Holy Family School

Love this school!!! It's a very welcoming community. They have an awesome science lab that all the kids go to every week starting in Kindergarten. The computer lab is really impressive as well. The most impressive though is the test scores the kids achieve on the IOWA tests, which is a national test that lets you see where the kids are compared to other kids across the nation. This little school really excells.
--Submitted by a parent

-This is response B to the person that posted on 8/15/11- It s hard to believe that someone that enrolled their own kids in a Catholic school is speaking disdainfully about another one of God s children. It seems like you need some Catholic education in your life, or I can give you an abridged version, if you can t say anything nice, don t say anything at all. My family and I will continue to pray for you and hope you will surround yourself with positive thoughts and energy, rather than bringing other happy people down. I m happy that your negative energy will no longer be associated with the HFS, (and if this is who I think it is: good luck finding a new job and remember the RAT is our friend!) In closing the new principal is great, he s friendly, talks to staff AND students positively and respectfully, and smiles! Lastly, the next time you want to slander my wife s name please do it to her face and not hide behind the internet. God bless.

-This is response A to the person that posted on 8/15/11- The only part of your rant that is correct is the fact that Holy Family is a great school. No one needs to be wary of the current second grade teacher, who is the one of two teachers that has been employed with HFS for several years, and a defining reason why some families chose to come back, even when the previous principal was running the school into the ground with her asinine rules and policies. Please explain to me how the current second grade teacher led a walk out and yet she s still employed with the school, wouldn t she have left with the walk out. It seems that past teachers and families left because of the previous principal and not the current second grade teacher. Correct me if I m wrong but was it the previous principal that allowed the school s student population of over 100 to dwindle to a little over 50 in the span of two years, or was it the current second grade teacher?

This is in response to the person who posted on Aug. 15th about being wary of the second grade teacher. First, there was no walk out that was staged by the teachers. Most of the teachers that left at the end of the 2009-2010 school year were not offered contracts or their postitions were eliminated. The principal at the time made it impossible for others to want to return or gave them an ultimatium that forced them to resign their position. I find it hard to believe that you think that the 2nd grade teacher should give up her friendships just because the teachers and parents have left HFS. Most of the teachers who left were heartsick about leaving and shed many tears about what was happening at the school. I think you should make sure you know the facts before you spread gossip. I have been praying for the school for many years and wish the new principal much success. I hope he can bring it back to what it used to be, a great little school.

Holy Family School is back on the right track! It has historically been a fine Catholic School. The last couple of years the Principal did not do the school any favors. There has been a drastic drop in enrollment, a lot of rumor mongering, in addition to a large turnover in teachers during her years at the helm. She damaged the reputation of the school with her actions. She is gone now and the new Principal seems to be very dedicated, friendly, capable and a quick study. He wants HFS to be the best it can be. So YES, HFS is back on the right track. If I had another child I would send them there in a heartbeat. In response to the 8/15 comment, I keep a close eye on the school. There was no walk-out! The 2nd Grade Teacher has been at HFS for 5 or 6 years and from all I have ever known and heard she has been an excellent, loyal and caring teacher. She has always been a pleasure to deal with. If she wants to maintain a friendship with the past staff of the school where is the harm in that? Children love her and school parents appreciate her!!
--Submitted by a parent

This is a great little school. My children graduated from here and got an excellent education.....there is just a few things you need to know. Be wary of the current second grade teacher. She associates with former staff members and parents that staged a walk out 2 years ago in protest to the last principal. They really damaged the reputation of the school to the point that I don't think the school will recover. She continues to associate with these people. To the parents that posted on 6/14/11 and 6/16/11 you are part of the problem too!! No loyalty!! As for the new principal -he hasn't been there long enough to have any point of view about the school.

We absolutely love Holy Family school where our children have had not only an excellent education but a strong grounding in their faith. It is important for us that our children receive a rigorous academic program to prepare them for high school and college, but it is just as important that our children attend a school where respect and compassion are fundamental values throughout the school. The recent addition of a technology center has really been an outstanding new feature and we are delighted with our children's ability to be on the cutting edge of technology and still be in a smal school environment. We highly recommend Holy Family school!
--Submitted by a parent

This is by far the best school in the area. It combines small school charm with successful academics and true love your neighbor kind of values. The science program makes learning fun, my kids love getting to go to lab every week. I can't imagine having them anywhere else. The new principal is kind and willing to listen. From my observations, he has an easy nature and seems very comfortable with kids, parents, and teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

We are a current, recent family. A couple of months ago we decided that we would not be returning to HFS for the 2011-2012 school year. The previous school principal was terrible at communicating with parents---and teachers too it seemed. Also, the Board seemed to want to try and dictate too much at times. We loved our child's teacher but some of the teachers seemed to have been turned off and checked out. So in the best interest of our child we had decided to leave HFS. Now we are having second thoughts. The new principal seems to be much more approachable and willing to listen to parents. A couple of the teachers who didn't seem to want to be at HFS anymore have left. The returning teachers seem to be getting reenergized at the prospect of HFS moving forward in a refreshed manner under new leadership. Our family hasn't made a final decision but the new principal and the new attitude(?) surrounding HFS is something our family will be considering. We are Catholic and even if we don't return we pray that the new principal and the returning staff members will indeed take 'the little school that could' back to its Catholic values and community welcoming roots.
--Submitted by a parent

We are also a family who left HFS at the end of the year in 2010. I have a challenge for other HFS families, former, present and future....1) Reflect on the readings from today (2 Corinthinas 8:1-9, and Matt 5:43-48 - generosity and radical love), and then 2) call the new principal, Mr. Stone, and speak with him, or stop by and introduce yourself. That's what I did. He is articulate and warm, has a great respect for his teachers, their vocation as Christian educators and the knowledge and experience they bring to their classrooms. The teachers are excited about the new direction and fresh perspective, happy to be heard and respected once again. Although our daughter is excelling academically in her current school,(in no small way because of the dedication of her HFS teachers), I miss the closeness of a shared faith community that defined HFS, the blessing of that extra layer of love and conscience and prayer surrounding us every day. I am excited about the changes, and the new leadership at HFS. I will keep this beautiful little school and the entire staff close in my prayers. Go see for yourself before you make a decision or post a comment. It's only right...
--Submitted by a parent