Catholic Schools

How do you get middle school students to dream about becoming leaders? That was the question of the day at Saint Francis International School in Silver Spring on Friday, January 13.

In honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday the faculty at Saint Francis thought deeply about that question and decided part of the answer is to have students to meet with actual community leaders and to learn what they do and why they do it.

Courtney Samuels, a staffer in Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s office, started the day off by picking up a theme from To Kill a Mockingbird which she noticed that the 8th graders were reading. Ms. Samuels told the students that leaders need to be like Atticus Finch and work for what they believe is right, not necessarily what is popular. In a letter from Sen. Benjamin Cardin, 8th grader Camilo Melnyk read to the class about Dr. King’s bravery and example as a leader.

Jobina Brown, a staffer in Rep. Chris Van Hollen’s office, noted that the most challenging part of her job is when she has worked really hard on a bill and it doesn’t get passed. But Ms. Brown also talked about how perseverance pays off; she described starting her work in politics as a high school student who took an internship with Del. Eleanor Holms Norton and has continued to work for members of the House of Representatives ever since. Despite not always seeing the things that she has worked bear fruit in the form of legislation over time there have been a lot of things that have been enacted as laws and made a difference.

Del. Tom Hucker talked about working with environmental issues and trying to bring about positive change as an advocate for public policy as a young man. He said that advocacy was a way to live out the social justice teaching he learned while attending Catholic elementary and high school and college. Del. Hucker said that he realized that by seeking elected office he could make an even bigger difference for the issues that he cared about. Del. Hucker was impressed by the number of students who raised their hands when he asked who was interested in possibly pursuing elected office one day.

Sen. Victor Ramirez showed students what he and his colleagues have been working on over the last year. One student asked Sen. Ramirez about his leadership on the Maryland DREAM Act; Sen. Ramirez talked in particular about how the DREAM Act is a good example of taking a stand for what you think is just and right even though it is not popular with everyone. Sen. Ramirez encouraged the students to get involved as leaders now and in the future.

On Sunday evening, the students of Saint Francis International School gathered at St. Camillus Church for a memorial mass in honor of Dr. King. Younger students sang and danced as part of the service and Franciscan Fr. John O’Connor preached about having the courage to be like Dr. King and to stand against injustice.

Saint Francis International School will continue its effort to inspire students to dream about a better future and become the leaders who make those dreams come true. For example the 8th grade travels to Annapolis this Friday to meet with Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk and members of the Maryland General Assembly and to tour the capitol and governor’s mansion. Then in February the 8th graders will visit the US Capitol to participate in Save the Children’s Advocacy Day; the students will be trained and invited to speak with members of congress about issues taht affect children in need both in the US and abroad.

Later in the spring the fourth and fifth graders at Saint Francis will start their journey to becoming community leaders when the 4th graders hold their Maryland Day celebration which will allow them to learn in-depth about those who have shaped Maryland into the state is today. And, the 5th graders will travel to the US Capitol to see where laws are made.

By focusing on leadership as a core part of their elementary and middle school experience, the faculty and administration at Saint Francis International School hope that that students will fulfill the school’s mission to provide children with the tools to achieve academic excellence and strong character and to equip them with the tools to be active citizens of the 21st century.

Maryland's bishops have called the state's Catholic schools an "An Outstanding Apostolate of Hope" and invited all Catholics to support initiatives like the BOAST Maryland Tax Credit that will benefit Catholic school families.

Maryland's Catholic schools have served the state for two centuries. They educate over 52,000 students annually and save the state of Maryland and taxpayers $713.5 million every year. And if you include other nonpublic schools, the savings to the state and taxpayers exceeds $1.5 billion every year in per-pupil public school costs! About 29% of Maryland Catholic school students are minorities and 22% are not Catholic. They do, however, face difficulties. Enrollment in Catholic schools statewide declined by 12% between the 2004-2005 and 2009-2010 school years.