Good news stories are happening in Catholic schools across the country! Let NCEA know what is happening with your school so that we may share on NCEA Talk, social media and in the pages of Momentum. Visit www.NCEA.org/shareyourstory to submit your good news today!
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Last year, students in the Archdiocese of Baltimore placed first in the nation in high school placement tests. During the coronavirus pandemic, the schools maintained in-person learning as much as possible, with the result that students did not experience learning gaps. In fact, there was growth in academic achievement, as evidenced in the early fall math scores. The community schools in Baltimore City help students from underserved neighborhoods read and do math at grade level – and this is the foundation to future academic success. Students in these schools go on to excellent high schools and most go on to post-secondary education.
Archdiocese of Chicago
Communal prayer is making its way into the daily schedule of some Catholic schools in the form of prayer groups or prayer circles. The benefits are twofold – give students a chance to pray together and help them form a habit of regular, daily prayer.
Sally Shewmon, a middle school math teacher at Our Lady of the Wayside School in Arlington Heights, IL, teaches religion to her eighth grade homeroom, and last year started a voluntary prayer group for eighth grade boys. The best part – it was the idea of her students.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service at Gesu School included St. Joseph’s Prep, Saint Joseph’s University and Interfaith Philadelphia more than 275 community members, as well as U.S. Senator Bob Casey.
The day began with a universal prayer in honor of Dr. King, social justice readings and discussion groups, followed by volunteer efforts. Volunteers spent the day participating in a block clean-up, packing more than 300 wellness kits for the HEADstrong Foundation and making more than 300 sandwiches and hygiene kits for youth and homeless shelters, including Jenna’s Blessing Bags Foundation. New and gently used coats were also donated to the Cradles to Crayons Coat Drive.
Senator Bob Casey, who was part of the Gesu School community in the 1980s as a fifth grade teacher and basketball coach when he worked with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. “I was thrilled to return to Gesu on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day to witness the impactful work the school’s staff and volunteers are doing in accordance with the Jesuit mission.”
Archdiocese of Washington
The School Choice Caucus’s National School Choice Week Student Rally and/or Reception at the Capitol was held the week before Catholic Schools Week. The rally was a great success with Catholic schools, lawmakers, NCEA President/CEO Lincoln Snyder and NCEA Vice President of Policy Sister Dale McDonald on hand to meet and greet Catholic school students and school choice supporters.
Diocese of Manchester
Scenes like these from St. Patrick’s Academy in Portsmouth, NH played out around the country during Catholic Schools Week.
Archdiocese of Managua
Catholic Schools Week crosses the globe. Lincoln International Academy of the Holy Family (LIA) in Managua, Nicaragua celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a special Mass where the guests of honor were the maintenance staff.
In short, the motto that inspires the LIA community is “proud to be Catholic.” The school works hard all year to make each activity special so that students and their families get multiple opportunities to get close to Jesus and his teachings. During Catholic Schools Week, those efforts are intensified and move each member of the LIA community to participate in the festivities.