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Although I have celebrated Catholic Schools Week many times since becoming part of the Catholic school community decades ago, this year I have been blessed with the opportunity to view this annual event from a new vantage point — through the lens of the interim superintendent. It may not seem that the new vantage point would make a big difference, but I now have even greater pride in our schools due to our remarkable faculty, staff, students and parents. As I go from town to town, school to school, making visits and taking in the daily happenings, I am continually gratified and amazed by the incredible spirit of love that exists alongside the high-level academics and robust extracurricular programs our schools offer. It’s a powerful reminder of why we do what we do and how Catholic education can impact not only our students but the larger community.

This year’s CSW theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community,” a combination we foster and promote in our schools every day of the year. Our students are taught to be citizens of the world through the prism of the Gospel. That means that we not only prepare them for all that lies ahead academically and professionally, but for all they will be called to do as Christians in the public square, whether through volunteer service, jobs in ministry, or simply speaking up for those in the margins who have no one else to speak for them. It’s humbling to be part of the grand endeavor we know as Catholic education, and I want to thank each of you for joining me in this important work.

Our Catholic school parents are at the top of my gratitude list. They are our students’ first and most important teachers, but more than that, our families often choose Catholic education at great personal sacrifice. We thank you for trusting us with your children and for working with us to ensure their educational experience is one of excellence, compassion, faith and joy. Along with our families, we are grateful for the ongoing support of our parish communities, our alumni, and all those friends of Catholic education across the Diocese. It goes without saying that none of this would be possible without our dedicated faculty and staff. Most importantly, I feel gratitude and pride in my heart for our students.  Our students are remarkable in so many ways, and we are blessed to have the ability to work with them each day. It is a privilege to watch as they grow in both faith and knowledge, guided by the values of love, service and compassion in our schools. 

If you take a look at the CSW logo (below) you’ll note that the figures form a circle, with arms interlocked and heads bowed toward each other. This logo serves as a visible reminder of all that we celebrate during CSW: diverse communities where we find our commonality in our shared faith in God, our desire for academic excellence, and our willingness to come together as a community in order to build the future our children and our world deserves.

We hope you’ll celebrate our Catholic schools with us this week and every week. I wish I could take each and every one of you on my visits to our schools so that you, too, could see what I see and know the hope that I feel. In lieu of that, if you follow our schools on social media, you’ll see for yourself the joy and excitement and achievements in every photo and post.

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God bless,
Dr. Christopher Bott
Interim Superintendent of School