Holy Spirit Catholic School is a parochial, parish-supported, coeducational school within the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Its philosophy and mission, which evolves from teachings of the Catholic Church on catechesis, is expressed best in the National Catechetical Directory Sharing The Light of Faith.

“… Catholic schools are to be communities of faith in which the Christian message, the experience of community, worship and social

concern are integrated in the total experience of students, their parents, and members of the faculty.”

Families seeking that type of school and faith environment first founded Holy Spirit Parish in 1964 with 300 families from two area Catholic churches. One year later, the original school structure was built to accommodate middle school students. Steadily, both the parish and the school grew until, in 1985, school enrollment reached 245 students. Dedicated to providing the facilities in which to fulfill the parish’s educational mission for the children, the parish expanded the original church and school structure between 1985 and 1988. That construction added a new complex, consisting of a new banquet room, cafeteria, library/media center, administrative offices, clinic, gymnasium, and additional classrooms for the school and the religious education programs.

During the last decade, the parish and school have experienced continued growth. Luckily, the community had the benefit of foresight from parish leaders Msgr. Larry Walsh and his successor, Fr. Tony Pesek, who both have been instrumental in planning the next phase of expansion and improvements necessary to support the school’s growth into the new millennium. To meet the demand for admission, the school began the planned systematic doubling of each grade level, beginning with the K5 class in 1991. The 2001 graduating eighth grade class will complete the school’s nine-year population growth. The parish now serves 3,026 families, and the school’s enrollment has nearly doubled to its current cap of 500 students in grades 4K - 8. To house Holy Spirit’s burgeoning community, the school built a second structure in 1998, adding more classrooms, new administrative offices, a second cafeteria, additional meeting rooms, an art room, a resource room, additional bathrooms, and a second teacher workroom. The project also included renovations to existing classrooms, the clinic, and the new ADA-approved playground.

Because of the church and school’s landlocked position, the expansion plans involved careful, intricate planning, cooperation and dedication by all parish and school members. Meetings included longtime parish members, new families, faculty, staff, and parents from every level in the school. Even the youngest students became involved in the collaboration on classrooms and playground designs. In every instance, the community rose to the occasion. Take, for example, the need for improved technology. After the new building was completed, the school’s technology and development committees set a goal to finish out the new computer lab with the latest equipment for the students. Intentionally, the goal was not set too high, since the committee was mindful that the Holy Spirit community had just recently given their time, talent and resources to the school’s building project. However, the response was overwhelming. In just three years of the five-year technology plan, the lab was outfitted with enough equipment to complete the committee’s vision and update the school’s older, original lab. In addition, classrooms will be wired to meet school-wide technology requirements.

While Holy Spirit’s physical growth is a sign of its success and great community support, it is the school’s emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth that is the true testament of the community’s commitment to developing well-educated and morally sound students. Over the years, we have also added honors classes, an increase in the types of elective fine arts classes offered to students as well as a new slate of academic clubs, like the Math, Science and Literary/Drama clubs.

Through all the change, the school has relied on its philosophy and mission as the foundation and guiding principles for its programs, classes, and activities. The mission is woven into the curriculum, student activities, in policies, and in formal and informal discussions throughout the school. Without those underlying core values, Holy Spirit could not reach its most basic goal: to provide Catholic teachings and faith formation in young adults while also offering them academic challenges.

Holy Spirit’s ability to plan and manage dynamic growth without sacrificing its core mission and philosophy has earned it the attention and praise of the Catholic Schools Superintendent. The institution is held up as a model school because of its innovative ideas in: curriculum development and alignment, the Honor and Resource programs, academic competitions at the local, state, and national levels, and commitment to service. Faculty and administrative members also serve as mentors to new principals and graduate students. Part of what makes Holy Spirit so special – the one thing most often mentioned by visiting families – is the incredible army of devoted volunteers who make the school buzz with a great cooperative spirit. Parents, parish members, the pastor, teachers, and alumni lend their time and talent everyday from the lunchroom to the classroom to the library. Indeed, more than 7,000 hours of community service were recorded last year by the school’s parents and teachers.

The Parent/Teacher Club (PTC) is extremely visible and active within the school and parish and boasts more than a dozen committees that lead volunteer efforts in areas like the library, the playground, teacher perks, new family assimilation, major fundraisers, the lunchrooms, the school newsletter, and office support. Many parents and teachers not only serve as members of this association but also sit on the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) board, parish finance and social concerns committees, and function as leaders within the city of San Antonio. The school and PTC’s Recognizing Excellence in Academics through our Christian Heritage (R.E.A.C.H.) won the National Parent Partnership Award by the National Catholic Education Association.

That commitment to Holy Spirit’s excellence is evident not only in the parent involvement but in the faculty’s efforts as well. Not only does the faculty possess a great wealth of academic knowledge and talent – many teachers have and are working on post-graduate degrees – but many teachers also are willing to live and share their faith with the students. They view their roles as ministers to the students, helping to fully develop the students’ spiritual, moral and intellectual potential. All teachers are working toward Level I Catechetical certification and have achieved Level II certification. Many faculty members – including a qualified staff of reading, art, Spanish religion, computer, physical education, library and music specialists, as well as a full-time counselor and registered nurse - serve as Eucharistic Ministers, musicians, and lectors during the school’s liturgical celebrations, which also include the school and parish families.

Having these excellent adult role models in their faculty and parents rubs off on even the youngest Holy Spirit students. They see service and responsibility in action and discover how helping one another can build a productive community. As a result, Holy Spirit has earned a longstanding reputation for excellent, civic-minded students, both in and out of the classroom. Students participate in school liturgies, after-school activities, and in community service projects as ambassadors of the school. Every middle school student is expected to contribute twenty hours of annual community service. Their efforts in volunteerism help prepare them to be socially concerned and responsible adults. Indeed, many of the school’s alumni move on to serve as leaders in their high schools, colleges and universities, and local communities. Their accomplishments are highlighted in Holy Spirit’s monthly newsletters. Additionally, these former students even return to Holy Spirit to “give something back” by volunteering as coaches, speakers and substitute teachers. While the school is now larger in size, it has been able to maintain a close-knit community atmosphere.

It is that prevailing element of caring and closeness – a true sense of a school family – that makes Holy Spirit stand out as an exemplary Catholic educational institution. If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes education to improve them, spirit to nurture them, and love to support them. That is the vision, mission, direction, dedication, and experience of Holy Spirit Catholic School. As it enters the new millennium, the community of Holy Spirit School sees only endless possibilities to use its vision to continue a long history of excellence in education and a lifetime of learning.