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President Tom Stein welcomes LCS students on the first day of school
In September of 2002, LCS welcomed two sections of incoming sizyem (7th grade) students to officially begin the doubling of the school. Since then, each incoming class has been comprised of two sections of 25 to 30 individuals, allowing LCS to house, feed and educate twice the amount of students. With the incoming class of 2009, every level from sizyem to philo (13th grade) has dual sections, completing the doubling process! In June of 2009, the sizyem students from 2002 will graduate ... the largest graduating class ever! Fifty-six students of this first double-sectioned class will become proud LCS alumni. “Doubling the school doubles our impact on Haiti’s future. It was the right move. Thanks to God, we had all the hands it took to make it happen,” said THP President Emeritus Patrick Moynihan.
In June of 2009, the sizyem students from 2002 will graduate ... the largest graduating class ever! Fifty-six students of this first double-sectioned class will become proud LCS alumni. “Doubling the school doubles our impact on Haiti’s future. It was the right move. Thanks to God, we had all the hands it took to make it happen,” said THP President Emeritus Patrick Moynihan.
“Before, our ability to house kids was really pretty limited,” said Douglas Gray, Chair of the Board from 1999 to 2001.
In 1999, Gray and the rest of the Board finalized the plan to double the school. The plan included constructing dormitories, expanding the cafeteria, and adding classrooms, playing fields, a chapel and library.
The 363 students enrolled at LCS this year, comprised of 189 girls and 174 boys, fill the campus to capacity, completing another chapter in the growth of the school. When asked how the school has grown so much and become so successful, Principal Paul Hubert Pierre said, “First because of the teachers’ goodwill. They give students direction and keep students structured. Structure is what holds us together.”
“I was amazed at the enrollment at the school and how so many students were fed, housed and educated behind the walls of such a small area,” said Lauren Squires, January 2008 Loras College mission tripper. “The structure and design of their day amazes me.”
During her six day stay in January, Squires sat in on classes, held a soccer clinic and spoke one-on-one with LCS students. “I saw the passion the students had for life; life in general, not just education,” she said.
