January 2004 Happy New Year

January 2004 Happy New Year!
Catholic Schools Week: January 25 - 31, 2004		Catholic Schools in America
Portions of the Text Courtesy of Faithfirst.com and Resource Christian Living Catholic Schools Week is a tradition that began in 1974. Each year the week-long celebration begins on the last Sunday in January and continues throughout that week. It is a salute to the considerable achievement of Catholic Schools--to teachers, administrators, parents, and students. Most of all, it is a salute to the vision, innovation, and accomplishments of the more than 8,000 Catholic schools in the U.S. and their 2 million students and 174,000 teachers. This year's theme for Catholic Schools Week is "A Faith-Filled Future." It is a worthy theme because it embraces many general and religious values--especially the power of faith. To look into the eyes of our Catholic school students and teachers is to see genuine enthusiasm and spiritual awareness. To converse with them is to be reminded that the goal of our journey on earth is "A Faith-Filled Future." It is a goal to which God calls all people. We affirm every step of our faith journey by recognizing God is with us. This is not merely sentimental rhetoric. It is saying that Catholic schools help us love and serve Jesus. They help us make Jesus part of our very lives. And here in the United States, for nearly 300 years they have been helping generation after generation do the same thing--extend the loving service of Jesus to others. This is an astonishing spiritual legacy--one that reaches out to "A Faith-Filled Future." Looking for more information check out these websites: faithfirst.com Faithfirst has great information on the history of Catholic Schools in America. An abridged version of some of the text has been provided for you here, but visit their great site for more information. catholicschoolsweek.org This site has great promotional materials to decorate your school and gifts for your students and faculty. The site is recommended by the NCEA. You can order any of the products online and have them shipped to you at school. Consider getting your faculty members a little something to say thank you for contributing to your education!		A Short History of Catholic Schools in America A quick look at the history of Catholic education speaks for itself. It is a faith-filled history whose very purpose is to teach as Jesus taught. During his life on earth, Jesus loved and served the people of his time. The history of Catholic education reveals its ongoing emphasis on the gospel values of reaching out and serving others. Catholic Schools in the Era of the Immigrant Church The early 1900s witnessed a great influx of people from Europe, Mexico, and Asia. These new arrivals and their families were in a new land and faced with the tasks of learning a new language and new skills. They turned to their churches, synagogues, and temples for reassurance. In the case of Catholics, they turned to their parish, which in effect defined their neighborhood--the so-called "catholic ghetto." The parish was the center of their lives. Catholic Schools in the Era of the Suburban Church It is quite logical that the enormous change of Catholic life in the immigrant church would eventually move beyond the well-defined boundaries of big cities. Second-generation Catholics exuded confidence and optimism. They were no longer on the defensive. They made it. They were achieving success in their jobs. They were on the move economically and socially. The post-war years were good times for everyone--including Catholics. Catholic Schools in the Era of a New Century A new century brings with it a special time to shape new dreams and new goals. In these dawning years of the 21st century, Catholic schools are seizing this opportunity to touch the future. What do you think are the most important educational and spiritual goals for Catholic schools in this 21st century? Fast forward. Imagine you are participating in a parent/teacher meeting that is taking place one hundred years from now. The agenda for the meeting is to report on the faith-filled accomplishments of Catholic schools in the 21st century. What would you hope to include among those major accomplishments?
A Prayer and Wish for You		Ideas for Catholic Schools Week
Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a real letter, ditch the email. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate, be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Worship your God. Gladden the heart of child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still again. Speak it still once more.		Prayer Services Community Service Project All-School Liturgies School Open Houses School Speech Contests Grandparent's Day Parent's Breakfasts Band Recitals Free Dress Days - Theme Days Parish Appreciation Days - Coffee and goodies after the Masses Teacher Appreciation Days - Lunch Provided for the Teachers Student Appreciation Days - No Uniforms, No Homework, and other Surprises Family Appreciation Days - Family Dance Email us with the events that take place at your school! We are always interested to know what your Student Council plans for your celebration. tacsc@tacsc.org