[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO THE ST. FRANCIS PARISH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 13, 2010

  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
well-respected parochial school in my community. St. Francis Parish 
School, located in Bakersfield, California is celebrating 100 years of 
education this upcoming April.
  The St. Francis Parish School has a unique history. Started by the 
Sisters of Mercy in 1910, the school consisted of two classrooms in the 
basement of a church. After sixteen years of various makeshift learning 
environments, an actual school structure was constructed, and in 1940 
the St. Francis High School was created which gave the two schools a 
combined K-12 presence. In 1943, the Sisters of Mercy were unable to 
staff a high school and lower school, so they delegated the Dominican 
sisters of the Congregation of St. Thomas of Aquinas, Diocese of 
Seattle to take over the St. Francis students. The present location of 
St. Francis Parish School was opened in 1952, and the Dominican Sisters 
continued to run the school until 1978. After changing hands once more 
in 1978 to a different sister group, the school is presently operated 
by lay teachers and one Mercy Sister. It is fitting that the staff has 
come full circle to include this one Mercy Sister.
  Today, St. Francis Parish School has a preschool through eighth grade 
platform that serves 586 students. The school's curriculum has grown to 
add computer technology, and grades 2-8 have smart boards, internet 
capability, and sound systems in every classroom. Growing with demand, 
the school has evolved to include Spanish, art, and music. Additional 
teachers have been added to St. Francis' staff to teach these new 
curriculums, and yearly textbook updates occur in every class in order 
to maximize the school's educating potential.
  Most importantly, St. Francis Parish School pushes its students to be 
lifelong active leaders and responsible citizens. Every age group is 
required to do community service through both class service projects 
and quarterly school service projects. An array of community service 
organizations welcome the school's generosity such as the American 
Heart Association, the Cancer Society, Mercy Beyond Borders, the 
Homeless Center, Catholic Charities, Mercy Hospital, Lion's Club, SPCA, 
the Valley Achievement Center, Alpha Canine, and St. Faustina's. For 
100 years, St. Francis Parish School has instilled high leadership, 
faith, and service qualities throughout its students.
  St. Francis Parish School is a keystone of our educational community 
that measures success in its loyalty from generations of students. I 
thank St. Francis for its 100 years of service to the people of 
Bakersfield and wish them the very best in its next 100 years.

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