San Miguel School in Tulsa To Break Ground on New $1.5M Building

TULSA – San Miguel Middle School will break ground on an 8,000 sq. ft. $1.5 million building Thursday, Nov. 3. San Miguel provides a private Catholic middle school education to econmically disdvantaged students primarily in the Kendall-Whittier area of Tulsa. The school has set a high standard for successfully educating underserved students since its launch in 2004. Funded almost entirely by donations, the school began a capital campaign in the midst of a harsh economy because the need just wouldn't wait.

"The good people who are financially supporting our new but simple San Miguel classroom building have witnessed the unmistakable 'real people' successes that have been achieved in borrowed and rented substandard space over the past seven years, and they decided to make things better," said Bob Sullivan, Development Chair for San Miguel.

With a mission to change the lives of 6th, 7th & 8th graders through improving their academic abilities, the school makes high school and college graduation ceremonies more than a dream for kids and their families. May of 2011 saw the first class to start San Miguel graduate from various high schools, many with college scholarships and secondary school plans. “Over the past eight years, San Miguel has become an invaluable educational opportunity for the children in the Kendall-Whittier neighborhood.  Each year, San Miguel is able to take kids from very challenging backgrounds, and prepare them for successful high school and now college careers.  The new building is great a sign of the school’s sustainability, and its commitment to continue to provide high quality education for years to come,” said Josh Miller of the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

Currently, students travel between 4 small buildings throughout the day to attend their classes and eat meals. With the addition of the new building, San Miguel will have 8 modern, new classrooms. The school also plans to refurbish two of the existing buildings into a cafeteria and updated office space, respectively.

“Getting kids under one roof will bring a stronger sense of pride to the school and community, and our students will be in a safer environment," Joe O’Connor, President of San Miguel, said. 

Later in the day at 4:00 PM, Bishop Edward Slattery will bless the ground for the new building. Following the ceremony, San Miguel will host their annual ‘Sangria & Santos’ social hour in conjunction with the Bob and Jeanne Sullivan Scholarship Dinner at the St. Francis Xavier activities center. The community is invited to enjoy an authentic Mexican food will be prepared by the parents of San Miguel students. Attendees will have an opportunity to give a donation. The santos, hand carved wooden images from Guatemala, will be awarded to those who donate.

San Miguel School of Tulsa Groundbreaking

Thursday, November 3, 2011 @ 10:30 AM
2444 East Admiral Blvd. Tulsa, OK 74110

10:30 Press Event Speakers:

Joe O'Connor - President of San Miguel School will welcome those in attendance and share some information about San Miguel, a private school funded almost entirely by donations and serving economically disadvantaged students in Tulsa.

Fr. David Medina - Pastor St. Francis Xavier School, will comment on the benefit of this project to the neighborhood, the community and the students

Maria Barnes- Council Chairman - Councilor- District 4 will share how San Miguel benefits the greater Tulsa community

Kathleen Brulc - Teacher San Miguel School of Tulsa will speak more specifically about the classroom benefits the new building will have for students, staff and parents.