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Saint David School, Saint David's, Saint Davids School, or ST. D.[1] is a Roman Catholic elementary, middle school and nursery school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in the Richmond Heights District of Richmond, California, USA.[1] The school serves students from throughout the West County area. Its patron saint and namesake is Saint David of Wales (Welsh: Dewi Sant).[2][3]
History edit
The school's parish was established in 1951 followed by the school with four grades in 1963. An additional grade was added every year until 1967; all this while the building was still under construction.[4] The baseball field was created by bulldozing an empty lot. This was done by local cement contractor Roy Kendall, the father of students at St. David’s in the 1960s. The Sisters of Notre Dame provided administration and instruction until June 1984[4]. Since then, the school has been run by laity.[4] A kindergarten was added in 1982, extended care known as the "Willows" program commenced in 1985, and in 1987 pre-kindergarten was added.[4] Also in 1985 the school won the National Award for Excellence in Education.[4] Facilities were expanded in 1992 with computer and science labs, and grants funded a state-of-the-art computer lab in 1999.[4]
Mr. Clarence Lee was a beloved groundskeeper and gardener at this school for years. A very self-described confident and honest man he began his life as a sharecropper slave in Louisiana and ended raising two daughters with his wife in Richmond. He offered advice to students for several generations until his death in the late 2000.[5]
Facilities edit
The school is located in the residential Richmond Heights neighborhood located on the far north of the Berkeley Hills in the city of Richmond straddling the border with the community of East Richmond Heights. A West Contra Costa Unified School District adult school is located across the street.[6] Adjacent to the school is the Parish Church which receives worshipers from across central Richmond and beyond, under Father John Blaker. A residence across the street from the church provides space for the Parish Office, and housing for the priest.
The campus is situated on a hillside, and consists of a two-story building with direct access on both levels connected by stairs and bridges. The main building houses: offices, a library, the teacher's lounge, classrooms, and storage space on the upper level. This is in addition to more classrooms, storage, a kitchen, cafeteria and multiuse space on the lower level. The lower level is generally known as "Echo Hall", due to the howling winds from the alleys and north yard. The former convent building next door houses the preschool with playground and extended care programs. The two yards, "North Yard" and "South Yard", with play structures, are used for morning assembly, recess, special events, sports, and parking. The adjacent baseball field, "Kringle Field", named after former principal Barbara Kringle's late husband, completes the facilities.
The school is located in industrial Richmond, California and as such the air is often contaminated with various particulate matter. Research by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and University of Massachusetts at Amherst has shown that nevertheless the school is in the 60th percentile for clean air nationally. However exposures to cancer causing aeolian pollutants are made up of 58% sulfuric acid, manganese and related compounds, and an additional of nickel and related compounds. The emitters of these toxics most responsible for them are the Chevron Richmond Refinery, Pacific Steel Casting Company in Berkeley, the Tesoro Refinery in Martinez, the Conoco Philips Rodeo Refinery, and the city's own General Chemical Company[7]
Structure edit
The school colors are green and white, and the mascot is the Grizzly Bear, not unlike the nearby University of California. The school's uniform consists of dark blue pants, white shirts, green shirts, green jackets or sweaters and green and burgundy plaid skirts and jumpers.
Tuition assistance is available from the school in addition to logistical support for scholarships and grants. The student body was reported as being 40% Caucasian, 39% Hispanic, 10% African American, 4% Asian American, and 4% Native American with a student to teacher ratio of 19:1 by SchoolFamily.com[8]
Individual classes attend mass on a select day of the week and on the first Friday of every month the entire school attends mass.[9]
The school publishes a weekly newsletter in print and online called the Goings On which documents events, sports, topics of interest and public announcements.[10]
The school offers student council, choir, team sports (both boys' and girls' baseball/softball, basketball and volleyball teams). All students starting in 4th grade and all parents must perform a requisite amount of community service. The most common forms of community services are organized by the school itself and include crossing guard, soup kitchen, convalescent home, and carnival or fundraiser duties. Beyond minimum requirements students may perform additional "hours" of community work to earn rewards and certificates, while parents may purchase hours and effectually opt out.
The annual Fall Festival which was for years known as the May Fair and the Halloween Carnival are events featuring games, food, dance and community socialization, and function as a fund-raising opportunity for the establishment.
Notes edit
- ^ a b Saint David School, Home Page, access date June 11, 2008
- ^ Introduction to St. David School, Saint David School website, access date June 11, 2008
- ^ Principals Message, Saint David School, access date June 11, 2008
- ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference
histwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression Hard Travlin', Errol Lincoln Uys, page 113
- ^ Directions to St. David School, Saint David School website, access date June 11, 2008
- ^ St David School, USA Today, 2011, access date 21-12-2011
- ^ St. David School profile, SchoolFamily.com, 2011, access date 21-12-2011
- ^ Financial Aid, Saint David School website, access date June 11, 2008
- ^ Our Web Site, Saint David School, Retrieved June 11, 2008
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Saint Davids School
External links edit
| External images | |
|---|---|
 2008 graduating class in front of Saint David Church, Rev. Blaker and principal Pires on left hand side | |
| Church and North Yard | |
| Statue of Saint David in the lobby |
Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland
Category:Education in Richmond, California
Category:Educational institutions established in 1963
Category:Catholic elementary schools in the United States
Category:Schools in Contra Costa County, California