History of Morning Star School

Morning Star School, Tampa, opened its doors to four students on September 15, 1958, under the direction of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida. The facility is located at 210 E. Linebaugh Avenue, adjacent to the Most Holy Redeemer Inter-Parochial School campus.

The original building, built in 1958, provided two classrooms and a physical therapy area. The concept of Archbishop Hurley was to provide Catholic special education for children who were physically handicapped. It was his philosophy that the handicapped youngsters should always be allowed and encouraged to interact with non-handicapped children in parochial schools.

By September, 1965, the enrollment had reached fifteen students and an addition to the physical plant was constructed. This addition contained two more classrooms, an office and storage area. The same year the services of a consulting psychologist were added, and a parent support group was established.

About this time the service needs of the community were changing from the physically impaired child to that of the educable mentally retarded youngster. As a result, the program at Morning Star School, Tampa focused on the needs of students with mental handicaps. In 1972, a new wing was built, funded by the newly established Diocese of St. Petersburg, thus bringing the permanent building to its present size.

As services became available for mentally handicapped children in the public school system, the demand for services for learning disabled children increased, and again the emphasis of Morning Star School changed to meet these needs. At present the school population is composed of youngsters with learning disabilities and related difficulties.

In 1974, the Sisters of St. Joseph relinquished their staffing role for Morning Star School, Tampa.

In 1975, the newly established Advisory Board undertook the creation of a junior high unit, in response to requests by parents of the older students at Morning Star School. In 1976, a junior high was opened in a leased facility at St. Francis Episcopal School, located on Sligh Avenue about two miles from the main campus.

The Morning Star Junior High was moved to Epiphany Parish grounds on Hanna Ave. in 1979, as the parochial school there had been closed. In 1981, two portable classrooms to house the junior high classes were relocated to their present site on the main campus.

In 1979-80 Morning Star School was initially accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference. The accreditation has been maintained to the present date.

In July of 1989, a grant from the Edyth Bush Foundation helped to renovate the office space for use as a Media Center. A modular building was purchased for office space.

Three portable buildings and two permanent wings make up the physical plant of Morning Star School. This includes 9 classrooms, a motor-learning lab (mini-gym), Media Center, speech therapy room, teacher’s lounge, and 3 offices. As part of Net Day 1996, the entire school was wired for Intranet and Internet access. The main server is housed in the library. Fiber optic cable was run between the front and the rear wings of the school in 1998. A new playground for Primary and Transition students was installed in 2000-2001. Grants from USF Greek Week and the Raphael Foundation funded the project.

In 2004, a brick patio was built around the school flagpole. Friends and supporters of Morning Star School can purchase bricks to be engraved as remembrances and memorials.

As part of two separate Eagle Scout projects by two alumni students and with the help of the Jasmine Garden Club, a Butterfly Garden was planted in the middle courtyard. The initial garden was planted in 1996-97. In 2003-2004, a sprinkler system was installed and the Butterfly garden was refurbished.

The Media Center became fully automated in 2005-2006.

The Junior High portable classrooms were completely renovated in 2006. A private fence and other security fencing was installed as part of this project. Funding was made possible through the generosity of Morning Star School board members.

Jeanette Friedheim served as Administrator of Morning Star School from 1970 through 2006. She retired in June of 2006. Eileen Daly, who was assistant principal, became the school administrator at that time.