A School of Excellence

Proud to Be a Decorah Viking Parent

     It has been quite the fall for the Decorah, Iowa Public High School where my two boys attended.  Following are a few articles about their success and what I am most proud of is how these students see academics as their first goal of attending school and that extracurricular activities are secondary.

Challenge Cup
State Football Championship
Girls and Boys Cross Country State Champions
National Blue Ribbon School

     The school's formula for success in both the classroom and in the sports world isn't too complicated.  1)  The students come to school with a strong work ethic and a high level of accountability in all they do.  Living in a town of 10,000 (it takes a village to raise a child) doesn't allow for much to happen without someone knowing about it.  2)  There is a culture at the school where achievement is the norm.  It is cool to achieve and there is a high level of support from students in all they do.  3)  There is a focus on the fundamentals both in the classroom and on sports teams.  There is little tolerance for misbehavior and goofing around.  4)  Teachers and parents work really hard.  In spite of most teachers having at least 150 students each day they turn out some of the best students in the state.

     I was fortunate to have my boys attend a school that strives for excellence in all they do.  I hope that I can pass this attitude toward achievement on to the boys with whom I work with at St. Mary's.  There are no substitutes for respect, responsibility, relations, responsiveness and hard work when on the road toward academic and extracurricular excellence.