St. Columba School Annual Report 2

ST. COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL

2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Teaching Gospel truth and moral value in an environment of academic excellence according to Catholic tradition.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Friends,

Everything we do at St. Columba is in fulfillment of our Mission of “Teaching Gospel truth and moral value in an environment of academic excellence according to Catholic tradition” – and as part of that teaching, we believe every child deserves access to a high-quality education grounded in faith in God and strong and supportive relationships with teachers and staff who understand how to meet their individual needs and support their ability to thrive in school and in life. With so many overlapping challenges in the world around us, our work has never been more important.

ed our community many opportunities to live and practice our mission and I ve efforts to bring high-quality education to our children and community, f St. Columba and beyond. The engagement that epitomized the past academic year is reflected in your overwhelming support of St. Columba. As you will see in the 2022-2023 Annual Report, our community came together as donors, volunteers, advocates, and sponsors to make our School’s work successful. St. Columba received more than $245,000 in donations, surpassing our fundraising goal. Your generosity of time, talent, and treasure helps make St. Columba’s vision a reality, empowering lifelong learners to go out into the world to become loving, serving, compassionate, and forgiving people. We are profoundly grateful for the trust you put in our school and for your continued partnership and generosity.

Here are some of the highlights we were able to accomplish this year:

We have made it a goal to strengthen efforts toward faculty professional development. We began by seeking an expert in curriculum design, instructional strategy innovation, and special education. Wendy Quick will provide differentiated instructional tools and strategies and professional development for our entire faculty for a minimum of one year and perform exit strategies to measure success. She will also offer grade-level group and individualized support to teachers–as well as support us in serving students with individualized needs. Wendy has 22 years of experience and is currently an adjunct professor at Fort Lewis College, specializing in systematically teaching structured literacy and methods for students across all learning abilities. Our goal is this will be a multi-year endeavor.

In our children’s programs, we continue our efforts to make self-awareness and social-emotional intelligence a priority through our daily Friendzy curriculum. Friendzy is a social-emotional character development program designed for schools and is a proven solution to tackle the friendship challenges every student faces. This school-wide program offers students engaging daily instruction for pre-k through 8th grade.

We have also purchased a new science curriculum for both the elementary school and middle school: Elevate Science by Savaas Learning Company. The series comes with multiple tools to assist the teachers, including diagnostic, formative, summative, and performance tasks to engage student interest and learning. This is a proven program with multiple support platforms for the teachers and the students. Each classroom set has a variety of hands-on experiments to enrich learning with activities and assignment production to come home throughout the year.

In the middle school, we have added a new STEAM Lab elective where students will learn to use the principles of engineering, design thinking, coding, robotics, and technology. The lab encourages experimenting, making, and sharing innovative ideas and solutions integrating and extending the rich middle school social studies, science, math, creative writing, and arts curriculum. We are also excited to announce the first Lego Robotics League after-school program graciously coordinated and led by school parents Erin Cuthbertson and Mindy Potter. Students in grades 5-8 will build an autonomous robot using engineering concepts related to an annual theme and present their work at the Regional Tournament in Durango. We are also pleased to continue to partner with the Powerhouse to offer weekly after-school STEAM lab enrichment to students grades K-4.

I hope you are as optimistic as I am for the year ahead. I begin each day with renewed hope, prayer, and excitement about everything we are learning and building together, and I look forward to our continued collaboration as St. Columba works to strengthen and support our community in which all children grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. Together, we will embrace our beloved traditions and create new ones, bringing forward St. Columba’s mission for current and future students.

With deep appreciation,

K i Chi k Class

VALUES our CORE

We believe If you have a faith base, a moral compass, and a disciplined approach to your life, however, you measure excellence and success, whether it be academics, business, trades, or quality of life, it will always take care of itself.

And we do this all inside of a small community Achieving this consistently requires seeking the truth in balancing the roles of a Catholic school A Catholic school must not ignore the religious aspect and become obsessed with academic excellence Nor can we ignore academic excellence and only focus on the spiritual

We live in community and we recognize the responsibility each of us has to the greater good.

Our academic programs are infused with an insistence that we care for and engage our neighbors, both in and around our campus through our much-loved “Student Buddy” Program and community service projects

The Buddy Program offers the opportunity for older students in 5th–8th grade to nurture meaningful connections and interactions with younger students in K-3rd grade During this coordinated programming, students learn about community norms, engage in important lessons on social-emotional learning, meet with their buddy groups, and so much more.

At St. Columba, we nurture our students pre-k through 8th to grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. We offer and guide them in a full liberal arts education to develop the whole person to go out into the world to lead as loving, serving, compassionate, and forgiving people.

What makes St. Columba School different?

It’s simple and is built around these core values. These values guide us in all grades and all areas of our lives.

In a world that can surround us in the shallow and superficial, we know that when young people are exposed to God and taught to lead and serve, they respond with enthusiasm and generosity.

Our curriculum is built from the ground up with hands-on, collaborative approaches.

We want our students not just to see, hear, and think, but to make, do and feel St Columba students forge connections and explore the outdoors on class trips

Points of Pride

We strive to have the highest standards in our region for excellence in education and whole-person formation. Our teachers earn 100% compensation as compared to peers in the region, so that we can attract and retain the best teachers and help them to advance their skills.

All employees receive full benefits funded completely by the school budget. We have a fully funded liberal arts education program including Art, Spanish, STEM, Music, and Theatre.

Anyone who desires a Catholic education receives it, regardless of their ability to pay.

We are a full inclusionary school celebrating the gifts of all God’s children. Students graduating from St. Columba enter leadership roles, honors, AP, and sophomore classes when enrolling in high school.

Our Finances

Overview of Revenue

Overview of Expenses

*The difference of 72,337 is a net asset to be used for future expenses.

St. Columba’s accomplishments are not possible without the generous support of our donors. Gifts to the Annual Campain are put to immediate use to support a myriad of needs including current and newer initiatives for enhanced academic and enrichment opportunities that ensure the vitality of our mission and its impact on the lives of our students. Every dollar matters because it directly supports our students, teachers, and staff, financial aid, special programs, and a variety of other essential functions. When the fiscal year ended on June 30, 2022, together we raised a collective $245,000.

1882 GIVING SOCIETY

Named in honor of our founding year, the 1882 Giving Society will recognize the individuals, families, and businesses who make gifts (including matching gifts) for $1,882 or more. Membership is renewable annually. Members will be recognized in the school's upcoming Annual Report and will receive invitations to special events. The society celebrates donors who represent every constituency, including parents, grandparents, alumni, parishioners, and our many friends of St. Columba School. We thank each donor for their generosity and commitment to the students, teachers, and families that St. Columba serves.

THANK YOU TO OUR 1882 GIVING SOCIETY MEMBERS

Bank of Colorado

Paula Berg

Mike and Julie Best

Trevor and Catie Bird

Paul and Monica Broderick

Bank of Colorado

Paul and Elizabeth Cahill

Chad and Mandi Carpenter

Kevin and Danielle Chick

Classique Builders

Tom Crowley

Custom Built

Durango Motor Company

Willie Elmore

Frank and Danielle Enea

Joan Ems

Dylan and Christina Foreman

Jonathan and Mandie Frazier

Jeffrey Fultz

Brigid and Matt Gerber

Michael and Jane Goessel

Zach and Rebecca Green

Greg and Candace Haroun

Joan Heil

Mimi Kleist

Ed and Kay Kosnik

Paul and Renee Kosnik

Father James Koenigsfeld

Cale and Lindsay Lafferty

Tim & Sandra LaFrance

Charitable Fund

LaPlata Electric Association, Inc

Legacy Properties West Sotheby’s

International Realty

Sam and Diane Loughman

Robert and Annie Lieb

Edward Victor & Megan Longinotti

Martin Family Fund

Gordon and Jessica Matlock

Don and Lynn May

Peter and Mariah May-Ostendorp

Doug and Kit McCrady

Peter and Barbara McDonald

Jason and Damiane McMillen

Kyle and Marissa Montgomerey

Zach and Aimee Morse

John and Abbi Munn

Michael Neeb

Mark and Pat Norton

Father Kevin Novack

Brady and Michelina Paulek

Paul and Dianne Peeples

Jon and Kim Penny

Hal and Janet Pierce

Riverview Animal Hospital

Leann Sigle-McGraw

Shane Sigle and Dot Clemens

Graham Smith and Shannon Mazur

Paul and Moira Smith

Joseph and Amy Roberston

Justin and Ami Riggert

Ryan and Kerry Siggins

Walter and Carol Siggins

Jeff Speicher and Thess Ekberg

SoCo Wood & Windows

StoneAge

Patrick and Amy Stiefel

Swan Global Investments

TL Roofing Exteriors

Urban Market

Brian and Karen Talley

Charles and Betty Talley

Joe and Robyn Vagneur

Gil and Jacqui Van Lunsen

Skip and Barbara Vaughn

Zane and Vikki Wells

Jeremy and Lily Wissing

Robert Zmarzlak

The Wells Group

THANK YOU DONORS

$1881 - $1000

John and Erin Brach

Wayne Bedor

Greg Caton

Rodney and Susan Cross

David and Karen Green

Glenn Gundrey

Robert and Debra Egger

Randy and Kristin Hays

Peggy Holliday

Raymond Hutton

Julie Jaeger

John and Peggy Kolb

Paul and Amy LeRoux

Steve Conklin and Lisa Mastny

Lonnie and Dena Malouff

Morgan and Elena Manulik

Douglas O’Keefe

Hal and Janey Pierce

David and Amber Rushworth

James Scheel

Cameron and Linda Stevens

Sheila Switzer

John Tordoff

Michael Tracy

Ryan and Amber Tracy

Kadrian Tucker-Whisenhunt

Brett and Jenni Ziercher

$999 -

$500

Frank and Karen Anesi

Paul and Jackie Beasley

Chad and Sheryl Bidart

Mary Ann Carroll

Bruce Carter

Matthew and Mary Lynn Clark

Jordan and Charlotte Dimmick

Durango Magazine

Trevor and Joy Ehlers

Dru English

Robert Evans

Feldman Law Firm

Danny and Cara Flynt

Reuben and Marlene Frazier

Shelley Gundrey

Susie Hopkins

Corbet and Marianne Hoover

Laura Jaquez

Ben and Holly Jason

Harlan and Jeana Kelley

Johan and Julie Kleva

L&C Konz Charitable Fund

David and Cathrin Krebes

Patty Mack

Ryan and Michelle Martyn

Tom and Nancy Mazur

Dan and Erin McGuinness

Leslie Meiering

Mike and Sandy Mericle

Erik and Kristen Mischker

Joseph and Betsy Murphy

Brigid O’Holleran

Richard and Molly Patterson

Mary Poillion

Hillary Raab and Aaron Gebhard

Leroy and Donna Rheault

Timothy and Alice Rose

Boyd and Heather Smith

Scott and Gail Smith

Tile & Light Art of Durango

Peter and Joni Vanderbilt

Kelli and Austin Wallace

Kevin and Ali Wegrzyn

Katherine Zaremba

$499 - $250

Jim Byrd

Steven and Renee Byrnes

Thomas and Linda Charnock

David and Erin Cuthberston

Casey and Shea Dean

Denny and Elaine Ehlers

Brandon and Brittney England

Kaira Haycock

Kelly Hebbard

Rodney and Kelsey Hocker

Sherri Holmer

Steven Jones

Matt and Jo Lee

Neil Lindenmeyer

Tim and Sarah Mainzer

Wendy Maley

Kathleen Mambretti

Gilbert and Heidi Martinez

Sally McDermott

John and Jeanne Moore

Dale and Ruth Munn

YOUR GIFT MATTERS

Up To $250

Eileen Albrecht

Cindy Aldrich

Ray Archuleta

Marie Archuleta

Matt Andres and Lisa Noyes

Ian and Katie Barrowclough

Jennifer Barrowclough

Tyler Bates

Rosemary Becker

Brooke Benton

Jody Berger

Kathy Bierly

Lois Black

Debra Bonnie

Edward Bonnie

Paul Bouffard

Francis Boyd

Kenneth Bowie

David and Ann Brach

Jacob Branch Boyle

Kevin and Shanna Brennan

Jessica Brooks

Kris Buehler

Valentina Casanova

Susan Carpenter

Terry and Gail Cartwright

Amanda Cheripka

Brian and Michelle Clemishire

Susan Clemishire

Lauren Clewley

Dustin Crouse

Edward and Karen Conklin

Robin Cox

Lindsey and James Crittenden

Cathy Cray

Kristy and Dave Cunningham

Alison Cuppia

Agnes Dale

Betsy Davis

Mr. and Mrs. Deluzio

Maria Donnelly

Mike and Stacey Douglas

John and Paulette Dugas

Catherine Eagen

Miriam Easter

Thomas and Diane Eckenrode

Michael Eckstein

Ute Eckstein

Dorothy Eisenbraun

Marilyn Ellis

Carol Elston

Frank and Marie Enea, Jr.

Karla Erickson

Bobbi Esancy Lake

Pete and Dixie Fagerlin

Don Farrell

Darlene Fincher

Barbara Foreman

Margaret Fretwell

Melissa Forouhar

Lacie Fuller

Dennis Galeazzi

Bill and DeVere Gamble

John and Ulys Gardella

Larry and Susan Gates

Jacob Genualdi

Angie and Michelle Gladson

Susie Graff

Carl and Nelida Gregg

Lydia Gregg

Elisa Guida

David and Cathrin Krebes

Heikki and Melissa Hall

Molly Hamilton

Robert Hargrove

Rosemary Hargrove

Tobias Hargrove

Jeffrey Hart

Dillon and Natarika Hartman

Mary Hays

Mike Hays

John Herford

Maria Hernandez

Jared and Skye Hidden

Krista Herman

John and Lynn Hoffman

Glenn and Tina Hood

Lauren Hostiuck

Kevin Hronich

Marc and Tamara Huber

Carol Lee Hughes

Paul and Cheryl Inglat

Rebecca Jacobson

Lynn Johnson

Keith and Amanda Johnston

Robert Johnston

Dan and Christina King

John and Judy Kinn

Don and Catherine Knaresboro

Paul and Catherine Koehler

Jermey and Julia Koschke

Pete and Morgan Kraska

Ivan Kubeldis

Alexandra Kubin

Casey and Margo Lafferty

Paula Lafferty

Jayne Lahey

Timo Lahdekorpi

Mary Lasser

Margaret Ledford

Lucille Lobato

Margaret Lopenske

Diane Lyon

Terri Machin

Jennifer Macho-Seekins

Ik and Arawyn Madu

Billy Mansour

Sarah Mares

Jane Martin

Ashley McArthur

John and Susan McAward

Cynthia McMahon

Mike McCormick & Jennifer Hargrove

Larry McMenimen

Thomas Martinez

Jessie

Nancy

Janet

Martha

Amy

Denise

Steve

Kameron

Russ

DIAMOND DIAMOND

PLATINUM PLATINUM

SILVER SILVER

BRONZE