TITLE: Commemorating the 115th academic year of St. Mary's Catholic School in West.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 115th academic year of St. Mary's Catholic School in West.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, St. Mary's Catholic School in West is celebrating its 115th academic year in 2015, and this is a fitting opportunity to commemorate this venerable institution's contributions to the community; and WHEREAS, St. Mary's Church of the Assumption was organized in West in 1892; members of the congregation wanted to provide a Catholic education for their children, so Father F. G. Sebik arranged with Reverend Mother Florence of the Sisters of Divine Providence in Castroville to have several nuns come to West and open a school; and WHEREAS, In October 1899, Sister Mary M. Pelagia and three other nuns began teaching children of the parish in a small building that included three classrooms as well as living quarters for the sisters; many of the students lived too far away to walk to school every day, so St. Mary's began to accept boarding students, and enrollment grew so quickly that by 1909, the school was forced to turn boarders away; and WHEREAS, A brick schoolhouse, with six classrooms and an auditorium, was constructed in 1917, and by 1928, seven nuns were teaching at St. Mary's; over the years, the facility continued to grow and develop as the enrollment and the staff increased, and new extracurricular programs provided increasingly diverse activities for the students; the school was accredited by the Texas Catholic Conference in 1967; and WHEREAS, Although the last Sister of Divine Providence left the school in 1984, St. Mary's Catholic School remains a vital part of the community; today, it serves more than 140 students from prekindergarten through the eighth grade, helping them to reach their highest potential spiritually, academically, physically, and socially; and WHEREAS, The ongoing commitment and mutual support of the school's teachers, parents, and students ensure that the historic tradition of Catholic education continues to thrive in West; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 115th academic year of St. Mary's Catholic School and extend to the school's staff and students sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for St. Mary's Catholic School as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Kacal Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2393 was adopted by the House on May 6, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House