St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School

Infobox School2
name = St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School

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motto =
established = 1948
type = Private
locale =
grades = Pre-K-8th
head_name = Principal
address = 400 East High
city = Grants
state = New Mexico 87020
country =USA
students = 101 (as of August 14, 2008)
faculty = 20 (as of August 14, 2008)
principal = Maria Mirabal
board of trustees president = Mac Juarez
colors = colorbox|Green colorbox|White
Green, White
mascot = Roman Warriors
website = (unofficial) http://stteresacatholicschool.synthasite.com
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St. Teresa Catholic School (built in 1948) is the only Catholic School in Grants, New Mexico. It is one of four elementary schools that serves Grants. Out of the 134 students at St. Teresa in the 07-08 school year, around 100 were Catholic. Due to the small population of Grants, (10,000) the schools' highest enrollment was 185 kids in the 2001-2002 school year. Its principal is Maria A. Mirabal.

History

The school was a dream from the Ursuline sisters from Kentucky. The school was named after St. Teresa of Avila. The school was founded with the community center in 1948. Then, they built the smaller building in 1964. The school is the only NCA accredited private school in the Grants/Milan Area, in which it serves grades Pre-k thru 8th, with principal Jerry Garcia. Before Jerry Garcia became principal, the school wasn't NCA accredited, but became accredited in the 1997-1998 school year, after the Diocese of Gallup urged the school to. The school entered its 58th school year in August 2007, and its 11 year with Jerry Garcia, with over 130 children attending the school. It is also the only school in the Diocese of Gallup that goes to church every day.

Athletics

The school's mascot is the warriors. St. Teresa has a basketball and a track program. Basketball is from November to February, and track from March to May. The basketball season ends with the annual St. Teresa Warriors tournament.

School Newspaper

The school began with the St. Teresa "Times" in Fall of 2006. It is a bi-weekly published issue with 9 issues in the 2006-2007 school year, and 9 for the 2007-2008 school year. The newspaper was run by 8th grade teacher Justine Triplehorn (late 2006-early 2008). It is continuing through the 2008-2009 school year.

School Fundraisers

Since St. Teresa is a very small private school, the school must make money for different funds. For example, Each student is required to sell $80 of World's Finest Chocolate (WFC) in September, and sell two lottery tickets in April for the Annual St. Teresa lottery. (Tickets are $100 each.) The gross earnings for the candy sales are usually around $8,000, and the lottery $30,000.

NCA Accreditation

Before the 1998-1999 school year, Jerry Garcia was named principal of the Catholic School. The school wasn't accredited. After being urged by the Diocese of Gallup to go under the accreditaion cycle, the school became accredited under the NCA in fall 1998. Since then, the school has been under the accreditation. "I am happy to say that my time at St. Teresa, the school stayed under the NCA accredition, with no citations," stated former princpal Jerry Garcia. The school is due for NCA accreditiation this fall.

Principal History

Jerry Garcia Era (1998-2008)

Jerry Garcia was principal of St. Teresa Catholic School from 1998-2008, & the 6th grade teacher of St. Teresa for the 1997-1998 school year. During his tenture as principal, Garcia recalls geting the school under the NCA accreditation in 1998, getting an intercom system 1999, and getting air conditioners in 2000. Before St. Teresa, Garcia worked for the GCCS, and was the Superintendent 1976-1978. Garcia retired June 30, 2008.

Maria Mirabal Era (2008-Present)

Maria Miarbal was named Garcia's succesor on May 29, 2008. She was the 6th Grade teacher of St. Teresa from 2004-2008.

School Facts

* St. Teresa is the only NCA accredited school in the Grants/Milan area that isn't part od GCCS.
* It is the only Catholic School in the Diocese of Gallup that goes to church everyday.