Parents' Witness

Catholic School means to me:

• The Catholic Schools exist with Jesus and the Gospel message at the forefront. The Catholic Schools exist with Jesus and the Gospel message as an underlying, foundational basis.
• The Catholic Schools stand for certain tangible qualities. Among these are discipline, structure, academics, and religious study and application. The Catholic Schools stand for certain intangible qualities. Among these are respect, responsibility, and right attitude.
• In a Catholic School, children learn discipline externally. In a Catholic School, children learn to be self-disciplined.
• In a Catholic School, children are taught and exampled the Golden Rule. In a Catholic School, children internalize this behavioral attitude.
• Children as a rule, give back exactly what they receive. In my experience, I see children giving back what they receive from Catholic School administrators, faculty, staff, and community families.
• There is a stereotype of a Catholic School; strict, safe, demanding, "God" oriented. Thankfully it still exists.
• I thank God daily for giving me an opportunity to be part of and contribute to the Catholic School experience.

Christ was and is the teacher. His ministry is carried on in a very special and unique manner in our Catholic Schools. Any and all mission statements of Catholic schools reaffirm His Gospel as a reason for existence-it is the foundation. It is the answer.

As a parent, the reassurance that these values and priorities are being reinforced in many ways is paramount and of great importance. Knowing that these teachers choose to be at this school speaks volumes as to the role models that are present daily in their lives.