Catholic Schools Week
Jan. 31 – Feb. 6, 2021
by Dr. Nina Beck, assistant superintendent of schools
Sunday, Jan. 31, marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, our annual celebration of Catholic Education. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: FAITH. EXCELLENCE. SERVICE.” Catholic schools have a specific purpose to form students to be good citizens of the world, love God and neighbor and enrich society with the leaven of the Gospel and by the example of faith.
As communities of faith, Catholic schools instill in students their destiny to become saints. Academic excellence is the hallmark of Catholic education intentionally directed to the growth of the whole person… mind, body and spirit. As the people of God, we work together to bring the Kingdom of God to Earth and train the next generation to do the same.
Students in our Catholic Schools are held to high academic standards… so they learn excellence. Our schools offer an extremely high-quality education. In each of our schools, on annual standardized and nationally-normed tests, our students outperform the national average. This is a result of our education model incorporating the love of God for each student. Truly, students thrive in an environment where they are loved, honored and display – yes, excellence.
The image of teachers and students forming the foundation of our schools shows that they are active people of faith who serve others. With some parents out of work or furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic, many have wondered how the events would impact our Catholic schools. However, the agile response of our diocesan schools to the pandemic and the immediate shift to remote learning has impressed current school families and caused new families to enroll.
In August, our schools were back with full-time, in-class instruction. Parents have remarked, “Our schools never missed a beat.” “We are more pleased than ever with our investment in Catholic schools.” “It is difficult to explain how impressed we are with what Catholic schools are doing during this time.” “We are amazed at how quickly and professionally all of the schools responded to the crisis. It is certainly impressive!”
Of course, our administrators, teachers, students, and parents all work hard together and the sharing of our faith is the piece that makes us so successful. The unifying force in success has been daily prayer, to trust and be strong through this very difficult time. The pandemic may have changed the communities’ trajectory and the landscape in which we have worked and are working. However, it has not dampened our commitment to strengthen our Catholic Diocese of Lincoln Schools one bit.
Following the tremendous efforts responding to the COVID-19 arrival last March, our school communities embarked on this school year with an inspiring commitment to the ministry of Catholic education – providing our students an unparalleled experience of academic excellence and formation in our Catholic faith. As we approach the halfway point of the school year, it is easy to realize the impressive and extraordinary dedication of Catholic school families, pastors, administrators, faculty and staff throughout the Diocese of Lincoln.
Service is an expression of love and care; it is an integral part of life of our Catholic Schools, which are all committed communities of services, places where helping one another and aiding the needy are “modus operandi. It is the normal way of living life. Service is the key to our Christian life. When Jesus called his disciples, He immediately sent them to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick – an example to follow. He went about Galilee teaching preaching and healing.
At its root, is service not a form of healing? When we help shovel snow for a neighbor, are we not healing a bit of loneliness as we remove the snow? When we collect gloves and hats for children in need, are we not healing a bit of the anxiety felt by parents who are experiencing a difficult time? Yes, service IS an expression of love and care, and IS an integral part of life at our Catholic schools. It IS a normal way of living.
Our Catholic schools provide a safe and disciplined environment where each student is expected to reach his or her potential. We do everything possible to make certain students become everything they can be within our Catholic schools via Faith, Excellence, and Service.
