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Posted October 23, 2007

COLUMN: Catholic schools help teach children proper values
It seems like school just started but October is already here with parent/teacher conferences for middle school and high school. Winter sports sign-ups also begin this month.

It is rewarding to watch volleyball, track, football, tennis and middle school sports in the fall. Students challenge themselves to personal growth, good sportsmanship and teamwork. Assumption High School will co-op boys hockey and wrestling beginning next school year.

Students have the opportunity to sign up for World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia. I was privileged to travel with young adults from Assumption High School and the Diocese of La Crosse to Cologne, Germany, for World Youth Day 2005. On our way, we were able to make pilgrimages to the four major churches in Rome, descend into the catacombs, and visit Assisi, Padua and Milan. "The hour has arrived for preparing young generations of apostles who have no fear about proclaiming the Gospel." (Pope John Paul II)

A Catholic/Christian school is an ideal setting for an active spiritual life. It encourages children to respond personally to God and grow in faith. By learning about the life and teachings of Jesus, children and young adults can express their faith more fully. They can apply Jesus' message in their daily lives. Like the lives of the disciples, student lives are changed by following Jesus. As children grow in understanding, their faith deepens and they witness to God through prayer and service.

Our students pray daily for prayer requests that are received. If you would like our students to pray for your prayer intentions, please contact one of our schools.

On our Oct. 5 professional day, teachers prayed the rosary to begin the day and ended the day praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. October is the month of the rosary. Students pray the Rosary and celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Oct. 13 miracle at Fatima.

I was surprised to discover there is a perception that parochial school teachers are not certified. Our teachers maintain DPI certification. Many have master's degrees as well as a Ph.D. and Ed.D. All teachers are required to have basic religious certification. Any teacher who teaches religion must obtain advanced religious certification. Religious certification has to be renewed every three years.

I am on the diocesan committee for professional growth and development. Our committee developed new supervision and evaluation tools to meet PI-34 requirements. We integrated the Wisconsin Teacher Standards and Catholic Teacher Standards. The role of the educator is to help each student achieve his or her God-given potential as a learner. Our fall diocesan teacher meeting on Sept. 20 was spent on professional growth and development.

A folk art painting class for adults is being taught by Mary Ladick this month. More adult education classes will be offered in the spring.
This fall there are opportunities for adults to learn and strengthen their spiritual life: Bible studies, faith sharing sessions, ecclesiology (the church -- the same today, yesterday and tomorrow), and chastity education classes from a Christian perspective for parents.

Dr. Patricia McCormack will be in Wisconsin Rapids on Jan. 24 to make presentations to teachers and parents on conscience and character formation. Dr. McCormack is a regular writer for Today's Catholic Teacher magazine. She has a parenting Web site at www.formativeparenting.org.