Report from the President
Regina Holden Rushing is a St. Anthony College Preparatory High School Class of 1967 graduate and a strong community leader who accepted the President position in 2002 in part to renovate and strengthen the long standing traditions that have been the hallmark of St. Anthony College Preparatory High School since its founding in 1920.
“We expect every young man and woman to strive toward excellence and work toward creating a just and equitable society where each human being is treated with dignity and respect.”
-President Regina Rushing
St Anthony College Preparatory High School
PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE FOUNDATION
August 8, 2007
As St. Anthony High School begins its 87th year, I think the best “report” I can provide to represent the cumulative success experienced here at the high school in recent years is this photo of the President’s Ambassadors Class of 2007-2008, taken August 4th, 2007, at the home of Marlene and Bill Moncure, who sponsor this Program annually:
In May, we invited students to apply for this prestigious program which is now beginning its fifth year at St. Anthony’s, modeled after President Bob Maxson’s highly successful President’s Ambassadors Program at CSULB. We were overwhelmed by the number of applications. Over the next weeks, Christine and I, along with our program student Co-Directors Alexander Sanchez and Nancy Valiente, conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews, and 32 outstanding students were ultimately selected to participate this year, representing the sophomore, junior and senior classes – and their school!
These students are truly remarkable; the strongest group yet assembled. And I have no doubt that their intellectual, physical and spiritual strength is matched by their character and commitment to St. Anthony and to each other. They form a strong core for our outreach efforts this year, and nothing speaks louder about the quality of our program and St. Anthony’s personalized, Catholic education than our students themselves!
It is my great hope that many of our alums and community friends will have the unique opportunity to get to know these students this year, as we work together to reach out to the community, as we provide our current students with the support they need to succeed -- in college and in life.
2006-2007 MILESTONES:
Last year, we set aggressive goals and achieved every one of them:
- Teacher development and retention.
- Increased enrollment and student retention.
- Full accreditation through WASC, with commendations.
- Parental involvement increased significantly with a viable parent organization.
- Aggressive community outreach programs that included elementary school visits, parish visits, community nights, campus tours, open houses, our first “public school information night” on campus, and targeted marketing to special groups.
- Great publicity in local newspapers that resulted in increased support for our Music/Band Program, as well as a boost to image and inquiries about the school.
- Inclusive events that reached out effectively to the community, including “Cardinal Levada’s Homecoming”, The Seven Last Words of Christ Concert in partnership with the Long Beach Symphony, The Rockin’ Sock Hop & Auction in the Gym, a Rummage Sale in the Gym in partnership with the Jr. League of Long Beach, and the Annual Monsignor Gualderon Golf Tournament.
- A fully developed, image-enhancing and useful web site that since January 2007 served more than 133,278 pages, had almost 21,000 visitors (almost 11,000 of those were unique) and more than a half million “hits” - and our month over month averages are increasing!Major capital improvements on campus fully funded and completed.
- Scholarship and Financial Aid fully funded to meet student needs.
- Increased grantwriting to new Foundations, resulting in new sources of income.
- Operating deficit fully funded, resulting in a balanced budget by year-end.
- An Advisory Council with operating committees that support the priorities and strategic direction of the high school.
- A Foundation with growing involvement and sophistication that supports the resource needs of the high school.
- First Summer Music Program offered to students, and integration of Music Instruction Class into regular curriculum
- An enrollment for Fall 2007 of at least 260 students!
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2007-2008:
- First Day of School for Incoming Freshmen, Thursday, August 23, 2007.
- Darrick Martin Basketball and Books Camp, August 13-17. Open to 110 students, free, ages 7 through 17.
- Academic Scholars Mass and Breakfast, Sunday, August 26th, 9:15 a.m. -- to welcome 40 students who are in the top 2% of their 8th grade graduating class.
- Homecoming, Friday, October 5th, @ Clark Field.
- Community Open House, Sunday, October 21, 1-4 p.m. – Foundation members welcome as tour guides with Ambassadors and to staff Foundation Table.
- Public School Information Night, Thursday, October 25, 6-8 p.m. – Foundation members welcome as tour guides with Ambassadors.
- All-Saints Fall Forum, Monday, November 5th, Mass in the gym, celebrated by Archbishop Niederauer, followed by his induction into SAHS Hall of Fame and Brunch.
- Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, 5-9 p.m., Second Street – featuring the new SAHS BAND!
- Community Open House, Wednesday, January 23, 2008, 6-8 p.m. Foundation members welcome as tour guides with President’s Ambassadors.
- Seven Last Words of Christ Concert, Friday, February 15, 5-8:30 p.m. St. Anthony Church.
- Rockin’ Sock Hop & Auction in the Gym, Saturday, March 10, 6-11 p.m.
- Graduation, Saturday May 31, 10 a.m. Gymnasium.
- Annual Golf Classic, All Day, Monday, June 16, Recreation Park Golf Course.
- DEVELOPMENT NEWS:
- Annual Alumni Mailing to be mailed in October as part of All-Saints invitation to Fall Forum – includes appeal for Annual Fund, Sponsor-A-Saint Fund, and Legacy Campaign.
- Grantwriting – Grants Committee seeking new members. Ramping up activity in September to meet program growth and scholarship needs.
- Legacy Campaign:
- Master Plan – SAHS Master Plan in process of development, including renovation of gym and field.
- Summer Construction Project: Funded by Archdiocese of LA:
- Renovation of Chemistry Classroom (new floor, electrical distribution, lighting, ceiling-mounted projector, whiteboard, and paint). (Model Classroom for B Building and L Building renovation, to be continued next summer.)
- Rekeyed locks in B and L Buildings and exterior doors to unify.
- New security doors at entrance to B Building.
- New Locker Installation Project: On order! Underwritten by an alumni gift. Installation will be completed over Christmas break, before the start of the second semester.
- Archbishop Neiderauer: Confirmed Archbishop Niederauer’s participation in “ALL SAINTS FALL FORUM” to be hosted in the Gym on Monday, October 5th, starting with Mass at 9 a.m., end ending with Brunch on campus for all guests. Co chairs are alums George Murchison and Pat Metzger. We will be reaching out to local clergy and religious to gain their attendance, as well as alums and community. Archbishop Niederauer will be inducted into the SAHS Hall of Fame following the Mass.
- Legacy Endowment: We will be officially launching “THE LEGACY ENDOWMENT” in the coming months. A major donor is contributing $100,000 to create this Endowment for the sole benefit of SAHS, which will help secure the future of St. Anthony High School for generations of future SAINTS.
We thank God for our many blessings. We are also so very grateful to all those who support St. Anthony High School and its students so faithfully. Without all of YOU, Long Beach’s only Catholic high school, 87 years of age, would be just memory. And thanks to YOU, we have a very bright future.
GO SAINTS!