LEFT: Sister Marianna Torrano, RSCJ (left), the founder of St. Jude Mission School, and Ann Peace (right), school consultant, hold up the school’s certificate of accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). RIGHT: Father Earl Henley, MSC, blesses St. Jude Mission School’s new library.
SAN JACINTO—St. Jude Mission School received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and certification from the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA).
The WASC accreditation is for students in grades 1-5. Preschool and kindergarten is offered on the reservation and grades 6-12 are offered at Noli Indian School which is located on the reservation.
At the recent grand opening ceremony and dedication of the Anna McCarten Library located at St. Jude School, the founder, Sister Marianna Torrano, RSCJ, was presented with a plaque in appreciation for her dedication to the children on the Soboba Reservation and for starting the school.
In 2002, the school was approved as a non-profit entity to serve students in grades K-5. After losing the school to fire in 2003, Sr. Marianna became the catalyst for the building and rebuilding of the school on its present site behind St. Joseph Mission Catholic Church. The school opened in 2004 with a principal and two teachers.
The newly dedicated library will also have a computer lab with four computers, two printers and a scanner. Sr. Marianna was very pleased with the library and spent part of the time talking to the students and sharing the reason the library was dedicated to Mrs. McCarten.
“Our goal is to provide quality education in a loving and caring atmosphere whereby students will develop an appreciation for their Indian heritage and culture in order to help them reach their full potential,” Sr. Marianna said of the purpose of establishing a Catholic school on the Soboba Reservation.