red, my focus is on moving our $30 million development program off the ground to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

 

Naval Junior ROTC Program Advantages

Lt. Commander Annette Schelegelmilch (RET), is accepting qualified St. Joseph students for the Waiakea High School naval JROTC program during after school hours, the only such program on the Big Island. Students have the opportunity to participate in field trips, cruises aboard Naval and Coast Guard vessels and a 4-day Leadership Academy on Oahu in the summer. Benefits include enlisting at advanced paygrade, nominations to the Naval Academy and consideration for Naval ROTC college scholarships. Interested students or parents should call Commander Schelegelmich ASAP. Her Waiakea High School phone number is 974-4849.

 

Foodland and Sack N Save to Match Donations to St. Joseph

If you shop at Foodland or Sack N Save, be sure to use your Maika'i Card for the month of September. For instance, if you donate $10 to St. Joseph School at the cash register, Foodland or Sack N Save will donate another $10, so we end up with $20 ! Look for the St. Joseph Banner at those stores, and do your part to help us expand our special projects and programs. Mahalo in advance for your kokua on this!

 

Principal to be guest speaker at the St. Joseph Alumni & Friends Association Meeting

Association President Joseph Dart has asked me to be the guest speaker at tomorrow's (Aug. 13) 7 p.m. meeting at the Kamana Senior Center in Hilo. I am honored by the request and will be very happy to answer questions after my report on the current status of St. Joseph enrollment and finances. A hui hou!

Muscular Dystrophy Telethon set for Sept. 1

This year's statewide 2003 Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telephon is set for Sept. 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hilo Remote Site is the Mooheau Band Stand in downtown Hilo. The day features live entertainment and a classic car show. Interested teachers, staff and alumni may volunteer by calling Marianne Hodapp at 959-0164 or Margaret Lucas at 961-0128.

 

Other St. Joseph School Days to mark on your August calendars

(incomplete, to be continued) Aug. 11: First day of school - School Dismissed at noon; Aug. 15, Admissions Day (State Holiday, no school), Aug. 18, 6 p.m. Orientation for grades K and 2; Aug. 19, 6 p.m., Orientation for Grades 1 and 3; Aug. 20, 6 p.m. Orientation for Grades 4, 5 and 6; Aug. 29, Student Council Assembly.

 

Reminder: Annual All-School mini-Retreat & Mass is Friday, August 8

As noted earlier (see 7/29 posting) this annual all-school event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A light breakfast will be served at the High School patio area -- where details of other all-day events will be posted, including a mini-retreat led by Father Bob Schwarzhauph and a Faculty Mass of the Holy Spirit, led by Father Scott Bush at 10:45 a.m. Lunch is also provided. Afternoon sessions will be split in the usual manner: Preschool/Elementary faculty will meet at the elementary/preschool, while Jr/Sr. High School faculty will meet at the High School, mainly to update various handbooks and other usual 'last-minute" matters. The day is also the 65th birthday of the interim Principal (smile). A hui hou!

 

IMPORTANT Message from Jet Proctor, R.N., Director, St. Joseph Health Room

Parents are reminded about immunization requirements, medication administration forms, Tissues and Emergency Packs. Click Here to review the details.

 

Elementary School Uniforms are here!

Colette Tyrin, our hardworking Office Manager at the Elementary and Pre-School announced today that two shipments have arrived. Parents are advised to call her at 935-4935 for details.