about santa rosa de lima catholic school
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Parish is Founded
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Bishop Cantwell appointed Fr. Carlos Siemes OMI (Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate) in 1925 to serve a parish on Kalisher St, dedicated to Santa Rosa de Lima. Santa Rosa de Lima was born in Lima, Peru as Isabel Flores de Olivia but called "Rose" because of her great beauty. She was the first canonized saint from the Americas in 1671 and her feast day is August 23.
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School is Founded
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The parish expanded, adding Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic School (SRDLCS) in 1955, founded by Fr. Raymond Knopp to provide Catholic education. At the time, the school offered kindergarten through 8th grades.
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Franciscan Sisters Leadership Ends
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SRDLCS was founded in the Franciscan tradition. The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception conducted classes until 2010. The school has been under the leadership of lay employees since then. A lay person is not ordained like a priest, and not vowed like a religious sister or nun.
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Starts Offering TK
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Transitional kindergarten (TK) was added to the school’s grade offerings, providing expanded learning opportunities for our youngest students in a nurturing, faith-filled environment. TK classes were held at the Fr. Simon Ministry Center on Kalisher St.
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Campus Expansion & Program Integration
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With the help of Fr. Stan Zowada, O.M.I., a TK classroom was built in 2015 which transitioned the students and teacher to the main campus. This year, SRDLCS joined the St. Sebastian Sports Project, gaining resources to support student participation in sports.
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C3 Ignite Program Provides iPads
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Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic School joined the first cohort of the C3 Ignite Program in 2016, enabling a 1:1 student-to-iPad ratio, classroom internet access, and infrastructure upgrades. The iPads were replaced with newer models in 2022.
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Became Onward Leader School
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The Onward Leader Program develops Catholic school leaders through personalized learning and field experiences grounded in Archdiocesan pillars. In 2020, the arrival of an Onward Leader graduate as principal led the school to join the program, benefiting from strengthened leadership, academic excellence, mission-driven growth and a generous donation from the program and its sponsor.
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Investments in Student Wellbeing
& Campus Facilities |
During the summer of 2021, the Shea Foundation funded several school upgrades including: interior and exterior painting, new blinds, glass office doors, a front-door camera and buzzer system, renovated boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, a new water fountain, and updated classroom lighting and door hardware.
Beginning in the 2021 school year, Counseling Partners of Los Angeles began providing counseling services to students, with services expanded to include teachers and staff in 2022. |
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Patron Mural Project
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Over summer break a mural of our patron, Santa Rosa de Lima, was painted in the TK & Kinder playground by Hattas Studios' artists Ian and Taylor.
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Onward Leader Resident & Loading Zone Installation
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As an Onward Leader school, the principal mentored an Onward Leader Resident who served as co-principal for the 2024–2025 school year. During this time, the co-principal assisted with projects such as the installation of a 3-minute loading zone for faster drop-off and pick-up which is used apart from regular dismissal routines.
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Concrete Floor & Benches Repaint
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During Christmas break, Expertise Painting Company Inc. refreshed the campus by repainting the concrete floor with a non-slip additive for safety and giving the benches a vibrant coat in the school colors, creating a more welcoming and spirited environment.
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Present Day
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SRDLCS continues to serve students in TK–8, offering a rigorous, faith-based education aligned with the Archdiocesan, Common Core and California State Standards. Rooted in the Gospel, the school nurtures each child as a gift from God while preparing them for 21st-century success in a Catholic environment.
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