Diaz briefs Kiwanians on first year’s progress at St. Pat’s

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St. Patrick's Catholic School Principal Eddie Diaz, left, was welcomed to the weekly meeting of the Perry Kiwanis Club by eight-year Kiwanian Anne Marie Spellman McDevitt. Photo by Kiwanis Club Secretary Doug Wood

Eddie Diaz has been the principal of St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Perry for one year, so he stopped by the Perry Kiwanis weekly luncheon meeting May 23 to update the club on his first year.

Diaz last spoke to the club nearly a year ago. His goal at that time was to get to know the staff and build trust. He said he feels he has accomplished this goal in his first year, but it is always a work in progress.

The week before the school year ended, St. Pat’s held its annual spring concert. Diaz said he was very pleased with participation in the program from staff.

Diaz’s next goal for the school is to participate in the Leader in Me process. This is an amended program based upon the popular self-help book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” written by the late Steven R. Covey, who died in 2012.

Diaz said nine schools in central Iowa are participating in the Leader in Me program. Two of these schools are in Waukee and Cedar Falls.

St. Patrick’s will soon sign a contract in order to begin this program. Diaz said the public will notice a drastic positive change in the school’s future operation.

St. Patrick’s School Board member and eight-year Kiwanian Anne Marie Spellman McDevitt was equally enthusiastic about the Leader in Me process. Spellman McDevitt welcomed Diaz to the Tuesday lunch meeting.

Diaz also discussed the school’s planned move of the library to the basement. This is because of the need for room, he said. Currently, there are 123 students attending St. Patrick’s School, with next year’s enrollment standing at 135 students.

Diaz said there will also be a variety of programs offered to students at the school during the summer break. One area of focus will be math. With the national focus on reading and literacy, math has taken a hit in terms of learning in the school system, he said.

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