Saint Benilde School


December 14, 2011

Dear Parents,

Recently we held a parent meeting to discuss the future of St. Benilde School. Since many of you were unable to attend, I feel it appropriate to inform you by letter that I will not be returning to St. Benilde next year. Under prayerful consideration I have been thinking about making a change for several years and believe now is the right time. It is bitter-sweet that I announce my resignation, however, I truly believe that I have accomplished everything I was sent here to do. It will be very hard to leave the comfort of St. Benilde but I look forward to new challenges.

When I first arrived at SBS, I carefully and prayerfully united a divided school and parish by bringing faculty, staff, parents and parish members together. I redirected the focus of all stakeholders to the positive attributes of the school while maintaining its longstanding traditions of the Sisters of Loreto.

Eleven years ago I inherited a tremendous school deficit. I worked diligently to create and maintain a balanced budget without jeopardizing the integrity of our academic or extra curricular programs. Since that time the school has been financially sound.

Below is a list of just a few things I was able to accomplish during my tenure at St. Benilde School:

Restructured the school in order to balance the budget while maintaining the integrity of the academic, spiritual and extra curricular programs
Established and maintained high moral and academic standards
Maintained a school environment that promoted the Christian formation of our students
Created a school-wide Honor Code that is recited daily to remind everyone of our duties and responsibilities as Christians
Established one of the safest schools in the area by making SBS a gated community
Expanded our PK program by adding a two-year-old program in 2004 and a one-year-old program in 2010 to better meet the needs of our community
Organized the celebration of our 40th anniversary that included the Sisters of Loreto
Worked closely with the Parish Council and Maintenance Committee to ensure improvements to our physical plant
Provided numerous opportunities for our students to live our school mission by participating in service projects
Increased the use of technology in our classrooms with the purchase of laptops, projectors, portable labs, and interactive Smart Boards
Worked closely with our school board on a marketing campaign that included creating a new “brand,” advertising through a mass mail out, and scripting several television commercials which resulted in a 5.9% increase in enrollment
And lastly, under my leadership SBS received the most distinguished accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2004 and again in 2009


I have been in Catholic education for twenty-three years. I know what can happen when there is a change in administration. I believe consistency is important and necessary during change. It is my sincere wish that the stakeholders of St. Benilde School, Fr. Pat, the School Board, the faculty, staff, students, parents, and members of the parish act in such a way as to maintain the excellence that has been established.

I have truly enjoyed the years I have spent here and will cherish all the memories I have made. I thank each of you for your support and trust over the years. I will miss your children and you very much. I am comfortable that I am leaving St. Benilde in a position for continued growth. I have built a strong school that will hopefully withstand the test of time. May God bless you and your children. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your principal.

Sincerely in Christ,

Vickie Helmstetter
Principal