Students at St. Theresa School in Little Rock were invited to dream big about the future of their school and share them with the other students during an assembly March 12.
Some ideas were small like new uniforms, playground or gym floor.
Others were bigger like a second floor added for a high school, and Starbucks and McDonalds served in the lunchroom.
“There are so many strays so we should have a barn to take care of the animals,” one student shared.
A teacher said, “Patricio would like a castle.”
The students cheered when one teacher summarized students’ responses, saying, “Some would like a go-cart track, a dance floor, a gaming center, Mexican buffet in the cafeteria, a soccer team…”
Principal Kristy Dunn surprised students with the news that an anonymous donor gave the school $500,000 for improvements. As banners were unfurled proclaiming $500,000, Dunn told the students that the donor saw the diverse community growing at St. Theresa Church and School.
“St. Theresa Catholic Church and School are a treasure. I think the reason why it’s a treasure is because everybody’s hearts are invested in it.”
“This community is the best community that we could ever ask for, dream for or build,” she told the students. “It is because this community is built on trust. We’re a diverse community. When you look around, you can see different cultures, different colors, you can hear different languages. The world and country can learn something from us, I think, because we make it work, because we trust each other.”
In an interview with Arkansas Catholic, Dunn affirmed she and pastor Father Stephen Gadberry are invested in the school. Dunn, principal for the past 10 years, and her children are graduates of the school.
Dunn said the first construction projects will be more practical, like a larger parking lot and converting the former church, called the Little Flower Hall, now used for meetings, into a welcome center for the church and school where administrative offices will be moved. The freed-up office space in the school can be used for more classrooms as more classes are added in the fall for kindergarten and first grade. It is possible another second and third grade classroom can be opened if certified teachers can be hired.
Dunn said the donor would be open to donating more money in the future for other phases of school improvements. She said improving lunch options in the cafeteria is a possibility as well.
“We really need to look at how we change our cafeteria and food service,” she said. “That had come up from quite a few students, and I agree that’s one of the priority items. Soccer fields, playground and more sports is a priority item that we’ll have to just tackle over time.”
When a student asked when the projects would be done, Dunn replied, “It will take years.”
Expansions are possible since there are acres owned by the church between the school and the Dee Brown Library on Baseline Road.
School secretary Janeth Alarcon, a parent of fourth and fifth graders, said she would love to see improvements to the junior high classrooms.
“We make them work quite a bit,” she said. “They deserve it.”
When giving tours to prospective parents, Alarcon said she thinks the infusion of money could highlight the good things happening at St. Theresa.
“We are little, but we are growing,” she said. “… This year we got new tables and chairs in all classrooms, and they were over the moon. Imagine a new classroom.”
