“It takes a village” as they say, and nothing could be more true about the efforts put in by the Star of the Sea School (9th & Geary) and its community to build a new science lab.
Last Sunday, the school formally opened their new Father William Duggan Science Lab, named after a former priest who was at the parish in the mid 1950s to early 1960s.
“Father Duggan’s kindness and sense of humor gave him an instant connection with the children at school, their families and parishioners,” the school said.
The state-of-the-art science lab will be used by students in kindergarten through middle school, allowing students to utilize new technologies as they advance through the school’s science curriculum.
It was a real community effort to raise funds and construct the new lab. The school raised approximately $325,000 in total, with roughly a third coming from grants, a third from a major donor, and the rest from over 230 donations, large and small, from parents, alumni and parishioners.
“While the 1/3 may not seem like a lot, it was that initial 1/3 that allow us the leverage to get the matching donations, as it demonstrated the serious commitment from the community to build this state of the art lab,” said Star of the Sea supporter Stella Bialous.
Parent volunteers also stepped in during the construction process to help paint, assemble furniture, clean up, etc. and manage the project.
Congratulations to Star of the Sea on this great new science lab!
Sarah B.
Sisters Judith Breslin and Katie O’Shea stand in front of the tiles commemorating science lab donors