Ours is a socially, economically and culturally diverse community where gospel values permeate in the relationships fostered in the classrooms and in partnerships with parents and families. Providing education that is accessible and affordable for all families who desire a Catholic education in today’s Silicon Valley, as well as recruiting and retaining educators who are dedicated to our mission to serve the needs of a variety of learners continues to be a daunting challenge.
Tuition is the primary means to cover St. Clare School’s $2.8 million operating cost and the St. Clare School Annual Fund helps to bridge the gap between tuition collected and the actual cost of educating each student. In order to continue providing outstanding student-centered programs while forming morally and ethically responsible citizens, we count on you to offer your financial support through our Annual Fund appeal.
With your support, we will be able to keep tuition increases to a minimum so that our program continues to be accessible to many deserving families in this Valley, retain our talented faculty and staff and recruit well-formed education professionals to join our amazing community. In the past year, the Diocese’s contribution towards St. Clare tuition assistance decreased by 46% from the prior year. In order for the Annual Fund to continue to provide tuition assistance so that Catholic education is accessible to deserving families, we are asking for your help.
This year, we are hoping you can help us reach our goal of $60,000 in new gifts. In addition to tuition assistance, these gifts will go towards supporting school programs and facilities. For instance, last year’s Annual Fund paid to replace the desks and chairs in the middle school with furniture that allows for flexible seating so that the classroom is transformed into collaborative space where students can engage in learning more deeply and fully. Additionally, the Fund was used for the much needed adoption of new social studies resource (myWorld Interactive) and of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) resources and classroom kits from Amplify. Plus, contributions from friends like you allowed us to update our teachers’ MacBook 2012s to newer MacBooks.
Exceeding our goal this year could mean that the Fund can be used to provide an enhanced learning environment for our students. With the decrease in air quality and more days at school with extreme temperatures, the urgency to provide a safe and comfortable place for our students to learn with an efficient heating system and air conditioning has become even more critical.
These past few months have been a whirlwind of activity for the students, faculty, staff and families at St. Clare School. We continue to celebrate with gratitude our 163 years of tradition and our place as the first Catholic elementary school in the Santa Clara Valley in the formation of compassionate and caring leaders of a global society.
Our 2018-2019 Annual Report which highlights all that we have accomplished and defines the path forward is attached for your perusal. We are very proud of the effort and commitment of this amazing community. We look forward to our continued partnership with you through your gift, however great or small, so that together, we can fulfill the mission entrusted to us with great joy.
Donations can be made by going to our school store online at www.stclare.school or mailed to:
St. Clare School Annual Fund
725 Washington Street
Santa Clara CA 95050
With gratitude and thanksgiving for your support and care,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, St. Clare School Principal
Mr. Tola Dalton, St. Clare School School Advisory Council Chair
