Day by Day with María: Catholic schools

Showing posts with label Catholic schools. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

reason #2 why I love Catholic schools: it's the teachers, Baby!

“Hence we must say that for the knowledge of any truth whatsoever man needs divine help, that the intellect may be moved by God to its act. But he does not need a new light added to his natural light, in order to know the truth in all things, but only in some that surpasses his natural knowledge”

[Summa Theologiae, I-II, 109, 1]

"Love takes up where knowledge leaves off."

~Thomas Aquinas,

patron saint of Catholic Schools,

whose Memorial is today!

Middle school teachers at St. Charles Borromeo School, Oklahoma City
dress up for "Book Character Day"
they also host DEAR (drop everything and read) and cook pancakes for the students!
Catholic Schools Week, 2014

I'm proud to say that two of our daughters have served as Catholic School teachers.

And after two wonderful years teaching middle school and high school at Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City, daughter Michelle is currently serving her second year of teaching at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Oklahoma City.

In addition to my own mom, who taught in Catholic schools until we moved to the United States when I was a teenager, I have always been surrounded by teachers-- all levels, all types of schools -- father, brother, husband, father and mother in-law, and now, daughters and daughter in law!

Seeing first hand the hard work, energy, time-commitment and faithfulness of these family members who are teachers, I've always had a special place in my prayers for all teachers.

Super Hero day, Catholic Schools Week 2013,
St. Charles Borromeo School

coach Michelle, praying with her volleyball team,
Lourdes Central Catholic

cheering football team at away game, Michelle with her friend Sally,
Lourdes Central Catholic

Always underpaid, those who have made teaching their vocation do so because they're answering a special call to serve, and to spread the Gospel through their lives.

This goes doubly so for Catholic school teachers, who work extremely hard, often get paid even less, and are still willing to go many extra miles for their students.

I love Catholic schools because of the dedication of their teachers!

future vocation/role model day at
St. Charles Borromeo School
Catholic Schools Week, 2014

[this one is based on a previous (edited) post, published here]

Monday, January 27, 2014

reason #1 why I love Catholic schools

It's Catholic Schools Week!

Choosing the best schooling option for your children and their education is one of the hardest decisions a parent can make. At least, it was for us! It was also one that we revisited at various points in our family's journey.

Rebekah at St. James

Where should they start school? What about moving into a new city, a new state? What about high school? And finally, what should we encourage for college? At every one of these points, Michael and I stopped, re-assessed, discerned--and finally re-committed to sending our awesome foursome to a Catholic school.

Because it's a difficult and important decision, I'm not trying to convince anyone one way or the other. But I do want to share with you my top three reasons why I love Catholic schools, and why I'm grateful that we committed to Catholic schools.

First of all, I love Catholic schools because they offered us, as parents, the opportunity of sending our children into an educational environment that provided a wholistic approach to learning, one where faith is not a separate topic, but an integral part of EVERY other subject.

When our oldest was ready to enter Kindergarten, we had no Catholic school in our vicinity. More than anything I desired an educational setting for Christopher that was Christ-centered and founded on the Gospels. One where, whether learning history and mathematics or going on a field trip, I knew that every subject, topic, event or activity centered on living out our Christian faith. So our first school experience, in fact, was a small Lutheran school in Cedar Park, Texas.

When we moved to Oklahoma, Christopher was headed to 5th grade, and our youngest to Kindergarten. Again, we discerned and found a Catholic school in nearby Oklahoma City. As beautiful as our experience was at Good Shepherd Lutheran, being able to incorporate our Catholic faith and tradition to their academic experience was the ultimate goal for us.

Michelle serving at a school Mass

Clearly, we -- and the schools -- don't always get it right. But the fact that incorporating our Catholic faith was the mission and vision of their school provided our family continuity. This was and is the life code and cornerstone that we deliberately profess(ed) and present(ed) at home.

To put it another way, I knew that we needed all the help we could get to inculcate in our children the Catholic faith that I love and profess.

That's why I love -- and am eternally grateful -- that the schools and the teachers that were a part of my children's lives were my partners in this primary endeavor.

Thank you, Good Shepherd Lutheran School -- Cedar Park, TX

Thank you, St. James Catholic School -- Oklahoma City

Thank you, All Saints Catholic School -- Norman, OK

Thank you, University of Notre Dame -- South Bend, IN

Thank you, Marquette University -- Milwaukee

Thank you, Creighton University -- Omaha

[this post with a few revisions was first published here]