Tulsa's San Miguel School is soon moving out of the basement of St. Francis Xavier Church and into the recently-vacated Catholic Charities buildings nearby. "We are so excited about having our own space and the increased efficiencies this move offers us," Principal Anne Edwards said.
San Miguel's classrooms doubled as the parish religious and community education classrooms in the evenings, meaning projects couldn't be left on worktables or desks and problems couldn't stay on chalkboards. Students cross the street to several locations during the day to attend classes, eat meals and participate in activities.
The new space means less travel for the students and more teaching and administrative efficiencies for the staff, plus freedom from the periodic flooding which at times rendered the classrooms unusable.
San Miguel school is part of the nationwide NativityMiguel network, dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education. The program produces students who are scholastically prepared for to be successful in high school and beyond through intensive study, nutritional support and family involvement.
After several years of demonstrated success, making a quality education available to underserved children is in keeping with the goals of the USCCB's Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). The CCHD funds community-based efforts to address the root causes of poverty and effect long-term change.
This year, San Miguel was honored to receive funds from the Diocese of Tulsa from the 2009 local contributions to the Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). These were funds that Bishop Slattery asked to be used in the diocese and not send to the national level. San Miguel intends to use the monies to help settle into their new space, fund ongoing student activities and meet operational costs.
"Breaking the cycle of poverty through education is the mission of San Miguel and the heart of our school," Edwards said. "The CCHD money will help us educate students to be leaders in their families and communities and improve the lives of many more than just the students we serve directly."
San Miguel is independently funded through donations from individuals, local foundations and sustaining partners. Families pay what they are able, but tuition makes up about three percent of the typical budget. Families are required to volunteer to help the school achieve its mission and to reduce costs.
San Miguel in Orlando San Miguel students Teresita Garcia, Flor Lozano and Denise Reyna during their recent trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Fla.
San Miguel Class Wins Trip to Orlando Although they didn’t win an online voting contest, the graduating class at San Miguel School of Tulsa is still going to the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando.
San Miguel School to Relocate Classrooms San Miguel School is soon moving out of the basement of St. Francis Xavier Church and into the Catholic Charities buildings.
