"Catholic Schools Raise the Standards" is the theme of Catholic Schools Week 2013, and local schools have been preparing for a week of activities to celebrate their mission in educating children in mind, heart and soul.
Catholic Schools Week starts today through Saturday, always beginning on the last Sunday in January. This year's logo for the national observation shows a bar graph with four bars, each higher from left to right, the last being in the shape of a cross.
According to the website of the National Catholic Education, which promotes CSW, "the 2013 theme supports the recent launch of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, that ensure the effective operation and responsible governance Catholic schools across the country, thus promoting high academic standards and Catholic identity. The logo designed for the week illustrates a chart of steady growth culminating in the highest achievement of all, a cross representing the faith that underscores all Catholic education."
The Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, said Catholic Schools Week is a perfect time to get the word about what Catholic schools are all about.
"Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to celebrate and promote Catholic education which is central to the progress of the New Evangelization," Barres said. "I encourage all the pastors and parishes, students, parents, teachers and graduates of our schools in Schuylkill County to explain to friends, families and neighbors why they should choose a Catholic education for themselves or their children."
Diocesan Communications Director Matt Kerr said there are 12,363 students in the five-count diocesan school system from kindergarten through grade 12 and special learning centers.
In Schuylkill County, the eight diocesan schools (five elementary, two high schools and one special learning center) have 1,181 students. St. Nicholas School, Minersville, which is part of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, has 136 students from pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade. School students and faculty celebrate the week with Masses/Divine Liturgies, open houses and activities that also include families, parishioners and the community at large.
Kim Fetter, principal of Assumption BVM School in Pottsville, said that raising the standards is an important part of the school's mission.
"Catholic education is important because it teaches morals and values along with rigorous academic standards," Fetter said.
"We 'Raise the Standards' by helping children exceed even their highest expectations. Our students are confident. They go beyond what they even thought was possible."
Fetter added, "We maintain high academic and moral standards for all. We provide academic excellence while fostering spiritual growth."
Assumption BVM financial secretary, Suemary Zimmerman said it was an investment when she and her husband, Jay, had their two sons attend All Saints Catholic School (now Assumption BVM) and Nativity BVM Catholic School.
"I'm glad that I sent my children through Catholic schools because I can see it in their character as adults," Zimmerman said. "It was a sacrifice for our family, but it was well worth it. It was worth the investment. I would recommend a Catholic education for any family."
The principal of Trinity Academy in Shenandoah, Sister Mary Ann Spaetti, IHM, said the symbol on the CSW logo has much to say about the importance of Catholic education.
"Raising the standard is so important, especially in the society that we live in today. We must remember that the main standard is the cross of Christ, and that we place that cross before every child as his or her motivation for everything else that they do," Spaetti said. "As for raising the standards as far as rigorous academics, we owe it to our children to expect the best from them. God does, and so we should, too. We try to keep that curriculum rigorous because we know they can do better than just enough."
Spaetti said a letter was sent to each home asking how Trinity Academy raises the standard for each family and what is unique. She was impressed with many of the responses.
"The ones I got back really made my job worthwhile," Spaetti said. "One family wrote, 'Trinity Academy has helped our family know that God is in charge and God is taking care of everything in our lives.' The think about Catholic education that is unique and why it's so important is that we help kids know that Christ is 24/7."
Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education Dr. Philip J. Fromuth said it is great to show pride in Catholic school education.
"During Catholic School Week, the Diocese of Allentown joins two million students and 150,000 teachers in over 6,800 Catholic schools across the country in the celebration," Fromuth said. "The theme 'Catholic Schools Raise the Standards' emphasizes our commitment to schools of academic excellence in safe, disciplined and faith-filled environments. This is demonstrated by the fact that 97 percent of the graduates from our diocesan high schools continue their education at the college or university level."
Fromuth added, "As the 48 schools in the Allentown Diocese celebrate this week, it allows us to reflect and be truly proud of our schools, our students and our school communities. Catholic Schools Week provides the opportunity to acknowledge and honor our past, celebrate the present and plan for the future, as we continue to 'Raise the Standards.' "