A salute to Catholic educators
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
In the early days of our nation, it was common for youth to become apprentices and learn a trade or profession from a master craftsman. The work was arduous, yet the end result equipped them with the ability to provide for a family and to pass on learning and skills to benefit all.
The practice of passing on knowledge continues in the classrooms of this great nation each day.
It is fitting that, on this 43rd annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week, we pause to celebrate and salute Catholic school educators who have chosen the teaching profession to be mentors of the youth of today. They are the role models who teach and challenge students to analyze and to learn to think, to the point where thinking is a habit. On a daily basis, they impart faith and knowledge through their work in Catholic education.
As teachers teach the faith, children experience that personal connection with God. Students learn of the love of God for all and the responsibility that we have to love one another. They soon learn that prayer provides the solace necessary when there is confusion, sadness and despair in life. They learn that it provides the expression of gratitude for blessings. They understand the comfort it provides in knowing that God walks with us through every life experience. As we understand the gift and strength of prayer, learning for a lifetime occurs in our Catholic schools.
Each day, over 1,600 individuals in the Diocese ofTrenton bring their best to form students in the faith and to expand their horizons as they prepare them for a future yet to be imagined. Not driven by monetary gain, but by an intrinsic desire to give of self and to help another provides the basis for their contributions.
The continuing desire to improve self and to best serve students finds many educators enrolled in doctorate and master degree programs. The search for knowledge is alive. School faculties have become certified in the Notre Dame University Satellite Theology Education Program, (STEP), to expand their knowledge of the Catholic faith. Teachers serve on numerous curriculum committees in the Diocese as well as in their schools, so that instruction will be current, standards-based and driven by research.
With technology abounding, teachers are transmitting learning through a medium which continues to astound and engage the learner and the instructor! Beyond the computer lab, students utilize laptops, Chromebooks and iPads in the comfort of their classroom. Science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math programs (STREAM) prod students to consider and solve problems through integrated, meaningful and authentic learning experiences.
Perhaps the greatest contribution made by Catholic school educators is their understanding that the art of teaching is not centered on teaching subjects, but in teaching students. As teachers express belief in the abilities of each student, they provide opportunities for them to imagine, to think critically, and to explore questions of social and moral consequence.
The results of the efforts of our educators is evidenced in the success which is touted nationally, regionally and in each local school, whether it be in the classroom, on the playing field or on the stage.
Among the many success stories are schools that have received recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. They have been recognized for overall academic excellence and for being in the top 15 percent in the nation in academic performance. Current schools include St. Ann School, Lawrenceville; St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft; St. Paul School, Princeton; St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton; Holy Cross School, Rumson; Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Moorestown, and St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach.
The rigorous preparation of Catholic school graduates is affirmed by colleges and universities rendering significant savings in college tuition. Graduates of the class of 2016 received scholarships and grants in excess of $222 million. The exceptional Catholic secondary education has prepared students for college and beyond.
Students know the importance of giving back and caring for others. They take part in a diocesan sponsored Day of Service, and are actively involved in contributing to the needs of the community on an ongoing basis. Students live the teachings of Jesus throughout the school year, remembering His words, “Do unto others as I have done unto you.”
Each year during Catholic Schools Week, the governor of New Jersey issues a proclamation attesting to the contributions of Catholic schools. The schools are recognized for providing an education that emphasizes the formation of moral values and a commitment to community service; for educating millions of students who have been prepared to be responsible citizens, and for the contributions of Catholic schools to New Jersey’s educational system. The contributions of Catholic schools are recognized on many levels because they not only make a difference in the life of the student, but ultimately in the lives of others.
As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week and reflect on the theme, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” we recognize the educators who have given of themselves to prepare the students to be responsible citizens. We extend sincere thanks for being a positive influence and for guiding students as they express their gifts and talents. We recognize parents as the primary educators of their children and thank them for choosing to educate their children in a Catholic school. Sincere thanks are extended to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., pastors and priests, administrators, teachers and staff, alumni, parishioners and the larger community for their continued investment in Catholic education.
Abraham Lincoln stated, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Catholic schools are learning communities that play a vital role in creating the future by forming and educating today’s youth to be discerning and involved citizens. By living a faith-filled life, by exhibiting moral courage, students contribute to a dynamic vision for the future. As we continue to write the history of our nation and form leaders for tomorrow, may we always have the courage to be true to the teachings that are imbued in our faith and are part of our country’s heritage.
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In the early days of our nation, it was common for youth to become apprentices and learn a trade or profession from a master craftsman. The work was arduous, yet the end result equipped them with the ability to provide for a family and to pass on learning and skills to benefit all.
The practice of passing on knowledge continues in the classrooms of this great nation each day.
It is fitting that, on this 43rd annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week, we pause to celebrate and salute Catholic school educators who have chosen the teaching profession to be mentors of the youth of today. They are the role models who teach and challenge students to analyze and to learn to think, to the point where thinking is a habit. On a daily basis, they impart faith and knowledge through their work in Catholic education.
As teachers teach the faith, children experience that personal connection with God. Students learn of the love of God for all and the responsibility that we have to love one another. They soon learn that prayer provides the solace necessary when there is confusion, sadness and despair in life. They learn that it provides the expression of gratitude for blessings. They understand the comfort it provides in knowing that God walks with us through every life experience. As we understand the gift and strength of prayer, learning for a lifetime occurs in our Catholic schools.
Each day, over 1,600 individuals in the Diocese ofTrenton bring their best to form students in the faith and to expand their horizons as they prepare them for a future yet to be imagined. Not driven by monetary gain, but by an intrinsic desire to give of self and to help another provides the basis for their contributions.
The continuing desire to improve self and to best serve students finds many educators enrolled in doctorate and master degree programs. The search for knowledge is alive. School faculties have become certified in the Notre Dame University Satellite Theology Education Program, (STEP), to expand their knowledge of the Catholic faith. Teachers serve on numerous curriculum committees in the Diocese as well as in their schools, so that instruction will be current, standards-based and driven by research.
With technology abounding, teachers are transmitting learning through a medium which continues to astound and engage the learner and the instructor! Beyond the computer lab, students utilize laptops, Chromebooks and iPads in the comfort of their classroom. Science, technology, religion, engineering, art and math programs (STREAM) prod students to consider and solve problems through integrated, meaningful and authentic learning experiences.
Perhaps the greatest contribution made by Catholic school educators is their understanding that the art of teaching is not centered on teaching subjects, but in teaching students. As teachers express belief in the abilities of each student, they provide opportunities for them to imagine, to think critically, and to explore questions of social and moral consequence.
The results of the efforts of our educators is evidenced in the success which is touted nationally, regionally and in each local school, whether it be in the classroom, on the playing field or on the stage.
Among the many success stories are schools that have received recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. They have been recognized for overall academic excellence and for being in the top 15 percent in the nation in academic performance. Current schools include St. Ann School, Lawrenceville; St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft; St. Paul School, Princeton; St. Gregory the Great Academy, Hamilton; Holy Cross School, Rumson; Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Moorestown, and St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach.
The rigorous preparation of Catholic school graduates is affirmed by colleges and universities rendering significant savings in college tuition. Graduates of the class of 2016 received scholarships and grants in excess of $222 million. The exceptional Catholic secondary education has prepared students for college and beyond.
Students know the importance of giving back and caring for others. They take part in a diocesan sponsored Day of Service, and are actively involved in contributing to the needs of the community on an ongoing basis. Students live the teachings of Jesus throughout the school year, remembering His words, “Do unto others as I have done unto you.”
Each year during Catholic Schools Week, the governor of New Jersey issues a proclamation attesting to the contributions of Catholic schools. The schools are recognized for providing an education that emphasizes the formation of moral values and a commitment to community service; for educating millions of students who have been prepared to be responsible citizens, and for the contributions of Catholic schools to New Jersey’s educational system. The contributions of Catholic schools are recognized on many levels because they not only make a difference in the life of the student, but ultimately in the lives of others.
As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week and reflect on the theme, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” we recognize the educators who have given of themselves to prepare the students to be responsible citizens. We extend sincere thanks for being a positive influence and for guiding students as they express their gifts and talents. We recognize parents as the primary educators of their children and thank them for choosing to educate their children in a Catholic school. Sincere thanks are extended to Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., pastors and priests, administrators, teachers and staff, alumni, parishioners and the larger community for their continued investment in Catholic education.
Abraham Lincoln stated, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Catholic schools are learning communities that play a vital role in creating the future by forming and educating today’s youth to be discerning and involved citizens. By living a faith-filled life, by exhibiting moral courage, students contribute to a dynamic vision for the future. As we continue to write the history of our nation and form leaders for tomorrow, may we always have the courage to be true to the teachings that are imbued in our faith and are part of our country’s heritage.
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