By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -
St. Andrew School students say grace before sharing a breakfast together.
Faith, hope and love: A gift given to St. Andrew School from a family whose children attended the school can be found on the floor of the preschool wing. The preschool was the original school building at St. Andrew.
Renee Sarmiento, left, science teacher and curriculum coordinator, stands with fourth and fifth grade students as they look at the plants they are growing for the Growing Beyond Earth contest for Fairchild Botanic Gardens.
Getting an early look at prosthetics: Sixth graders Minnie Montañez, left, and Kiara Laurie researched and created a prosthetic arm for a class project. Standing with them is science teacher Renee Sarmiento and St. Andrew's pastor, Msgr. Michael Souckar.
St. Andrew School Principal Kristen Hughes flips through an old year book.
St. Andrew School first graders are all smiles as they line up for lunch.
St. Andrew School students Alexa Montoya, left, and Maria Solares pose with a cutout of Pope Francis before they lead the school in the noon Angelus prayer.
A look at the exterior of St. Andrew School, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
A look at the inside of a yearbook from 1992 shows pictures and messages from St. Andrew's pastor at the time, Father James Quinn, and then principal Mary Lou Balog.
Photography: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO | FC
CORAL SPRINGS | When Kristen Hughes attended the dedication of the newest building at St. Andrew School in 1996, she remembers thinking how Principal Mary Louise Balog was the luckiest principal in the world. Hughes could not have imagined that 16 years later she would take the reins at St. Andrew School, becoming its current principal.
Every morning as she drives into the parking lot, she looks at the sign that says “St. Andrew Catholic School” and thanks Jesus for giving her such an opportunity.
“I didn’t expect it, but I couldn’t be happier,” said Hughes, who has over 30 years of experience working throughout the Archdiocese of Miami, as an educator and leader in the department of schools, associate superintendent, and at one point superintendent of elementary schools.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
St. Andrew School Principal Kristen Hughes flips through an old year book.
“I’ve always looked at Catholic school as being such a huge part of the evangelization of the Church, and we’re often the bridge between the school and the church,” she said.
This year, St. Andrew School turns 40. Alumni, staff and students will celebrate with various festivities, among them a “Ruby Recollections” themed gala to be held April 29 at the Coral Springs Marriot Hotel.
As the school’s mission statement notes, St. Andrew is devoted to “preparing students in a spiritual, academic, and nurturing environment to become productive leaders rooted in the Catholic virtues of faith, hope, and love.”
Origins story
In 1976, St. Andrew’s founding pastor, Father Patrick Farrell, met with parishioners to explore the idea of opening a parochial elementary school. That same year, permission was granted, ground was broken � on the nation’s bicentennial � and the school was completed and blessed by Archbishop Edward McCarthy in December. St. Andrew School became the 63rd elementary school to open in the Archdiocese of Miami.
It began with fewer than 200 students from grades one through six, but due to lack of space, the school functioned in double sessions. An expansion of the original church building, it had three classrooms and a fourth which doubled as a library and cafeteria. On Friday afternoons, the maintenance man and older students disassembled the school setup, moving desks, chairs and bookcases into storage and rearranging the space to prepare for Mass. On Monday mornings, the space was a school again.
As the community of St. Andrew grew, so did the school. In 1978, another wing was, consisting of another four classrooms, a library, a cafeteria, religious education offices and dressing rooms for physical education classes. Enrollment increased to 274 students, now in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
Getting an early look at prosthetics: Sixth graders Minnie Montañez, left, and Kiara Laurie researched and created a prosthetic arm for a class project. Standing with them is science teacher Renee Sarmiento and St. Andrew's pastor, Msgr. Michael Souckar.
By the time St. Andrew Parish celebrated its 25th anniversary in September 1994, school enrollment had reached 355, from pre-school to middle school.
At the anniversary Mass, the pastor at the time, Father James Quinn, stated: “We have a wonderful parish with 6,000 families and 20,000 parishioners. Everyone works hard and is dedicated and St. Andrew has played a tremendous role in the City of Coral Springs from a religious and educational standpoint.”
But it was time for another school expansion. This time the community embarked on a $3.2 million fundraising campaign for a state-of-the-art building. By October 1996, the goal was met and the annex building completed.
‘Relationship ... is key'
Today, enrollment consists of about 365 students. The school is accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancED and the National Council for Private School Accreditation. All teachers are certified and hold, or are working, towards graduate degrees. Their aim is to keep students engaged, curious and stretching for new heights.
“Students learn through inquiry,” said Renee Sarmiento, science teacher and curriculum coordinator. “They get mini-lessons to get the concepts, but they have to research, apply and create something.”
With that encouragement, students participate in National Junior Honor Society, the fine arts, sports, science, technology and engineering, and more. The curriculum also gives students the opportunity to regularly compete and win in activities at the local, regional, state and national level.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
St. Andrew School kindergartener Varian Lambert, left, and eighth grader Henry Santos give a thumbs up to celebrating children's author Dr. Seuss' 113th birthday March 2.
The rising cost of Catholic education can make it difficult to maintain enrollment. But parents like Andrea Aponte say they gratefully sacrifice because ultimately, it will make a difference in the lives of her children.
“I’m Catholic, and I was raised Catholic and if I send them to public school they’re not going to get any religion, or morals, or values,” said Aponte, secretary of the Home School Association.
Aponte said she is also grateful to give back to the community that gives so much to her children.
“Here, I’m involved with teachers, with students, with fundraising. I can fulfill my time, talent and treasure here because it gives me the opportunity to serve.”
St. Andrew’s current pastor, Msgr. Michael Souckar, said he views it as a gift to lead a community with a parochial school. He himself is a product of archdiocesan schools, having graduated from St. Anthony School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.
“I see the school as part of the parish,” Msgr. Souckar said. “I see it as not only a part of the identity of the parish but part of the lifeblood of the parish. As a parochial school, we’re not only educating and bringing evangelization to the children but to their whole families.”
Principal Hughes couldn’t agree more, adding that the relationship between school and parish is key to the success and the future of the entire community.
“I know education is a community event and to be in a Christ community to do it, it is the best gift I’ve been given in my life,” said Hughes. “These children bring such unbridled joy to everyday. It’s a good reminder to have the presence of faith in their lives.”
Eighth grader Melanie Corrales, who began attending St. Andrew School in PreK4, said she feels fondness for her journey. Though she is eager to take the next step at Cardinal Gibbons High School, she is proud to be a part of the 40-year history of the School.
“Other schools are really big and I’ve grown comfortable in a small environment because I feel I’m close to everyone and I can personally trust them with anything,” said Melanie. “I feel like they’re my family.”
FIND OUT MORE
- For more information on the April 29 St. Andrew School 40th anniversary Ruby Gala, contact Cindy Bracke at 954-905-6305; email [email protected]; or go to www.standrewgala.com.
- Tickets are $150 per person, $250 per couple, and tables of eight are available for $1,000.
