Values for a Lifetime

I was immensely pleased to learn today that the funding for our Latino Initiative for Catholic schools has been increased and extended. This funding will allow us to continue to reach out to Latino families throughout the Archdiocese. The following Press Release was distributed by our office earlier today announcing the wonderful news:

ARCHDIOCESE CATHOLIC SCHOOL OFFICE EXPANDS LATINO OUTREACH
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has received funding to continue and grow its Latino Initiative for Catholic Schools.

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Many of our Catholic schools have planned events to recognize the hard work and dedication of our talented teachers, administrators, and staff members. These events are meant to convey a sense of support and gratitude for the innumerable ways these individuals support the education of our students.

Many of our schools will not be in session next week for Spring Break, or at least will take a four or five day extended weekend “pause”. Many families have made travel plans or will be welcoming friends and family from out of town. I certainly hope that this is a time of rest and renewal for our students, parents, teachers, and staff members. However, this time also corresponds with the Triduum and Easter Week. We must make certain that we set time aside to pray and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Today I reached a significant milestone; my car officially surpassed 100,000 miles since my arrival in Cincinnati. Over the past 18 months, I have traveled over 100,000 in my journeys (and sometimes repeat journeys) to 110 of the 113 Catholic schools of the Archdiocese. These trips have been among my favorite experiences thus far; there is simply no substitute for walking the halls of a Catholic school and witnessing the educational process firsthand. I have been deeply impressed by the talents and dedication of our teachers and they guide the children in their care.

I had the honor recently to visit the new Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, DC. Fittingly, I visited on Martin Luther King Day. I found the experience to be quite moving. Joining with a diverse crowd from across the world, it was humbling to look upon the words and accomplishments of this great man, and to remember the great injustices that he peacefully and effectively battled.

The year 2012 is upon us, and this is a good time to reflect on the upcoming year and think about how to make 2012 a success. As I consider 2012, I remain filled with hope and optimism for the future of our schools. As Superintendent, I would like to convey my New Year Resolutions in regards to our Catholic schools. These are:

Catholic schools have a strong and well-deserved reputation for providing strong religious and academic programs. Yet pastors and principals continually cite finances as the most significant challenge facing Catholic schools today. Indeed, over 4,500 Catholic schools have closed or consolidated nationally since 1965. In almost every case, a lack of money was cited as the most significant reason for the closure of the school.

Now that the Initial Assessment Report has been released, I thought it might be valuable to reflect a bit upon the six “Domain Areas” discussed in the report. If you have read the report (or its much shorter Executive Summary) you know that the report addresses the six areas of Catholic identity/faith formation, academic excellence, finances, governance, leadership, and marketing/enrollment. Our objective, through our planning process, is to formulate a vision that provides a clear and strategic roadmap for our schools in each of these areas.

I am very pleased to announce that we have posted the Initial Assessment Report for Catholic schools to our website. This report contains the results of the data we collected on the state of Catholic school education during the first nine month of 2011. The report includes descriptions of school performance in several critical areas, as well as vivid depictions of the demographics of the Archdiocese.

It’s been a good week for our Catholic schools! Earlier this week, we learned that Chaminade-Julienne and Carroll High Schools were named recipients of the 2011 Governors’ Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEMM education. This prestigious award recognizes schools who received a perfect score in a state evaluation of their Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (i.e. “STEMM”) programs. As two of only five schools given the award this year, CJ and Carroll are truly setting the standard for outstanding STEMM education in our state.

Last Monday, I had the opportunity to participate in a unique and illuminating event. On Monday, August 8th, the Catholic Schools Office hosted the first-ever Archdiocesan University Summit for Catholic Schools. Leaders of the five Catholic colleges in the Archdiocese congregated at Xavier University to discuss how our institutes of higher education can better support our Catholic schools.

The first round of Visioning Sessions for Catholic schools is now complete, and I am pleased to offer some general feedback on what we heard during these events. To recap, we held a series of seven Visioning Sessions in May and June. These sessions were part of our wider efforts to define a new vision for Catholic school education in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The purpose of these sessions was to hear directly from the people of the Archdiocese; as we build this vision, it is vital that our plan reflect the needs and insights of all who care about our schools.

School has been dismissed for the summer at most Catholic schools, and the 2010-2011 school year is officially coming to a close. As I reflect upon this school year, I am astounded at the relentless presence of support and energy surrounding our Catholic schools. We truly benefit from the many supporters who constantly rally around our schools!

We have accomplished much in the 2010-2011 school year. I would like to recap some important and amazing milestones from the last nine months. Although we cannot mention every significant achievement, I’d still like to mention the following:

In my last blog, I discussed the various conditions that affect whether a school can stay viable, or needs to consider closure or consolidation. I know that many people are rightly focused on the danger of closing and consolidating Catholic schools. However, as we study the future of our schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, it is also vital that we examine the possibility of new schools in emerging areas of growth.

I cannot believe that the 2010-2011 school year will soon be coming to a close. My time has truly passed swiftly since I first arrived in the Archdiocese last July. I continue to be amazed at the strength and great diversity of our Catholic schools. I also continue to learn about how the Catholic Schools Office can best support our schools. We have been fortunate to have some wonderfully dedicated and intelligent people in the Catholic Schools Office.

I announced to the school principals earlier today that we will be adding a new position of Coordinator of Latino Outreach for Catholic Schools to our office for the 2011-2012 school year. I am extremely excited about this position. Through this individual, I am hopeful that we will be better able to reach out to the growing Latino population in the Archdiocese. The position is meant to represent a pilot program for the first year. As such, the Coordinator will work solely with Catholic elementary schools within the boundaries of the Cincinnati Public Schools.

As we have moved through the initial stages of our visioning process, I have relied heavily upon the hard work and insights of a 12-person Vision Steering Committee. This committee was initially formed in early November. The initial purpose of the committee was to define the process of how we would build our vision. As we establish our vision, I know that there will be much work ahead. The Archdiocese is incredibly complex, and people rightly feel passionately about their schools. Our charge is to establish a common roadmap for the future of our schools, and study new systems of support.

We have been receiving some attention lately for our ongoing efforts to construct a unified vision for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. I remain incredibly optimistic about what we are doing; we have some wonderful schools in the Archdiocese, and I know that our vision will encourage the continued growth and vibrancy of our excellent schools.

Registration time in the Catholic elementary schools has officially started! If you are parents of school-aged children, now is the time to check out our excellent schools. I strongly encourage you to use our School Directory to research the schools in your area. I know you will be impressed by the quality and variety of the many instructional programs. I likewise know that you will be pleased by the dedication of the teachers, and the positive and nurturing approach that they take to their instruction. We are truly blessed to have such fabulous, Christ-centered schools.

Catholic Schools Week is upon us! I truly enjoy this week; it is always a joy to see the mix of religious, service, and fun events taking place in our schools. I am greatly looking forward to the Catholic Schools Week Masses on Tuesday and Wednesday. Likewise, the Archbishop's broadcast to the high schools on Friday promises to be an illuminating event. I am constantly heartened by how our community rallies around our wonderful Catholic schools.

There is nothing more inspiring than attending a Catholic school Mass. As a teacher, principal, and superintendent, I have had many opportunities to attend school Masses. I always leave these services reinvigorated and affirmed in the mission of Catholic education. It is extremely powerful to hear the voices of children united in prayer or song. I love to hear readings led by children, and witness the eagerness of young people as they come together to share the Eucharist. If you have never taken the time to attend an elementary school Mass, I strongly encourage you to do so.

Just before Christmas, I heard a fascinating story on NPR about the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia of Nashville. The story profiled an explosion in new young novices in the order. In listening to the story, I was moved by the enthusiasm and evident faith of the profiled women. In an era in which we struggle to recruit priests, deacons, sisters, and brothers, it is reassuring to see one order that is thriving. I encourage all Catholic school supporters to hear the story; it can be accessed by visiting: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/22/131753494/for-these-young-nuns-habits-are-....

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit two Catholic high schools in the Dayton area. Both were great visits; as with most of my visits to Catholic schools this year, I was impressed by the overall quality of education and the commitment of the teachers, administrators, and stakeholders. However, I was particularly struck by the excellence of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in the schools. These programs truly seem to be priorities; from robotics and engineering courses to microbiology and organic chemistry, the depth and content of STEM courses were staggering.

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Two of our Catholic schools were recently recognized with Blue Ribbon Awards. St. Gabriel's Consolidated School and St. Susanna School join a growing number of Archdiocesan schools that have received this prestigious award. Having visited both of these schools, I can verify that the awards are well deserved.

I have now been physically present in 40 of our schools. I am continually amazed at the academic excellence and vibrant, Christ-centered communities in our schools. We are truly doing a superior job of educating children.

From college entrance exams to finals in high schools and middle schools, springtime is a season of test taking. Even most elementary schools administer standardized tests at this time. Each test demands its own unique preparation, but there are some things to keep in mind that will help students from private schools to public. Whether it’s a stressed out high school student facing a tough chemistry final or third graders braving their first standardized test in elementary school, anyone testing can improve his or her exam performance. 

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds often struggle to break the cycle of poverty.  In the past, studies have shown one of the best ways for these students to succeed is attending a private Catholic school.  

Catholic Schools Week, an annual celebration of the important role that Catholic elementary and secondary schools play in the lives of students, is just around the corner. During this special week, students, parents, grandparents, friends and supporters all will have an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the value of Catholic schools.