To mark the first day of school, Superintendent of Schools Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D., sent a personal message to our Catholic School educators, students and families. Click to view her letter in English or in Spanish.

Dear Educators, Students, and Families:

There is something special about the beginning of a new school year. It is a time of new beginnings and new possibilities, and a reminder of the beautiful mission we share in Catholic education.

At the heart of that mission is a simple but profound belief: every child is a unique gift from God. We are not here to place students into a mold or expect every child to follow the same path. We are here to recognize each child’s God-given gifts, strengths and needs and to help them grow into the person God has created them to be.

This is what it means to form the whole person. We want our students to grow in knowledge, but also in faith, virtue, compassion and wisdom. We want them to know that they are loved, that they have dignity, that their lives have purpose and that God has something wonderful in store for them.

As a Catholic school community, we are also living through a time of renewal. This renewal belongs to all of us. It is not simply about our schools or our structures; it is about each of us who shares in the mission of Catholic education.

For our educators, renewal invites us to continue growing in how we teach, accompany and form our students. For our families, it is an invitation to deepen the partnership between home and school. And for our students, it is an opportunity to discover more fully the gifts God has given them and the person He is calling them to become.

Renewal asks us to look at our work with fresh eyes; to celebrate what is good, learn from one another and consider how we can serve our children even more faithfully.

As we begin this school year, I invite all of us to embrace this spirit of renewal. Together, educators, students and families form the community that makes Catholic education possible. Together, we can create schools where every student is known, valued, challenged to grow and encouraged to become the person God created them to be.

May God bless our students, our families, and all those who serve in Catholic education. Please know of my prayers for you today and throughout the academic year. May the Lord guide us in the year ahead and renew in each of us the joy of the mission we share.

Sincerely, in Christ,

Sr. Mary Grace Walsh, ASCJ, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools