In addition to anticipation, excitement and joy, some tears were shed on the first day of School as students returned the week of Aug. 12, 2024, for the 2024-2025 Academic Year at the 15 Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Venice.
Most of the tears were from parents who were reminded that their children are growing up. Calls of “Love you!” “Miss you already!” “One more hug!” “Have a great day!” “Have fun!” sounded through the hallways. Some of the younger students had their own trouble leaving their parents behind on the first day, but most calmed down once they reached their first classroom. Once settled in the classroom, the students found new wonders to explore and quickly learned that they had many new friends.
Meanwhile, the older students dove right into classwork and made preparations for a long School year. Each of the students left after that first day knowing that many new and exciting possibilities await them, on many levels, during the coming months.
A record enrollment of more than 6,500 meant the hallways at each of the Schools were crowded with bustling boys and girls as they went from the morning carline drop off into their first classes. Several Schools held morning prayer services, setting the appropriate tone for the day.
Diocese of Venice Superintendent of Catholic Education, Jesuit Father John Belmonte, said Diocesan Catholic Schools work conscientiously to provide Christ-centered learning experiences that are transportable to the real world and provide the opportunity for children to develop life-long learning skills and to be successful beyond the classroom.
With enrollment up across the Diocese by more than 40 percent in the past four years, each School had summer projects to either reimagine the usage of existing space or to add portable classrooms. Many Schools also go through an annual upgrade of facilities such as renovating classrooms, putting in new flooring, adding new equipment and technology, while also applying fresh coats of paint.
“There has been a focused effort to let the community in on the secret that Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools provide a top-notch education at all grade levels,” Father Belmonte said. “There are exciting things happening in our Schools and families are taking notice.”
This includes the implementation of an inclusive STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math) model into all classrooms while incorporating the Diocesan curriculum called, “The Gifts of Christ: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Affability, Fortitude, Humility, and Prudence.” This is all part of an incorporated Diocesan robotics program which broadens the opportunities for each student.
This approach, fully supported through the generosity of Bishop Frank J. Dewane, places students ahead of the curve in primary fields while at the same time it continues to promote core Catholic virtues by helping students to develop cognitive thought processes and gain skills such as leadership, communication, complex problem solving, teamwork and creativity.
In the weeks before the students returned, teachers set up their classrooms for instruction and received safety training. The faculty and staff of the three Schools in Lee County – St. Andrew Catholic School in Cape Coral, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Fort Myers, and Bishop Verot Catholic High School, also in Fort Myers – all gathered on Aug. 8 at St. Andrew for a joint retreat. This day includes a variety of fun activities and stresses the unity of the Schools in the region.
Each of the Diocesan Schools also hosted open houses for families the week before classes began. Some were exclusively for new students, while others were open to every family. These served as opportunities to meet new teachers, tour the School grounds and get a better idea (or reminder) of what is expected of both students and parents at Diocesan Catholic Schools.
In addition, at three of the Diocesan Catholic High Schools – Bishop Verot in Fort Myers, Cardinal Mooney in Sarasota, and St. John Neumann in Naples – there were special “Senior Sunrise” welcoming events for the graduating class of 2025. These gatherings take place on the respective football fields and are traditions at each of the Schools, and include breakfast, a class photo and some fun for everyone.
As the 2024-2025 Academic Year progresses, Father Belmonte has stressed that each School focuses on making this the “best year ever” for the students, families, faculty and staff.
For more information about Diocesan Catholic Schools, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/offices/offices-departments/catholicschools/.
