| A summer reflection |
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| Wednesday, 30 June 2010 16:25 | |||
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We examine many programs and activities. At the close of the academic year, we might highlight some of the impressive achievements in our Catholic schools. The SAT is the nation’s most widely used college admission test and is a globally recognized exam that lets students show colleges what they know and how well they can apply knowledge learned in high school and in their educational career. Once again, students from Archdiocesan high schools exceed both state and national averages in all tested areas: critical reading, mathematics, and writing. Exceeding public school mean scores has not just been a trend in standardized testing, but has been a consistent practice throughout the years. Recent exams show the following SAT results: National State of Connecticut Archdiocesan High Schools Reading 496 503 526 Mathematics 510 508 518 Writing 487 506 530 Other good news continues to come forward. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) shows the results of standardized tests given annually to elementary and middle school students throughout the United States in both the public and private sectors. The ITBS covers various areas of educational knowledge including reading, English language use, math concepts and problem solving, social studies, and science. Our educators in the Archdiocese of Hartford use this data to drive instruction, design programs, and prepare for higher-stake assessments, such as the SAT. This assessment ensures current national comparisons of students’ achievement in the Archdiocese with that of students nationwide. As with the SAT, Archdiocesan elementary and middle school students continue to exceed average percentiles nationally. When analyzing the highest grade assessed, Archdiocesan seventh graders achieved grade equivalencies of ninth grade in mathematics; ninth grade, seventh month in reading; ninth grade, eighth month in social studies; 10th grade in science; and an outstanding 10th grade, seventh month in language arts. These accomplishments are more than impressive. Most of us have heard about the United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Program. It honors public and private elementary, middle, and secondary schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. Our schools continue to show advances in this program. This year, 11 Archdiocesan elementary/middle schools were eligible to receive nominations as Blue Ribbon Schools for academic excellence. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) has nominated two of our prekindergarten-to-eighth-grade schools to be national Blue Ribbon Schools: St. James School, Manchester, and St. Martha School, Enfield. Special accolades go to them. Particular note should also be made to Our Lady of Mercy School, Madison. It was selected as a "Top School" for the State of Connecticut by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Talent Search, indicating that the school has a solid core of very high-achieving students. The parishes of St. Margaret, Madison, and St. George, Guilford, sponsor the school. We salute the excellence in our Catholic schools, but sometimes we take these reports for granted. It is helpful to remind ourselves and the larger public of these developments. Our Catholic high schools have a 100 percent graduation rate. All of our schools, elementary and high, are accredited by the prestigious New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). With all the continuing awards and recognition, we must not forget that our schools are Catholic, and this identity is of maximum importance. We focus on the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development of our students, but we understand that without spiritual development, education is fundamentally flawed. In our programs for teachers, we emphasize the vital importance of their own faith formation. The story of our Catholic schools continues as an incomparable narrative of sacrifice, leadership and success. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to so many people who make Catholic education possible: pastors, principals, presidents, teachers, administrative staff members, parents, guardians, grandparents, and so many parishioners. I appreciate profoundly the dedicated work of our Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Mr. Dale R. Hoyt, and all the staff of the office. As clergy, religious, and laypeople across the Archdiocese, we carry forward the momentum, conscious that Catholic schools produce great people.
Archbishop’s Annual Appeal 2010 The 2010 Appeal at this moment shows a total of $8,652,632, which is $104,661 less than at this time last year. The economic meltdown continues to affect Connecticut, and joblessness is an ongoing concern. Our Appeal is addressing these issues as serious matters with programs such as the Emergency Assistance Fund and many others. We have 1,864 fewer donors than we did at this time last year, when we had a total at the time of 48,912 contributors. Our per capita giving is higher than it was last year, so we are profoundly appreciative to those who see the challenges and address them. We continue to recognize that as the Catholic Church, our fundamental call is to assist the poor, the weak, and the vulnerable people among us. Thank you once again for your effective understanding.
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The summer months provide time to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous year and to sharpen our expectations and plans for the coming year.
