March 25 Parent Meeting: Margaret Farruggio
Thank-you all for being here tonight to listen.
My name is Margaret Farruggio and am representing 8th grade.
We got to STAR because our son’s soccer team didn’t show up at Marina Green and in micro-soccer you can join any team. Turns out, as we were strolling the fields, STAR needed a player that day. After that he was asked to join the team. We essentially met all the parents of that class; we heard about the school and he shadowed. We appreciated the extra-curriculars – including second language afterschool classes in Mandarin and Cantonese. We appreciated the diversity of background and open spirit. In 2nd grade our son joined STAR, his first memorable observation was that there were no bullies at STAR.
I was raised Catholic, my husband not. The priest who married us 30 years ago asked that my husband be open to exposing our children to Catholicism – besides asking questions that seemed to harken the 19th or 16th century. With our son’s enrollment to STAR we kept our word and the community of STAR was bringing me back to Catholicism. My mom couldn’t have been happier to have a grandson in Catholic school. She did her best to ensure that her children were raised Catholic.
Fast forward – I came across an essay in my son’s papers recently that addressed “why I value my Catholic education”. He stated that he learned morals and respect in ways he didn’t see in his friends outside of STAR. He stated that Mr. Hanley brought him closer to God. I found that essay in a pile; he doesn’t share everything with us. He doesn’t need to. I attribute that to the confidence STAR developed in him to be both strong academically and in judgment. I didn’t realize the depth of the current controversy until recently because my son doesn’t necessarily process “issues” with us. My disappointment is that now, after being segregated and sat in the back from blessings – he’s kind of “oh well”. My disappointment is that after he found the goodness, graciousness, and kindness I associate with the core values of Christianity and Catholicism, he may not hold on to it given what has recently transpired. Where he was finding the value of Catholicism, he may now be reconsidering.
No one can take my Catholicism from me; I want my son to hold on to its spirit too. STAR has the community you want to raise your child. Don’t let this school change.
My name is Margaret Farruggio and am representing 8th grade.
We got to STAR because our son’s soccer team didn’t show up at Marina Green and in micro-soccer you can join any team. Turns out, as we were strolling the fields, STAR needed a player that day. After that he was asked to join the team. We essentially met all the parents of that class; we heard about the school and he shadowed. We appreciated the extra-curriculars – including second language afterschool classes in Mandarin and Cantonese. We appreciated the diversity of background and open spirit. In 2nd grade our son joined STAR, his first memorable observation was that there were no bullies at STAR.
I was raised Catholic, my husband not. The priest who married us 30 years ago asked that my husband be open to exposing our children to Catholicism – besides asking questions that seemed to harken the 19th or 16th century. With our son’s enrollment to STAR we kept our word and the community of STAR was bringing me back to Catholicism. My mom couldn’t have been happier to have a grandson in Catholic school. She did her best to ensure that her children were raised Catholic.
Fast forward – I came across an essay in my son’s papers recently that addressed “why I value my Catholic education”. He stated that he learned morals and respect in ways he didn’t see in his friends outside of STAR. He stated that Mr. Hanley brought him closer to God. I found that essay in a pile; he doesn’t share everything with us. He doesn’t need to. I attribute that to the confidence STAR developed in him to be both strong academically and in judgment. I didn’t realize the depth of the current controversy until recently because my son doesn’t necessarily process “issues” with us. My disappointment is that now, after being segregated and sat in the back from blessings – he’s kind of “oh well”. My disappointment is that after he found the goodness, graciousness, and kindness I associate with the core values of Christianity and Catholicism, he may not hold on to it given what has recently transpired. Where he was finding the value of Catholicism, he may now be reconsidering.
No one can take my Catholicism from me; I want my son to hold on to its spirit too. STAR has the community you want to raise your child. Don’t let this school change.