Catholic Schools Check Off The Most Important Boxes

By Dr. RaeNell, Houston, Superintendent
Photos By Frank J. Methe | CLARION HERALD

Please join us, and the entire nation, in celebrating National Catholic Schools Week!

Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 26-Feb. 1) is a celebration of our schools, students, educators, parents and all who make up our Catholic school community. It is a time to celebrate what makes Catholic education outstanding in our community and in our country. This year’s theme – “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed” – accurately describes the wonderful things occurring in our schools every day.

• Our students are learning. Our Catholic schools help form individuals who come to know God in all things and through all things. New Orleans Catholic high school students, on average, have consistently scored higher on the ACT than their public school peers. This year alone, our average composite score was 3.4 points higher than the state’s average composite score.

Aside from our academic data, our faculty members are continuing to embrace the diverse needs of our students by implementing innovative teaching methods. For instance, this year we are expanding and building on the success of our Blended Learning Model, which allows students to benefit from small group instruction, personalized learning paths, and data and feedback through engaging practices. Additionally, more schools are offering differentiated learning programs for students who may benefit from instructional strategies and practices that vary from those found in the more traditional classroom setting. In a variety of ways, our students are demonstrating academic growth and achievement.

• Our Catholic school students live out the call to serve. I am extremely proud of the manner in which our students exemplify servant leadership in both our local and global community. In the 2019-20 school year, our elementary and high school students performed more than 400,000 service hours. Our schools not only produce academic scholars, but students who are taught to treat others in a sacred way. With grade-level retreats, student-led Masses, daily prayer and frequent community service projects, our Catholic schools are committed to educating the whole child by providing programs and services to enrich the spiritual development of the student in family life, friendships and as a member of the larger community.

• Our Catholic school students are leaders in their schools and in the broader community. Our schools produce National Merit finalists, religious leaders, Ivy League students, accountants, government officials, medical professionals, globally known athletes, artists, educators, attorneys, military and law enforcement personnel and more!

More importantly, our schools produce students who are taught to treat others with dignity and respect, because they realize that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. I have faith that our graduates will continue to be prosperous in leading as they go on to college, careers and beyond. Our high schools, on average, provide at least 30 clubs and 11 sports teams for students to join, proving that our schools aim to empower students as leaders beyond the classroom.

• I am proud of the schools we have built and the values we continue to instill in students across the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Our most recent graduates received more than $175 million in scholarships, and 94% of graduates went on to attend four-year colleges. In addition, more than 60 students were named National Merit semifinalists, and our sports teams earned a vast array of state championship titles.

Although much of our success is communicated through data and statistics, our success isn’t confined to grade-point averages or test scores. The success of our schools is rooted in forming the whole person – spiritually, academically and morally. Please join me in praying that our schools continue to provide students with an exceptional education, steeped in Catholic values, where they are taught to know, love and serve the Lord.

We begin our celebration of Catholic Schools Week with the Champions of Catholic Education second collection at all Masses the weekend of Jan. 25-26. The funds collected are used to provide tuition assistance to students and families. Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

I would also like to invite you to join us as we continue to celebrate Catholic schools throughout the week with student art displays and performances. Our Arts and Music Festival will be held at Lakeside Shopping Center Monday, Jan. 27, through Thursday, Jan. 30. Please check our website for the performance schedule. (The schedule also is available on page 2 of Kids’ Clarion.)

We will conclude our celebration with our annual archdiocesan Catholic Schools Week Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Aymond, on Jan. 31 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie. I hope to see you there!

Dr. RaeNell Houston is superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.