The Hornet's Buzz

July 12, 2024

Dear Holy Cross Community,

I hope this message finds you well and having a joyful and restoring summer break. I am beyond excited to have officially started as Principal. This first week at Holy Cross has been just wonderful! I have been truly touched by the warm welcome and inspired by the kindness and care of all community members I have met thus far. Please know that I feel truly blessed and honored to be a part of such a special community.

I have been in education for 24 years in a wide-variety of PK-12 schools and higher education settings. Throughout my career, I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve in different leadership roles, as science faculty in the U.S. and Lima, Peru, as well as higher education instructor for both pre-service and in-service teachers. I also do educational consulting work and present at national conferences on leadership, governance, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as curriculum and program development. My most recent school leadership positions include serving as PK-8 Principal at Notre Dame de Sion Schools of Kansas City and Head of School at Escuela Bilingüe Internacional in Oakland, California.

I was born in Miami, Florida, but grew up in a rural town outside of Lima, Peru. Our Catholic Faith was always central to our lives. Growing up near nature filled me with wonder and inspiration–it was like growing up in a joyful and boundless science lab. This led me to obtaining my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology and to serving others through education. Shortly after graduation, I returned to Florida to continue learning and growing as an educator. As a result, I completed a Master in Science Education degree and later obtained a Doctorate in Education. As a lifelong learner, I am currently pursuing a Master in Business Administration at the University of Kansas. I am also bilingual in English and Spanish.

My husband, Ken, was born and raised in Independence, Missouri. This past year, we moved from California to Overland Park with our three beagles, Celsius, Ohm, and Lumen to assist and be closer to my in-laws. We are thrilled to be back in the beautiful Kansas City area as it holds a very special place in our hearts.

I truly believe God guided me to Holy Cross. As a deeply spiritual school leader of Catholic Faith, I am inspired by Holy Cross’ mission and core pillars of faith, academic excellence, and diversity. They are also in full alignment with my philosophical approach as an educator and school leader. I find great joy in working alongside teams to take schools from great to greater by creating a shared vision for 21st-century global educational excellence rooted in the Catholic Faith. Especially, building inclusive, joyful, and healthy communities that come together to lift, support, and empower students to develop spiritually and to find their full potential and purpose beyond self so they can make a difference and leave their fingerprints in the world.

My goal for these first weeks is to actively listen so that I can absorb and learn everything about what makes Holy Cross such a wonderful school. I have been working with staff members and the School Office, meeting with constituents, delving into operations, and working hard in preparation for a fantastic 2024-25 school year.

I am eager to continue meeting Holy Cross staff, students, families, and friends, as well as learning how I can best partner with you to support students in their educational and spiritual journey, as well as your hopes and dreams for the School's future. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, July 21 at our Summer Soirée.

Wholehearted thanks for this amazing opportunity. I am thrilled to partner with you to advance Holy Cross’ mission in order to ensure the success and well-being of our students.

Wishing you and yours a blessed weekend.

With commitment and appreciation,

Paola V. Clark, Ed.D.

Principal

Our weekly newsletter has a new name: The Hornet's Buzz. It is our hope that this will support streamlining and enhancing school communications. While Dr. Clark will continue to making weekly posts on the Hornet's Buzz, it will also allow for other school departments to include important announcements for the community. We thank you in advance for your support.

Jul 21 - Summer Soirée (5:00 - 7:00 pm) in the School's Parking Lot

Aug 7 - Sign Up Day (9:00 am - 12:30 pm/5:30 -7:00 pm) in the Gym

Aug 9 - Preschool Parent Orientation (8:15 - 9:00 am & 11:30 -12:15 pm)

Aug 14 - Kindergarten Parent Orientation (5:30 - 6:30 pm) | Back-to-School Night (6:30 - 7:30 pm)

Aug 15 - Feast Day - Assumption of Mary

Aug 19 - First Day of School (Half day)

Our summer mailing packet will be available for pick up at our upcoming Soirée. If you are unable to attend, please stop by the office to collect one. We will also share a link to obtain the forms in digital format. Please note that our summer mailing will be completely digital beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

Middle School Parents,

Holy Cross Catholic School middle school students are required to provide their own Chromebook device for use at school and at home for homework. This is part of their school supply list. It will be something they use multiple times a day, every day.

Below is a list of devices that would work for our system and what they will be doing in class. These are just a few options. You are welcome to choose whatever device you see fit for your child as long as it is a Chromebook. If you find another device and want to double check it will work please email me at lloeffert@holycrosscatholicschool.com.

Chromebook device options for Holy Cross Students:

Acer Chomebook Spin 513 Convertible Laptop

Acer Spin Chromebook

Dell Chromebook

HP Chromebook

HP 360 Chromebook

I would also recommend a carrying case for the chromebook. I have seen many chromebooks fall on the floor, get jostled around, and not cared for as well as we would hope. Having a case to place the Chromebook in while switching classes could increase the longevity of the device.

Students are required to have this device on the first day of school and it will be connected to the system for the duration of their time at Holy Cross.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Laura Loeffert

Technology Coordinator

I look forward to sharing educational, spiritual, and well-being resources with you. Please let me know if you have any specific requests, and I will do my best to secure them. It is my hope that they will be useful to you and your family as we partner in your student's educational and spiritual journey at Holy Cross and beyond.

I thought I would start by sharing Dr. Lisa Damour's resources. Dr. Damour is an expert in child development and the author of three New York Times best sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. She also co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast (The Psychology of Parenting), works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Damour offers a plethora of guidance, resources, strategies, and tips to untangle family life on her website, including downloadable bookmarks.You can sign up for her free weekly newsletter here.

I have had the privilege of meeting and working with Dr. Damour throughout the years---a pandemic-era silver lining. I highly recommend Dr. Damour's latest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. It provides many strategies that are also applicable for younger students.

Dr. Damour most recently worked with Pixar as an advisor in the making of the Inside Out 2 movie. She shared her expertise as the main character, Riley, enters her teenage years and experiences new and a more complex range of emotions.