A new year brings some new changes at our schools
Sr. Mary Gehringer, Superintendent of Catholic Schools
Back to School, A Special Supplement Published August 24, 2007
When I think about school starting for another year, I think of the "newness" that goes along with it. It's time for families to purchase new shoes, school supplies and uniforms. Teachers begin planning new lessons and preparing classrooms. Maintenance staffs hurry to finish the last-minute preparations for getting the buildings ready to look fresh and new.
Along with the usual painting and polishing that takes place over the summer months, many of our campuses will also sport "new looks" because a variety of construction projects have taken place. Dedication ceremonies will soon occur in Port Huron for the new gym and cafeteria at St. Edward on the Lake School. Shortly after that, McCormick Catholic Academy will move into the four classrooms being built at St. Mary Academy. This new entity will then house grades pre-kindergarten through eight.
Marian High School opened their recently completed gym for summer athletic camps. Along with this, the school now has new locker room and shower facilities, storage, trainers' space and concession area. Notre Dame Prep and Shrine Catholic High and Academy are also in the process of building new gyms/multipurpose buildings. Bishop Foley High added a new roof, heating and ventilation system and scoreboards for their gym. They also began phase one of providing new heating units for classrooms.
De La Salle High School added a new security system, science lab and an irrigation system for their athletic fields. They continued work installing Smart Boards in classrooms and hope to reach their goal of one in every classroom by February of 2008. Ladywood High School's new look consists of state-of-the-art chemistry and physics labs, a new entrance and lobby, additional offices, conference room and multipurpose room. They have also provided the school with a new chapel and have plans to complete a Mother Mary Angela commemorative garden. Brother Rice High School renovated eight classrooms with air conditioning, new windows, Smart Boards and a new digital projection system.
Notably, the biggest "new look" belongs to Regina High School. Faculty and staff worked tirelessly over the summer months to move the school from its Harper Woods location to its new site in Warren. The whole school community is looking forward to bringing the heart of the traditions of Regina to their new home.
The new school year is also highlighted by a variety of professional development opportunities for administrators and teachers. Fourteen intern principals (those new to administration and/or new to the archdiocese) have already completed four days in-service about their role as a spiritual leader as well as learning about the policies and procedures needed throughout the school year. All principals were invited to a full-day workshop to expand their skills in teacher supervision and evaluation. In September they have the opportunity to attend a two-day retreat on the topic of Catholic identity. Vicariate principals groups are providing a variety of teacher in-service dealing with topics such as the concept of professional learning communities and Catholic school identity and culture. In every school, faculty meetings are taking place to prepare curriculum and teaching methods to meet student needs.
In keeping with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' statement that "Catholic schools make a major impact in closing the achievement gap for poor and minority students in inner-city environments…" the Office for Catholic Schools staff has worked closely with the administrators and staffs of the Detroit City School Consortium. The Skillman Foundation recently awarded $340,000 as a two-year extension for a grant to develop professional learning communities within these schools. Skillman also awarded $195,000 to six of these urban schools as part of their Good Schools: Making the Initiative program. Along with these funds, a grant was received from the National Catholic Education Association. This McGivney Grant will be used to establish a computer-adaptive test that will allow teachers to more accurately determine student placement, diagnose instructional needs and measure student gains across reporting periods.
While the school year is off to its new start, the core reason for why our Catholic schools exist is not new. As our Bishops said so well in their document, "Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium," "… it remains our duty to model the Person of Jesus Christ, to teach the Gospel, and to evangelize our culture. We are convinced that Catholic elementary and secondary schools play a critical role in this endeavor…" They go on to state, "… Our vision is clear: Our Catholic schools are a vital part of the teaching mission of the Church … the Catholic school's mission is vital to the future of our young people, our nation and most especially our Church."
Our marketing tagline, "Catholic Schools: Teaching Minds. Reaching Hearts," sums it up best. Each year we begin anew to work with parents to provide not only quality education for their children, but also to do so in a Catholic environment whereby the beliefs expressed by Christ in the Gospel can be instilled in this generation so that they in turn can hand them on to the following generation.
Sr. Mary Gehringer, OSM, is the archdiocesan superintendent of Catholic schools.
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