IIEDUCATIONII
Growing
TOGETHER
ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE BY TIM WOOD | PHOTOS BY MADISON ELROD
It’s a time for looking back and planning for what’s next as St. Francis Catholic School celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The school that began with 45 pre-K and kindergarteners is now graduating its 20th eighth-grade class and principal Brian Pope has been witness to each of those ceremonies. Pope began as a substitute teacher at St. Francis and is grateful to have experienced the same kind of personal and career growth as he witnessed among the hundreds of SFCS grads. “Our motto for this milestone is ‘25 Years of Growing Together in Faith and Knowledge.’ It’s truly the lifestyle here and what drew me here and keeps me excited about leading the growth here along with Father Mike Oenbrink, our Parish Pastor,” Pope said. “The biggest comment we hear from parents and kids is that is a home away from home, and in that environment, we celebrate our successes together, work on our shortcomings together and grow together.” The idea of St. Francis began when Bishop of Charleston David Thompson asked now-Monsignor Martin Laughlin to start the same kind of Catholic school on Hilton Head Island that he launched in Beaufort. The concept proved to be a hit with the community, as first and second grades were added in 1997, doubling the enrollment to 95 students. Through the years, a new school building, gym/all-purpose center, fine arts center and playground were added to the campus to facilitate a full K-8 experience with 78 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M
enrollment currently at 215 students. “Catholic schools offer three core principles — quality academics, a safe environment and Catholic identity and faith formation for parents who want to have their kids raised in the Catholic faith,” Pope said. Non-Catholics are welcomed at SFCS, and while required to go to mass and worship activities, all faiths are welcomed and encouraged. Pope, who has been principal since 2012, said he is proud of the school’s efforts to make a Catholic education attainable for all, with over $200,000 in financial aid and discounts provided this year alone to families. This is possible thanks to the relationship with the St. Francis parish and donations from parishioners and the parish thrift shop that helped build the school’s annual fund. “We are so blessed to have the Parish support and the guidance of Father Mike and Monsignor Laughlin. They have made it clear that if a child wants a Catholic education, we will make it possible,” he said. “It has allowed us to focus on keeping tuition affordable and work to keep raises in the cost of tuition as small as possible in increasing accessibility.” Pope and his staff have worked with Father Mike to build a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure the school is ready for the needs of tomorrow’s students and the growth that will help the school sustain and thrive through its 50th anniversary.
