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The Bridge
Building Excellence, Community, and Innovation, Together
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A Message from our Superintendent
IS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL TEACHER A SAINT IN DISGUISE?
Visiting our Catholic schools is both a humbling and rewarding experience. I see, feel and experience many important revelations during my tours. I come away assured that education in Catholic schools is more than the transmission of knowledge—it is, indeed, a formation of the whole person -- mind, body, and spirit. This is made possible due to all stakeholders, involved in the school, living as a community of faith. Important, too, is to offer gratitude for Bishop Michael Mulvey who continually supports and believes in the importance of Catholic education and its role in evangelization.
One notable distinguishing element in our Catholic schools is the presence and dedication of our teachers who form the present and future leaders of our Church. In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis calls on our schools to choose a “missionary option” to intentionally form missionary disciples who will go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our teachers and schools are doing the work of formation and education so that our youth can go out into the world equipped as missionary disciples. At the very heart of this noble task are teachers, who themselves, are reaching out to the students in a witness of lived faith.
These special agents, Catholic school teachers, engage in career long learning. They strive to understand Catholic teachings and doctrine and seek to grow in spirituality and faith. An outstanding Catholic teacher recognizes that each person has an eternal destiny and is created in the image of God and celebrates the dignity of all. An exemplary Catholic teacher expresses and develops a living Catholic vision of the world. A successful and impactful teacher permeates faith and wisdom through pedagogy and curricular content. With a perfect blend of faith, wisdom and courage as their compass, teachers witness to others a life lived in relationship with Jesus Christ and a desire to serve. Greatness is attributed to teachers who also contribute to a spirituality of communion and guide students to know, love and serve God. Our teachers lead our students to reach their highest potential and to achieve academic excellence. They work tirelessly to inspire, encourage and serve as role models to all they serve. Beautiful and compassionate teachers cry with heart-felt tears when children fail and celebrate joyfully the successes of each child.
Our teachers are gifts to our students, our Catholic schools, and our Church. They are living “saints” in the simplest of terms. In the words of Pope Francis, “To be a saint is not a privilege for the few, but a vocation for everyone.”
- Dr. Rosemary J. Henry
"For it is in giving that we receive."
St. Francis of Assisi
SEE the Difference
KNOW the Difference
FEEL the Difference
St. John Paul II High School seniors grow in faith and community at their senior retreat, led by Mr. Benjamin Nye and Mr. Jacob Windnagle.
BE the Difference
St. Pius X School 5th and 6th grade students participate in the 2024 Coastal Bend Engineering Competition at TAMUCC under the direction of Mrs. Michelle Stovall and Mrs. Paola Prado.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Achievement Testing in Catholic Schools
Achievement testing will be conducted in our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi from April 15 – 26, 2024. Students in grades 1st through 11th will be administered the IOWA Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) during that time. Campus principals will inform all school families about special schedules during the weeks of testing and the importance of having your student present for the testing. Principals will encourage parents to provide plenty of rest (sleep), proper nourishment, and participation in stress-free activities during the time of testing.
The ITBS is what is referred to as a norm-referenced test. It involves a collection of tests from several subject areas that have all been standardized with the same group of students. That is, the norms for all the tests have been obtained from a single group of students at each grade level being tested. All students have the same opportunity to demonstrate their achievement of the content presented by the test.
The primary purpose of using a standardized test such as the ITBS is to provide information that can be used to improve instruction. It is valuable to the extent that it contributes to better instructional decisions that educators could not make without having that information available. Standardized test scores cannot replace teacher observation and classroom assessment information; however, they can provide unique supplementary information that can be used in selecting learning objectives and procedures. These scores also help to design or choose instructional materials and create an effective learning environment.
The ITBS enables schools to determine whether each student is making satisfactory progress from grade to grade. It helps teachers identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of each student in their class. More importantly, the school curriculum or resources allocated to the teachers can be monitored for effects of changes occurring as classroom demographics alter.
It is extremely important to us to report individual student progress to students and parents. This allows parents to support the development of their children and to offer realistic guidance to them. School administration/classroom teachers will share your student’s results from the testing sometime in May 2024. Do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or the school principal if you have questions about the individual test results you receive for your student.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Practice Makes Permanent
Building a new habit is challenging! Many of us can relate, as we strive to hold on to our Lenten commitments or as we reflect on the resolutions we made for the new year. Have you ever considered; healthy habits are learned in the same way as unhealthy habits? Good or bad, habits are built on practice! When we practice a new skill or attribute, over time it becomes a part of who we are. It becomes permanent until we make efforts to change or to practice a new habit.
“Practice Makes Permanent” is one of the Friendzy unit themes (and catch phrase) this spring semester. In this unit, students go on to learn an important lesson, that can also serve as a powerful reminder for us. God wants us to practice healthy habits, to fill our lives with goodness, so that we can in turn “build up” others around us. St. Paul says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.’ (Phillippians 4:8) God is always with us and He gives us the strength to practice new skills or attributes so that they can become a part of who we are. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phillippians 4:13)
Students in PK-8th grade, in each of our Catholic schools, participate in Friendzy, a biblically based social-emotional character development program. Throughout weekly lessons, students explore and develop social and emotional skills, through the lens of scripture. Lessons focus on building positive relationships, setting goals, healthy expression of emotions, responsible decision-making, and more. The impacts of social and emotional skill development are far-reaching. Take a look at the research provided by Friendzy HERE. Learn more about the “Practice Makes Permanent” unit HERE.
St. Elizabeth School Pre-K4 students in Mrs. Cindy Bunch's class learn about teeth in celebration of National Children's Dental Health Month.
Incarnate Word Academy students at the Elementary and Middle Level participate in CaveSim, an immersive cave experience.
St. Anthony School 8th grade students learn CPR, AED, and Choking Response in the Student Lifesavers Class.
COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIP
Family Tech Resource Hub Update
The Office of Catholic Schools is thrilled to introduce Mr. Mauro Garcia as our new Director of Technology, serving Catholic schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He is ready to embark on this journey and has dedicated himself to providing up-to-date information in the sphere of technology. While his previous roles as a technology applications teacher, instructional technology chair, and trainer were fulfilling, he says, “they often limited my ability to connect with external stakeholders”. In this new position, he is looking to bridge this gap and keep you, our valued parents and supporters, informed and current.
The digital world changes rapidly, and it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve. It is equally important to keep ourselves safe and stay responsible in this digital world, and to do that we need to stay up to date with the latest information. Start with a resource we at the Office of Catholic Schools value, our very own “Family Tech Resource Hub”. This was a passion project that the previous Director of Technology began to provide a valuable resource for families looking to navigate the digital world, and we are intent on ensuring the articles and blogs we share stay up-to-date, and remain current and relevant.
Trends come and go, much like technologies become outdated and obsolete within similar timeframes. So we have updated some of the linked resources to "keep you in the loop" with the most recent posts from trusted sources to keep families apprised of any tech-related trends and changes. You will find some new information under the “Trending Topics for Families” section such as Pope Francis’ thoughts on AI, and how cyberbullying continues to rise in the U.S. Keep this valuable resource in mind if you need a one-stop shop for your tech-related questions.
Check out some of the new information on “Trending topics for Families” by clicking HERE.
One of Our Own Earns Recognition as TCCB ED Elementary Teacher of the Year
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Gracie Cantu, of Sacred Heart School in Rockport, on being selected as the 2024 TCCB ED Elementary Teacher of the Year. Ms. Cantu serves as the Early Childhood Montessori Teacher at Sacred Heart. She is recognized for her 29 years serving the school and her generous dedication to the spiritual and intellectual formation of her students. Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Education Department (TCCB ED) is the accrediting body for Catholic schools in the state of Texas. It is a tremendous honor to earn this special recognition. Congratulations to Ms. Cantu and the entire Sacred Heart School Community!
MISSION AND FAITH FORMATION
St. Patrick School students and staff gather weekly to pray Stations of the Cross this Lent.
Most Precious Blood School 2nd grade students gather for a First Communion Retreat, led by Mrs. Nelda Bazan, Ms. Gloria Escobar, and Mrs. Marilyn Sheridan.
FAMILY RESOURCES
Diocese of Corpus Christi Lent Resources
Journey with Bishop Mulvey through his weekly Lenten Series - SHARING IN THE PASCHAL MYSTERY: FROM DEATH TO LIFE, find Lenten activities offered throughout the diocese, and explore other family resources.
Family Technology Resource Hub from The Office of Catholic Schools
Newly Updated! Designed for our parents - explore digital safety tools to help you keep your child safe online, Chromebook help, Google Workspace tutorials, FAQs, and more!
Diocese of Corpus Christi-Catholic Connect
Explore upcoming events happening throughout our diocese.
The Office of Catholic Schools has gift certificates available from the VSP Eyes of Hope program for students in need of a vision exam or glasses. This program is open to families with a financial need who do not have vision insurance for their child. Contact April Esparza RN for more information, at aesparza@diocesecc.org or by phone at 361-693-6698.
Connect with the Office of Catholic Schools
Email: catholicschools@diocesecc.org
Website: diocesecc.org/catholic-schools
Location: 555 North Carancahua Street, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Phone: 361-882-6191
Facebook: facebook.com/CathSchoolsCC
Twitter: @CathSchoolsCC