Tag: principals corner

60 YEARS, ONE FAMILY

Tonya Peters, Principal, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School

Many have told me that St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School is a little gem buried in the heart of Port Charlotte, and that it’s a welcoming environment where students are well educated, nurtured in the Catholic Faith and formed to be Disciples of Christ. I couldn’t agree more.

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School opened in 1960. Therefore, as the school approaches its 60th Anniversary, it is a good time to reflect on what St. Charles has meant to the students, families and parishioners over the decades.

Firstly, many of our alumni are now doctors, attorneys, teachers, veterinarians, entrepreneurs, or are pursuing other prestigious professions, many focused on serving others, a lesson learned well at St. Charles.

In addition, the impact of the school is revealed in that many alumni remain active members of St. Charles Borromeo Parish. It is also a demonstration of the quality of the Catholic education (spiritual, academic and physical) being offered over the years at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School that these same alumni think so highly of the school to which they choose to send their.

This is a further illustration that the school continues to live up to its Mission Statement: “St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School is a place where every child is spiritually and academically nurtured to their fullest potential, creating lifelong learners who value and live our Catholic Faith.”

An example of the lasting legacy of the school can be demonstrated in the story one family, the Stone-Smiths, which has demonstrated their strong devotion towards St. Charles Catholic School and Parish.

Paul and Beth Stone are part of the first generation of parishioners at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, which was established in 1959. The school opened a year later, and the Stone’s daughter, Kim, became one of the first students to attend the school for all eight grades. Meanwhile. Paul Stone was a Home and School Association President and member of the Parish Council. Years later, Beth Stone worked in the school as a teacher’s assistant.

Kim Stone-Smith received her various Sacraments and eventually was married at the Parish in 1983. She later worked for several years at the school as an early childhood and kindergarten teacher. All three of her children attended St. Charles as well. And now, some of the next generation are in school at St. Charles Borromeo while others are destined to be Crusaders.

Earlier this year, Kim Stone-Smith returned once again to St. Charles, this time as a kindergarten teacher.  When asked how it was going back after a 13-year absence from the classroom, she simply said, “It is nice to be home.”

St. Charles is currently home to 24 students with at least one parent who attended St. Charles. Having alumni sending their children to the school and bringing them to Mass and other Parish events is an enormous compliment to the school.

St. Charles continues to provide academic excellence for every one of our students. From the 2019 eighth grade class, the recent St. Charles Borromeo alumni are presently ranked high academically as freshman at their local high school. In addition, public high school teachers often say they know which students attended St. Charles Borromeo due to their good behavior, great work ethic and outstanding academic performance.

The story of the Stone-Smith family is just one example of how St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School and Parish work together to prepare children for social, personal, intellectual and spiritual fulfillment. This school is a gem waiting to be discovered by parents who seek noting but the the best for their children’s future.

It would be an honor and a pleasure if St. Charles could be a part of your family’s story. Please call at 941-625-5533 or visit www.stcbs.org to schedule a tour and learn more about how St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Port Charlotte prepares children for life here on Earth and life eternal.

By Maria Niebuhr

Nestled in the heart of Naples, within a modest neighborhood just off Golden Gate Parkway, lies St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School. Founded in 1981, the school bears the name of the first American-born saint and is in keeping with her spiritual gifts of courage, determination, faith and love.

Through hard work, dedication, and the support of parishioners and community partners, the school was handcrafted by the very families that wanted their children to have a quality, Catholic education. Since those humble beginnings, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School carries on their legacy through rich traditions rooted in family values and faith in action. The tradition continues with the large number of alumni who have children enrolled in our school.

What sets St. Elizabeth Seton apart and makes us unique is our sense of closeness as a family community. Seton students know they are a part of the school family which is an extension of their own. You need only walk through the doors of the school to feel a difference, to experience the wholesome, loving personality of the school. In short, a presence of the spirit exists throughout its halls, courtyards and classrooms.

The spirit of St. Elizabeth Seton is alive and well. The school and Church’s dedication to children, education and the poor shone as a beacon of hope in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017. Our campus suffered major damage, forcing us to close our doors for 18 days.

Thankful for technology and the digital age in which we live, our teachers taught remotely as best they could. However, all of us yearned to return to our beloved classrooms. Our prayers were answered when a family in the contracting business stepped up to expedite repairs and renovations. Donations poured in from across the country, making a reopening possible. When another school was hit by a hurricane, our community quickly came to their aid, just as they helped us in our time of need.

Our entire staff and faculty exemplify Faith in action. Maria Crowley, who has taught at St. Elizabeth Seton for 30 years, is just one of the many role models who lives our Faith! Teaching is more than a profession to Mrs. Crowley; it is her vocation, one inspired by her love of God’s unique creation, His children. She explains that on each child’s face, she sees the child Jesus. This feeling permeates throughout our faculty and staff, inspiring us to create a mutual sense of caring, closeness, and respect with our students and their families.

The school’s spirit is alive and continues to grow. We are small enough that teachers know all the students and their families though large enough to offer a full range of academic rigor and extra-curricular experiences. We offer a music program complete with beginner and concert bands, as well as a full range of competitive athletic offerings from volleyball to cross country. Our 1:1 iPad program in grades 5-8, and class iPads in grades K-4, allow us to create an engaging, technology-driven curriculum, while our diverse selection of after school activities such as Art Club, STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math) club, master gardening classes and theatrical performances embody the “whole child” concept.

I welcome you to visit St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School. We will gladly open our doors so you and your family may see firsthand the unique, uplifting spirit that inspires us to follow in the footsteps of our foundress. I will be happy to give you a tour of our special school, where academic excellence, faith, values and community come to life each day!

Please visit our website SaintElizabethSeton.com or call 239-455-2262. You are also welcome to attend our Open House from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26 and experience the difference!

By Principal David Nelson

St. Andrew Catholic School in Cape Coral has a rich tradition of fostering some of the finest students in Southwest Florida. While rooted in academic excellence, St. Andrew is far more than just an academic institution. For the past 30 years, through Catholic traditions and Gospel values, dedicated faculty and staff help to develop students who are growing into principled, caring and balanced individuals; respected as Children of God.

This year marked the school’s 10th annual “Make a Difference Day.” This special day allows groups of students to venture out into the Southwest Florida community to improve the lives of others. On November 8, middle school students and parent volunteers served in diverse capacities at six different non-profit organizations which serve the local community in a variety of ways. The students visited Healthy Start, Special Populations, Hearts and Homes, Lifeline Family Center, Cape Coral Caring Center, Ronald McDonald House and the Gulf Coast Humane Society. Students made sandwiches, created art, comforted those at nursing homes, helped clean an animal shelter and so much more.

Each location provided students a priceless opportunity to work together for the common good. Throughout the day, the students experienced compassion, empathy and empowerment by enhancing the community and enriching the lives of their neighbors.

Service to others is part of the philosophy at St. Andrew Catholic School, and “Make a Difference Day” is just one of many service projects completed each academic year. Whether collaborating in the classroom or through community service, students open their hearts, demonstrating open-mindedness and a connection to others. Students having an impact in our school and in the community is what makes St. Andrew a special place.

In addition, St. Andrew, as well as other Diocesan schools, implemented a new Diocesan initiative of becoming “A Disciple of Christ.” This calling promotes students to do more within his or her school and community. They are being recognized for their care, integrity, and commitment to do the right thing.

I welcome you to visit our website – www.standrewcs.org – or stop by for a tour of our fabulous school and see firsthand our students as they learn to become “A Disciple of Christ.”

Principal’s Corner – Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School

Ben Hopper, Principal Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School

Sarasota –

In front of Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, there is a sign that reads – “You belong here!” This simple yet captivating phrase is an invitation for students to become part of the Mooney community.

From humble beginnings in 1959 in the Beall Plaza in downtown Sarasota to the evolving vibrant campus at its location today, Cardinal Mooney has provided a college-preparatory education centered on Gospel values for thousands of students over the past sixty years. Embracing the uniqueness of each student entrusted to our care, we provide an educational experience which culminates with graduates who are committed life-long learners ready for college and active examples of their Catholic faith ready for service to the community.

During the journey through Mooney, students encounter teachers, advisors, coaches, and counselors who help them to realize their God-given potential and to pursue their passions. One of these individuals is Ann LaFemina, the school’s college advisor.  Navigating the college application and admission process is not an easy task.

LaFemina assists the seniors and their families through this daunting challenge by personalizing the college and scholarship application process, hosting more than seventy colleges and universities at the college fair and for admission visits, and taking students on a 3-day bus tour of 11 colleges in Florida.

According to Sarah Averbeck, a 2019 Mooney graduate, “Mrs. LaFemina is a lifesaver. I would not be where I am today without her. Her endless support, kindness, and love for her job does not go unnoticed. She wants to see all of her students succeed in life, therefore she goes above and beyond for the community with which she works.”

Sarah and the other 103 graduates in the Class of 2019 earned an impressive $9 million in scholarship offers. The collective success of the Mooney community is represented by our 100 percent graduation rate and 98 percent of graduates attending college while the other 2 percent pursue the military or workforce.

In addition to college readiness, students are taught to embrace the school’s motto – “Serving God in the Community.” On any given Saturday during the school year, many of our students who are members of The Miracle League Club can be found on the baseball diamond helping differently-abled individuals hit the ball, run the bases, and have a sense of belonging. Under the direction of English teacher and club advisor Betty Rogers, our students have partnered with the Miracle League Manasota. The club’s mission is to instill in all students the respect and dignity for all individuals and to help create an environment in which all people will be treated equally. There are Miracle Leagues throughout the United States, but Cardinal Mooney has the only high school club affiliated with the league.

According to Beaver Shriver, Miracle League Manasota Board Member, “Miracle League Manasota is blessed and honored to have such a selfless group of caring young adults give their time and hearts to our remarkable differently-abled athletes. We couldn’t do what we do without the Cardinal Mooney High School Miracle League Club.”  Not only do these students serve as models of our faith through their service, but they also belong to a student body that completes more than 20,000 service hours each year.

Whether students are studying in the classroom, playing on the field, singing on stage, or praying in the chapel, a sense of belonging is the common theme for the Mooney community which extends well after graduation.  We are Mooney and want you to be a part of us too.

For more information about Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, please visit www.cmhs-sarasota.org.

By Principal M.C. Heffner,

The Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms the need for Catholic schools for our families. It states, in part, “As those first responsible for the education of their children, parents have the right to choose a school for them which corresponds to their own convictions. This right is fundamental. As far as possible parents have the duty of choosing schools that will best help them in their task as Christian educators. Public authorities have the duty of guaranteeing this parental right and of ensuring the concrete conditions for its exercise.”

As the principal of Epiphany Cathedral Catholic School, I am often asked – why Epiphany? Why Catholic education? My answer is rooted in the Catholic belief beautifully articulated in our Catechism.

Choosing a Catholic school ensures that parents are selecting educational partners who are unapologetically faithful to our Catholic identity. We ensure it is woven throughout our rigorous curriculum and extra-curricular offerings. We engage our students and families to live our Catholic faith through daily prayer gatherings to begin our school day in the courtyard, participation in weekly school Mass with student servers, live “Saints Alive” performances by our third graders, and by supporting our partner parishes’ sacramental preparation programs.

Our 3 Crowns recognition program – which honor the Feast of the Epiphany and the three kings – actively supports positive traits that build success for students and support family values. Recognizing student efforts to practice and live by the 3 Crowns is a critically important part of our culture.

Each crown – Academic, Character, and Spiritual – focuses on a given trait that changes with the months. For example, November’s Academic Crown trait is “punctual;” the Character Crown trait is “dependable;” and the Spiritual Crown’s trait is “forgiving.” Throughout the month, the teachers and I will discuss the meanings of these traits and what it looks like when we put them into practice. Teaching positive traits that support good citizenship and our Catholicity are integrated into who we are and what we do. This is done during morning prayers and integrated into classroom work throughout each school day during the month.

In my first two years of service at Epiphany I have been blessed to work with teachers and staff who are dedicated to ensuring that our students are prepared for any challenges of high school.  We provide a rigorous education without high stakes testing pressures.  Instead, we create an environment that fosters and develops analytical thinking skills through innovative educational practices.

One recent and exciting initiative is the installation of 23 new Cleartouch Interactive Boards throughout our campus. In addition to the 1-to-1 iPad program in grades K-5 and a 1-to-1 Chromebook program in middle school, these interactive boards are empowering both our students and teachers to instruct, research, collaborate, engage, and learn in ways that include traditional methods, but go beyond traditional means.

Students engage in both analytical and creative thinking while they solve real-world issues, determine the best ways to live out our faith’s works of mercy to serve others, and have fun guiding independent research projects. The excitement permeating our campus is truly motivating and inspires me to do all I can to support this wonderful Epiphany community.

So, why Epiphany? Why Catholic education? Catholic schools, especially Epiphany Cathedral Catholic School, are rooted in the Catholic belief of school choice. We partner with our parents to provide the best education for children; an education that supports positive emotional development, nurtures healthy young adults through games, exercise and athletics, and embraces a Faith that is unapologetically Catholic.

We are Epiphany Cathedral Catholic School, and we welcome you to join us.

Visit us online at www.ecstigers.com or www.facebook.com/EpiphanyTigers.