Saint Rose of Lima
Principal's Message
Welcome to our St. Rose of Lima School Website!
If you are new to us and looking for something missing in your child’s
education or hoping to find a new school family because you’ve moved, I’m glad you found us. If you are already a St. Rose parent, finding more detailed school information, we are glad you are here.
As principal, I always want families to know:
1. We welcome all students who want to attend our school. We do not
want money to stand in the way of you attending our school. We will
ask you to fill out financial paperwork but will also give great
consideration to any situations not evident in your paperwork. I often
ask families to take an honest look at their monthly spending and ask
themselves, “how much can I afford a month?” We will not set up a
child at St. Rose School and then not let them attend the next year
due to lack of money.
2. We believe students need to know they are safe, valued, and loved in order to learn. If they know this, their brains actually work better. We
work hard to make St. Rose School a place where students are
confident they are safe, valued, and loved.
3. Our greatest desire is for our students to have a lifelong relationship with Jesus. We love our Catholic faith and pass it on to our students through daily prayer; teaching, weekly mass, and connecting their choices to their life of faith.
4. We believe all students can learn and that all students want to learn. Our students do well academically, and score well on state tests. We intervene early and often if students are not at grade level or are not growing. We use assessment data and current education research to make sure we are doing what is best for our students.
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School is very much like a family. Our
students thrive because of our loving and faith-filled family
atmosphere. We pray for your family and especially your student’s’
education. Our prayer is that every child is given all the tools they
need to fulfill the purpose they are called to.
You are loved,
Stefanie Bafus, Principal
History of Saint Rose Catholic School
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School first opened its doors in 1959 and was staffed by the Daughters of Charity. Joined by supportive parents and member of the local parishes, the Sisters took up their mission of providing for the academic and faith development of local students. The school began with a total of 90 students in the first four grades and grew steadily during the next decade, reaching a peak of 346 students in eight grades by the 1963-1964 school year. After the closure of Larson Air Force Base, enrollment declined. The school suffered another setback when the Daughters of Charity, limited by the decreasing numbers in their own order, could no longer provide teachers for the school.
Convinced of the importance of a faith-based education, a dedicated group of supporters refused to give up on the school. Through a period of hard work, St. Rose of Lima School began to grow again. Today, the school continues to offer classes from preschool through sixth grade. Students attending the school came from Ephrata, Moses Lake, Soap Lake, Quincy, George and Crescent Bar.