This week we are featuring our first guest blogger: Mr. Dave Worland from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.
I am a principal of a Catholic High School with the following Mission Statement.
Cathedral High School Mission
Cathedral, a Catholic college preparatory high school, provides to a diverse group of students opportunities
for spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth through service and academic excellence.
I believe that most Catholic schools probably have a similar mission statement.
As principal, I find it challenging to try to fit a holistic education into 180 school days, including Masses, pep assemblies, reconciliation services, prayer services, guest speakers, professional development, and service learning. We have tried combining breaks in the schedule so that if we have one program and a different than normal schedule, we have two events in the same day. This does help us have more undisturbed school days (which keeps the faculty happier), but still leaves me wondering if we are stretching our students too thin.
I have looked at possible solutions (i.e., having more than 180 days), but know that it will be difficult to be a private, Catholic school in today’s economy when we will have to pay the faculty/staff for more days, provide some bus transportation for these days, and perhaps lose some part of the population with such a move.
I am wondering what other schools in similar situations have done.
Here is a link to a survey to help share how your school addresses these issues: link here
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1 comment:
I find this topic to be one of particular interest. It does seem as if with each passing year we find ourselves stuffing 10 pounds of sugar in a five pound bag. We also try to minimize class disruptions by strategically placing our assemblies and staff development; however, this is becoming increasingly difficult. There has been some cursory discussion of an extended school year in our diocese; however, that presents challenges as well.
Dan Garrick
St. Francis DeSales High School
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