Director's Corner - Catholic Schools Week - 'Dividends For Life'

Catholic Schools Week is a special time each year where the OCS community joins all Catholic Schools in the country in celebrating the important role we play in helping to fulfill the Mission of the Church. The theme chosen for Catholic Schools Week 2010 is 'Catholic Schools Dividends for Life.' According to Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic Education Association, Catholic schools provide good things for students and families high expectations and daily experience of faith. In these challenging times, the theme also reminds parents that the dividends of a Catholic school education students prepared in faith, knowledge, morals and discipline last a lifetime. There is no better way to invest in a child s future or the future of our world.

To be honest, I am incredibly touched by the theme chosen for Catholic Schools Week. I find myself reflecting back almost 20 years in Wichita, Kansas as Kathy and I were deciding on an educational path for our three children. After much prayer and thought, we chose a partnership with our Parish school, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Like many of you, we based our choice on the values highlighted in the Catholic Schools Week logo Faith, Knowledge, Discipline and Morals. At the time, we hoped our family sacrifice would serve as a strong investment in the future of our children. As parents now of two graduates of Owensboro Catholic High School and an OCHS sophomore, we look back on that decision made so long ago knowing with all certainty that it was absolutely the right, and for us, the only choice. God has blessed us as a family as our children have grown as responsible persons of faith. Please know my prayers are with you and your family especially as we celebrate Catholic Schools Week this week.

On behalf of the OCS faculty, administration and staff let me say thank you choosing Owensboro Catholic Schools as your educational partner. We understand and celebrate the importance and sacrifice involved in that decision and pledge to do everything in our power to provide an educational experience built upon a foundation of excellence in faith formation and academics that will lead each student through life all the way to his/her eternal reward. Simply stated, our goal is to help you realize the greatest possible dividend on your investment. All week long, we as a faith community will remember you, your family and all in the OCS extended family in our daily prayers.

As is our tradition during Catholic Schools Week, we will gather to celebrate the Eucharist on Wednesday, February 3rd at 10:00 AM at the SportsCenter. We invite you to join us for this special opportunity to celebrate as the Owensboro Catholic Schools family. It is the one time a year we gather together as one, truly modeling what we are - Faith in Education.

I appreciate all you do to help us fulfill our mission of excellence in Catholic faith formation and academics. As always, your comments and insights are important to me. I can be reached via phone at 852-8028 and email at ken.rasp@owensborocatholic.org.

God s Peace! See you on February 3rd at the SportsCenter!

Ken R. Rasp

Director, Owensboro Catholic Schools