Fr. Simon's Letter - January 29, 2023

In October, the Wall Street Journal published a commentary titled "Amid the Pandemic, Progress in Catholic Schools" by Kathleen Porter-Magee. The author draws upon the recent findings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress which reveal nationwide drops in reading and math achievement among 4th and 8th graders since 2019. She highlights the very different experiences of Catholic school students during this same period. The reporter notes that while the pandemic "set a generation of students back … Catholic schools were a bright spot" by keeping their doors open for in-person learning and demonstrating how "community-focused, mission-driven leadership can benefit children."  

I couldn't agree more with this reflection, as it highlights the efforts and successes of our entire school community. Our Principal, Mrs. Carlson, Assistant Principal Mrs. Moore, the faculty, and maintenance staff working together made it possible for our students to continue moving forward in their education and not lose ground. We know it was challenging for our teachers to juggle the many additional responsibilities and strategies to teach effectively during the pandemic. And we know it was difficult for our parents to take time away from work to manage remote learning whenever necessary and to care for their student's emotional well-being. Kudos to all for making it happen!! 

This weekend we begin Catholic Schools Week. Catholic schools across the country will mark this week with special Masses, community service projects, academic and artistic showcases, and athletic and family events. Faith. Excellence. Service. These three words from the theme for Catholic Schools Week speak so well to the qualities our schools proclaim and our young people experience.

Our schools are centers of faith, and our faith in Jesus Christ is why our schools exist. The foundation of faith around which we build our school programs permeates every aspect of the school day and continues beyond. Every day, children and youth in our Catholic schools are invited to know Jesus personally, to love him intimately, and to serve him wholeheartedly.

Students thrive from the excellence of the Catholic school educational experience. We celebrate the fact that 90% of our students enroll in Catholic high schools and the innovation and professionalism that are the hallmarks of Catholic schools. We know that all students emerge from Catholic schools with a rigorous liberal arts education and the skills needed to build a better world today and tomorrow.

I am very proud of how faith and excellence are manifested in service to others and in embracing a calling greater than each individual's success. Indeed, in Catholic schools, students learn that their greatest potential lies in that intersection of their God-given gifts, the desire to learn and service to others.

We are very proud of our parish school! How blessed we are to have a parish school as part of the vibrancy and life of our parish family. Parishes with a school are blessed in a particular way, as a parish school provides unique opportunities for building up families and the parish family that parishes without a school do not have. What makes me most proud about our parish school is that our young people learn daily that faith in God is at the heart of their total education and has an important place in their everyday lives.
I express my gratitude to the many parents and families who make it possible, at times making sacrifices, for their children to attend Catholic schools. With our school's high level of parental involvement, we could achieve the success we have seen for so many years. I want every family in our parish with school-age children to feel that Queen of All Saints School is an option for them. Please call the school or parish and see for yourself what our parish school can offer to your child(ren). 

In the next couple of months, the School Administration, along with the School Council, will develop a Strategic Plan for Queen of All Saints School. This plan aims to ensure that the legacy, history, and commitment to our student success continue for years to come. Through an extensive evaluation of the current environment of QAS, we will develop goals and objectives that will help address the areas of opportunity, growth, and the evolution of Catholic education.
The committee will focus on four pillars when developing the Strategic Plan: Catholic Identity, Academics, Operational Vitality, and the Recruitment and Retention of faculty and students. The goals and objectives within the Strategic Plan are designed to assist us in continuing our emphasis on providing a faith-filled, challenging educational environment across all grade levels that establish a solid foundation for each child's future success. This Strategic Plan will rely on the support and assistance of the greater QAS community. There are several individuals within the community whom we will call upon to assist us as we put together the Steering Committee and the various subcommittees for their commitment and dedication to the successful completion of this project. We ask for your patience and cooperation as we begin this process so our future is secure and better. Your continued support of Queen of All Saints Catholic School is greatly appreciated! I ask for your continued prayers for the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan. 

Blessings!!