50th Anniversary

50th Anniversary

Principal Susan M. Conza, pictured here at 12 years old, circa 1969

The 2019-2020 school year marks the 50th Anniversary of Morning Star Catholic School. Please join me in praising the  Morning Star teachers and staff for the 50 years of outstanding special education that they have provided students in the  St. Petersburg – Tampa Bay community. 

Little did my 12 year-old-self (pictured here) know that I would one day become a teacher for children with special learning needs or that I would have the wonderful, good grace of working at Morning Star, first as a teacher then as the principal, for the past 20 years.

I am so proud of this school that has been an integral part of the lives of thousands of  children over the last 50 years. We have grown from 6 students in the fall of 1969 to 90+ students in 2019 and from an elementary school to a K-12th grade school. Along the way, our teaching approaches have evolved as our understanding of our students and their needs has broadened. Adaptive technology, music therapy, behavior-based occupational therapy and whole child education are just some of these advances. But our nurturing, loving environment has not and will never change. We celebrate each student as a gift from God.

As we look to the future and the next 50 years, I have come to understand that Morning Star is not as much a part of our lives as we are a part of its. Thank you to everyone who has made this incredible journey possible. Please celebrate with us!

Many Blessings,

Susan M. Conza, Principal