Live Learn Serve Succeed: CSW 2018

Next week, January 28- Feb 3, is yet another Catholic Schools Week.  As you can see, in the dates to remember section, we are having a week filled with special events and dress days.  These days are open to every student and staff of SPX.  I look forward to seeing everyone's "favorite" each day of the week.  I especially look forward to "Throwback Thursday."

 

Every year the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) chooses a theme for Catholic Schools Week (CSW).  This year's theme is "Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed."  When looking at this theme, it is like they had St. Pius X Catholic School in mind.

 

The first part of the theme, Learn, is exactly what we do best here at SPX.  Our students continue to exceed the expectations put forth by excelling in the standards given by the Indiana Department of Education.  This is evident in our continued record of receiving the "A" grade from the Indiana Department of Education.  We have also received the "Four Star School" Recognition, the highest honor one can receive from the state of Indiana.

 

While the standards and education are very important, here at SPX, we look for opportunities to teach the whole child.  The state standards are important, but going above and beyond what one can learn in the classroom is also important.  This is where service comes in.  Over the last few years, we have implemented our monthly Kaizen program, allowing our students to find ways to think outside of themselves, the school, and think bigger towards the community.  Some ways in which our students serve the community are Synergizing with Seniors, donating food to the Shalom Zone, collecting almost six million pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House, and so much more.  For the first time, last year, we did an all school community service day, in which all of our students from grades K-8 went outside the school and served others in the community.  We are currently scheduling another service day for 2018, and look forward to getting our hands "dirty" helping those in our community.

 

Another opportunity in which SPX focuses on teaching the whole child is our Leader in Me program.  In our fifth year of this program, leadership has become an integral part of our program.  Students have taken on many leadership roles within our school, but for the first time this year, we have started a Student Ambassador program.  Students applied and interviewed to be a student ambassador.  Those receiving this honor have taken leadership positions such as, leading school tours for potential new families to leading groups on our service day.  Leadership has been ingrained into our school and is now an important part of the day just like our academics.

 

As you can see, when learning, service, and leadership are taught, it leads down the only path it can go, and that is success.  Not every student can succeed at everything, but here at SPX there are opportunities for students to succeed in all areas that teach the whole child.  Yes, academics are important.  Yes, service is important.  Yes, leadership is important.  And when all three are put together, you might just find that you are in a great Catholic School.  Happy Catholic Schools Week!!