Welcome!
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School,
I am excited to partner with you as principal of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School. Beginning with The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia’s founding the school in 1923, the Sisters and dedicated lay teachers carry on that excellent Catholic education provided as St. Mary’s strong foundation. Countless graduates attribute their success in life due to the time they studied in our school. The halls, classrooms, gym, and shore line evoke wonderful memories of fun, sports, competition, and scholarship. Thank you parents and guardians for providing your children with a Catholic education. What a foundation for a God-centered life! Thank you too for trusting us with your children.
Nelson Mandela once said “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I believe every student is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature socially, intellectually, and spiritually. It has been my goal as an educator to help students reach that full potential. Saint Mary Star of the Sea School provides that environment which is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites the sharing of ideas.
Here at St. Mary’s the sisters and teachers are not the only sources of information rather they provide access to information. Students develop knowledge, are given the opportunity to discover for themselves, and practice skills for everyday life. Giving students hands-on activities reinforces the lessons and creates opportunities for individual discovery and the construction of knowledge. In speaking to teachers about lessons, along with the time I’ve spent in the school learning from Dr. Galvez, past Interim Principal, I see that teachers craft lessons around student interests in order motivate and stimulate their passion to learn. Here students generate ideas and set goals for themselves. They take ownership of their learning. This is why they are motivated to work harder and master more skills.
My hope as principal is to help students develop a deep love and respect for themselves and others. Due to my Catholic education, I developed a strong Catholic faith. I love being involved in Catholic education because I am able to pass on the Catholic faith to others. I have been blessed to witness young people grow in their relationship with Jesus through prayer, learning church doctrine, discussing sacred scripture, reflecting on the history of the church, and attending mass with their classmates. St. Mary’s continues to aim to inspire its students to be Christ like and take an active role in the church and society.
As I was packing my belongings to move to Virginia, I stumbled across an old book I read when I was preparing to be a teacher almost 40 years ago! This was highlighted in the book:
“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a child is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” (Ginott)
This isn’t limited to what we do just in the classroom. It applies too to what we do at home. Let’s commit ourselves to these ideals, partnering together, to help our children “become what they are capable of becoming.”
Dr. John Fruner, Ed.D.
Principal