2002-2003 Annual Report - Holy Family Catholic High School

Fall2003A ‘First-Class’ GraduationBy Christina Cappechi, The Catholic SpiritPhotos by Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic SpiritIf you build it, they will come.Like Kevin Costner in “Field ofDreams,” the founders of HolyFamily Catholic High School inVictoria discovered that cornfieldscan yield miracles.Lifetouch photography offered graduates free proofsof their diploma conferral. Here, JoCee Ramseyposes with former President Paul Stauffacher.On May 29, the newest Catholichigh school in the archdiocese sentforth its first harvest: 31 graduatesrobed in green.“We are making history,” MollyBaker said in her valedictoryaddress. “We came to a new schoolin the middle of a cornfield in a cityI had never traveled to. A schoolwithout a past gave us the opportunityto write its future.”The event marked the first time inmore than three decades that aCatholic high school in the archdiocesegraduated an inaugural class.Holy Family faculty met the occasionwith a combination of pride andnostalgia.“I wonder if the following classeswill be as aggressive in pushing usas far as we have come,” said principalKathie Brown. “This groupknew what they wanted. They sawa more complete vision and theypushed all of us to meet goals muchfaster than we might have. I appreciatethat assertiveness.”Of course, any new venture bringsgrowing pains.“They’re pioneers,” said Jim Walker,assistant principal and scienceteacher, who gave the facultyaddress. “They’ve had to break ineverything and I think it drove thema little crazy sometimes. They didn’tcomplain much and they couldhave.”The graduates had only positivethings to say on commencementnight. Eric Fleischhacker, whotransferred from Benilde-St.Margaret’s in St. Louis Park, creditedHoly Family for turning his lifearound.“It has exceeded my expectations,”he said. Fleischhacker attributeshis improved grades to the closeattention he received from HolyImmediately following Mass, graduates gathered outsidethe gymnasium to make final preparations fortheir entrance march. Here, Megan Calice helpsAshley Neil position her graduation cap.J.P. Savaryn was among the seniors to expresstheir appreciation to HFCHS teachers.Family teachers. The Mound residentsaid that he feels well-preparedto attend the Institution ofProduction Recording in Minneapolisnext fall.J.P. Savaryn, who transferred fromWaconia High School, appreciatesthe strong faith Holy Familyinstilled in him. “Holy Familytaught me to see Christ in othersand to live every day as if it wereyour last. That’s what everyone’sabout here.”Parents seem pleased with the experience,too. John Adie ofChanhassen appreciated HolyFamily’s small size and closeness tohis Chanhassen home.“You’re more significant at a smallschool,” Adie said. He credits theschool for influencing his daughterLiz’s decision to attend a smallCatholic college. Liz, who transferredto Holy Family from theAcademy of Holy Angels in Richfield,will attend St. Mary’s in Winonanext fall.Wherever the graduates go, principalKathie Brown hopes they tacklethe future with resilience, a spiritshe says their teachers routinelymodeled.“Nothing daunts us,” Brown said.“People do 800 jobs a day here. Wetake care of the problem at hand.”...continued on next page-5 -