Catholic Identity Recognizing Catholic Identity in Your School

Does your school SHOUT Catholic? Does it Whisper Catholic? OR

The Psalmist’s words provide an appropriate theological focus: “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1) These blunt words resound like a clarion to remind us that if we absent the Lord, who is the builder, our efforts to build an effective Catholic School are for nothing.

The Challenge

The challenge for all of us is to create a distinctive culture in our school community. What is the definition of Catholic School Culture?

Catholic School Culture is a way of life rooted in Christ, a Gospel based creed and code and a Catholic vision that provides identity and inspiration and is shaped over time and passed from one generation to the next through devices that capture and stimulate the Catholic imagination such as symbols and traditions.

What are some of the Gospel values that give life to our Catholic culture?

Faith Truth Fidelity Tradition Doctrine Revelation Reading the Scripture

Service Commitment Caring Concern Involvement Empathy Almsgiving

Courage Sacrifice Self-denial Discipline Patience

Justice Courage Human dignity Stewardship Equal distribution of goods

Hope Confidence Optimism Joy Trust

Love (God) Reverence Worship Prayer

Love (Self) Self-esteem Creativity Acceptance

Love (Others) Care Concern Respect Acceptance

Reconciliation Forgiveness Compassion Conflict Resolution Love of Enemy

Community Belonging Fellowship Trust Equality

Mission Statement

Our mission statement captures our school’s essence and it serves as a compass to direct the daily life of the school. The mission statement is the keystone lending stability to the whole structure.

The mission statement pinpoints the core values of our school as well as its non-negotiables. Mission Statement The mission statement articulates the meaning and purpose of the school.

Mission Statement The mission statement enables the school to stay on course in its decisions, actions, behaviors, and activities.

It is not enough to write the mission statement and display it. Rather, the mission statement is meant to breathe life into curriculum, instruction, & activities as well as drive educational decision making.

Is your school: Mission Driven or Crisis Driven

The ultimate goal for ANY Catholic School is to be Mission Driven

Board Members

It is the responsibility of every Board Member to promote the mission statement to make it a living viable part of their decision making.

As Board Members the message you communicate and the language you use when speaking about your school must reflect, support, and strengthen that which makes the school distinctively Catholic.

Board Members should know the history, the heritage and the legacy of the school.

Catholic School Culture is really Catholic School Life. It is rooted in Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.

As Board Members you must act with intentionality to connect everything you do to Christ, the Gospel, and your school’s Vision.

Your leadership on the Board must always engage others in building, promoting and even SHOUTING that your school is truly Catholic.

The Second Vatican Council states that the mission of the Church is “to carry on the work of Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit...” In turn, you are called by virtue of your Baptism to carry forward the work of Christ by using your gifts and talents for the building up of God’s Kingdom.

God has Blessed you with a unique and crucial mission, namely, the work and ministry of carrying forward Christ’s unfinished mission of building the Kingdom of God in your school.

As Board Members you must engage in developing plans to build Catholic Identity and Culture and to engage members of your school communities in conversations that will help them to collaborate with God and other members of the school in building authentic faith communities.

Then our Bishop, our Parishes, our Families will encounter the Risen Lord teaching in their midst and learn to carry forward His work by acting justly, loving tenderly, and walking humbly with their God (Micah 6:8).

NCEA Catholic Educational Leadership Designing and Building Catholic Culture in Catholic Schools Timothy J. Cook NCEA School Board Study Programs References

Special thanks to Keith Crowe for working with me and for his excellent insights into Catholic Identity for Boards. Acknowledgements

Mr. Keith Crowe St. John Vianney Catholic School Advisory Board President

 Create a distinctive culture in our school communities  Catholic identity  Inspiration to grow  Our school mission statement is a primary focus  Captures each school’s essence  Serves as a compass Take-aways

 School Board Responsibilities  Mission & Philosophy  Budget  Planning  Policy  Community Advancement Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Mission & Philosophy All Catholic elementary schools exist for a single purpose – to pass on our Catholic faith to our youth by integrating elements of it with the learning process, while providing a high quality education. Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Mission & Philosophy  Promote your mission statement in every Board activity  Drives strategy, purpose, policy and planning  Motivates teachers, students and parents  Periodic review of your mission statement  Strategic planning process  Tie-in with Parish mission statement Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Budget  Goal: make Catholic Education affordable and achievable for everyone who desires it  Develop annual budget  Provide structure for tuition assistance Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Planning  Current strategic plan follows mission statement and exhibits Catholic identity  Renewing the strategic plan exercise affords a great opportunity to check focus on Catholic identity Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Policy Development  Consistent with Diocesan policies approved by the Bishop  Response to an identified need  Formation should include a process-check to ensure alignment with Catholic identity Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Community Advancement  Development  Fundraising  Planned giving  Marketing  Curriculum  Marketing plan  Recruitment  Students  Faculty Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Your Catholic school is usually the largest ministry within your Parish  The board should be responsible for bringing the school and Parish together  Each board needs a voice of the Parish – usually the Pastor  Fostering this community which enables its Catholic identity to shine Catholic Identity and the Elementary School Board

Does your school SHOUT Catholic? Or Does it Whisper Catholic?

Does your School Board SHOUT Catholic? Or Does it Whisper Catholic?