Ms.Debra Mooney, who was the Director of Advancement, is no longer with Venerini Academy. We are grateful for the work that she provided to the Academy in developing several programs including the Annual Fund campaign. We have started a search for Debra's replacement. In the interim, Mrs. Pat Marmen has stepped forward to fill in on a temporary basis until we have a replacement. Mrs. Marmen working with John Ermilio, one of our Board members, will be reaching out to the Venerini family for your help as we continue to move forward.

Tom Marmen
President, Board of Trustees

June 2011

As the academic year draws to a close, the Board of Trustees would like to thank you, our parents and friends of Venerini Academy, for allowing us to partner with you by offering an environment in which your children can develop their unique talents in a caring atmosphere that challenges them to grow spiritually, morally, physically and academically. You are the heart of the “Venerini Difference.” Your prayers and your unwavering support during this year of transition have allowed our community to begin a new chapter in the vibrant history of our school that has been preparing its students to become men and women of faith for more than six decades.

As we embark on a journey of New Beginnings, we are indebted to the spiritual and financial support of the Venerini Sisters who have remained convinced, during our recent “troubles”, that their motto, “To Educate is to Liberate”, remains as vibrant today as it did during the life and times of St. Rosa Venerini.

The Trustees are most grateful to our dedicated professional community of Religious Sisters and a faith filled team of lay women and men who nurture the minds and hearts of our students in a caring, disciplined atmosphere that encourages creativity and critical thinking. How blessed we are by their devotion to the charism of our foundress!

If we think back to a year ago, the Academy was facing a very difficult situation; it was what Sr. Hilda called the DARK DAYS. While we still have many more things to accomplish, we now have a governing Board of Trustees, a new Principal, settlement of all contractor claims against the Academy, a professional Business Manager, permanent occupancy, a vibrant Admissions office as evidenced by the increase in enrollment, and a new start with our Advancement Office. Dr. Fredette has provided guidance in the areas of curriculum, and a comprehensive salary scale for our key resource; our teachers.

Clearly, we need to continue moving ahead and this will require continued help from everyone. Our major leverage points that determine the financial well being of the Academy are Admissions and Advancement. The Admissions Office continues its efforts to make it known to the families of Worcester County and beyond that Venerini Academy is a vibrant, nurturing, caring academic community that encourages academic excellence that is rooted in Gospel values. In addition to the Open Houses, they continue to offer private tours and opportunities for prospective students to spend some time discovering the Venerini Difference for themselves. As a result of their efforts, our Kindergarten program is almost full and each grade level will see increased enrollment. You, the parent, students and friends of Venerini Academy are our best recruiters. Despite our glossy brochures, flyers, and a new Open House format, word of mouth remains our best source of advertising. Please, share your stories. Let your friends and neighbors know that Venerini Academy is proud of its rich Catholic tradition of academic excellence. We are proud of our graduates and congratulate them as they continue to grow in body, mind and spirit at some of the finest high schools, among them, St. John’s, Notre Dame, Marianapolis Academy, Bancroft School, St. Peter Marian and Holy Name. May they always remember that it all began at Venerini Academy!

The Friends of Venerini continue to raise funds to provide countless programs that enrich the lives of our students and their families. Their unceasing willingness to share their gifts of enthusiasm, energy, creativity and loyalty embodies the unique qualities of the Venerini Family. We have coupled this with the kick off of the Venerini Academy Annual Fund as one of the initial projects for the Advancement Office. For who you are and all you do, we give thanks!

In closing, we want to thank everyone involved with Venerini Academy for placing their trust with the Board of Trustees. While all is not done, we need to continue to move forward with your help. The Board is confident we can restore Venerini to its deserved prominent position in the Worcester area. Many of us believe its finest chapter has yet to be written!

Thank you for all you do for Venerini Academy. We are indeed blessed!

The Board of Trustees

“To Educate is to Liberate”

I have heard there are questions about how long Dr. Fredette will be at Venerini Academy and I would like to respond with the correct information.

Dr. Fredette signed on with Venerini Academy for at least 3 years. While this is not in writing, he did give us his word that he thought he would be with us for at least 3 years and he is a man of his word. The Board of Trustees is very pleased with the progress the Academy has made and the role that Dr. Fredette has played in helping us through a very tough time.

So, if there are parents who are making a decision about their children attending Venerini Academy, you need not put Dr. Fredette into that decision process. We are happy he is here helping us, and we look forward to having him here for the next several years at a minimum.

Best regards,
Tom Marmen President Board of Trustees

I would like to update you on the progress of the Board and Venerini Academy.  At our last Board meeting, we reviewed a number of Policies and made a major decision regarding the finances of the Academy.

As many of you know, because of our reduced enrollment this year, our revenue has been lower than we would have liked.  To maintain the proper cash flow for the school the decision was made at the Board that we would secure a line of credit.  Four banks were solicited and at the last Board meeting, we selected one which we will work with to provide a line of credit.  Once again the Venerini Sisters have stepped forward and provided the collateral for this line of credit.  This will insure we have the proper cash to provide the support for the faculty and the administrative people at the school.  We are currently working through that process and will have more information as we get closer to final closure.

We also have reviewed and rewritten a number of policies such as our OSHA compliance, Financial Assistance, and Benefits for our employees.  By doing this, we are now up to date in many areas and have a documented Policy Book.  However there are still a number of policies that we need to continue to review.

Our Annual Fund continues and I would once again ask for your help.  All the donations that go to the Annual Fund are used to maintain the building and provide cash to run the Academy.  No donation is too little, and obviously no donation is too large.  Please think about this again, and if you have not done anything, please give it consideration.  If you have, thank you again.

Our Admissions team has been busy with tours, testing, and interviews.  Admissions is the highest leverage point for us at the present time.  As many of you know, we lost a number of children due to the past few years, and now it is important that we get as many new students as possible.  All of you can be ambassadors for VA by spreading the word that we are here and we are recovering.

I would like to remind all of us about how far we have come.  Less than a year ago, it was unclear if the Academy would be viable given the situation.  However, those "Dark Days" are now in the rear view mirror.  We still have lots of work ahead of us, but the Board can see a line of sight to a robust Venerini Academy, and restore the Academy to its prominent position in the Worcester area.  I would like to thank all of you who have helped with this transition, and know that your work has been crucial.

Best regards,
Tom Marmen
President Board of Trustees

I hope all of you are enjoying the weather.  It certainly has been a difficult January.  Due to the weather, our board meeting was rescheduled for January 17th, and I would like to update you on the status.

The board is very excited with the addition of Greg Blondin to the Board of Trustees.  Many of you know Greg started his career at Venerini and went on to St. John's where he is the Chair of the Computer department.  He fills a major void for the board by bringing a wonderful knowledge of how technology and curriculum fit together.  He is currently in the process of making appointments with several of our teachers to help him get up to speed rapidly.

As you know, we have received our permanent occupancy permit.  We are grateful to John Lauring for his leadership in getting this important milestone completed.  There are many others to thank who helped in this process, particularly the Bafaro  and Favulli companies.

In terms of Finances; we are in the process of two major things that leverage our financial health.  Admissions, led by Paul Jourcin and Sr. Carol; with lots of help from many is humming along just fine.  We have a significant number of interested people and as I have stated, our goal is to have a wait list for our enrollment.  We have also kicked off the Annual Fund driven through our Advancement office.  We are now seeing many people who have answered our request for funds.  To those of you who have given to the Annual Fund, please accept my deepest thank you.  For those of you who have not yet given, please consider helping the Academy through a donation to the Annual Fund. 

Our Education subcommittee has done some great preliminary work regarding salaries for our wonderful teachers.  We continue to benchmark ourselves against other Catholic Schools and at the same time be sensitive to our Financial status.  We will have more to come in this area in the future.

In closing, I want to again thank everyone who has helped me and the Board of Trustees.  You are many but we are still a Venerini Family.  Together we have done a number of things to help our school back to its former status.  But we still have significant work ahead, and I thank you in advance for all the work to come.

Respectfully,
Tom Marmen