Class is back in session

By SISTER CYNTHIA MELLO

Catholic Schools Superintendent

The 2022-2023 school year has already opened for our Catholic schools and their families.  We look forward to a year filled with new beginnings as we welcome both new and returning administrators, teachers, support staff, students and families.

We begin our new school year committed to ensuring that all our Catholic schools are safe spaces for teaching and learning.  This year, as in the past, we anticipate all that the school year may offer our students as they grow and learn in their faith and academics.

The past two years have had many interruptions, however, due to the dedicated administrators, teachers and families, along with the support of our bishops, we did our best to assure that we were prepared to meet our students where they were at, and today, we are again prepared to meet our students to ensure their continuous growth and learning.

We are glad to be back to a “normal” school day and we look forward to a year of excitement as we have reconnected and set our goals for the year.

As a diocese, our principals definitely know the importance of teaching as a vocation.  Our schools are dedicated to educating the whole person, mind, body and soul, which requires our educators to uphold the philosophy in their everyday actions with students and families.  We have committed leaders, dedicated teachers, staff and students whose families have chosen a Catholic education for their children.

The National Catholic Standards and Benchmarks define the qualities that make up an excellent Catholic school for Elementary and Secondary Schools.

We are partners with parents in the mission of passing on the faith to our young people.  Our Catholic educators cannot do this alone.  We need our families and their children committed, to not only attending a Catholic school but also participating in their parish community.  I invite everyone to renew their commitment to Catholic schools by recommitting and reconnecting to your parish and school communities.

Our Catholic schools are communities of faith first, preparing our children for success in life with a value system rooted in the Catholic faith.

It is an honor to serve alongside our administrators, staff, students and families.  I pray that all of our Catholic schools will have a successful school year as I leave the following quote to everyone who passes through our doors.

“Be it known to all who enter here that Christ is the reason for this school. He is the unseen but ever-present teacher in its classes. He is the model of its faculty and the inspiration of its students.”