February 2, 2012
Dear
Families,
As
Catholic Schools Week comes
into full swing, let us reflect on the annual
celebration of Catholic education and its contribution
to our community and the nation. The first Catholic
Schools Week was instituted by the
National Catholic Education Association in 1974.
The NCEA and Catholic Conference of U.S. Bishops
continue to share the good news that our students
live Gospel values and thrive academically.
For more than three decades, the nation’s
Catholic schools have spent the last week of
January recalling what makes Catholic education
special. In my opinion, it is our community,
not the institution that makes our school Catholic.
Our teachers, students and parents are what
make us unique and allow us to come together
in community and share our lives.
The
theme for Catholic Schools Week
this year is “Catholic Schools celebrate
Faith, Academics, and Service.” These
three priorities make Catholic schools stand
out from other educational institutions. Children
are taught faith—not just the basic tenets
of Christianity, but how to have a relationship
with God. Children are taught academics, which
in Catholic schools are held to very high standards,
to help each child reach his or her potential.
They experience service, the giving of one’s
time and effort to help others, as an expression
of both faith and good citizenship.
Part
of our own Catholic Schools Week
tradition is showcasing all the wonderful and
amazing things that are going on at Visitation.
Therefore, please join us tonight at 7pm for
our annual OPEN HOUSE. Feel free to invite anyone
you want to share your school with them. I especially
urge you to invite anyone interested in a Catholic
education for their children to come and see
what makes us truly amazing. It is a perfect
opportunity to connect, or reconnect, with the
teachers and staff and see for yourself how
we work together to provide the best possible
environment for our students to explore faith,
academics, athletics, leadership, technology,
and service.
I
would also like to take this opportunity to
mention our Annual Fund. You
all received yesterday in your red envelopes
our donation letter and pledge envelope. As
the letter mentions, we are relying on 100%
participation. This is the only event
at Visitation where we are hopeful and expecting
ALL of our families to support. In March, I
will be reaching out to those parents who have
not yet participated. Please support our fund
(and keep my call list short!) by making your
gift today. Thank you in advance for your gift
and your unwavering support of Visitation Catholic
School.
Lastly,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank
Fr. Brelsford and all the clergy, parish staff,
and everyone in the parish and school community
that help to make our school so successful.
This specifically includes our teachers, and
support staff here at the school. We believe
that we are making a difference in the lives
of our students and our hope is that by providing
our students with a faith-based education, we
are preparing them to make a difference in the
world with the gift of their Catholic education.
Thank you and God bless all of you.
Sincerely,
Christopher
P. Watson
Principal
