THE PUBLIC MIND: CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO OFFER `GOOD NEWS' IN EDUCATION

To the Editor:

Catholic Schools Week is upon us. Each school has ~~~~~planned their own activities for the celebration this week. One thing that we are trying to do together, irrespective of school and parish, is to become more visible to our community. Centering on the theme "Choose Catholic Schools: The Good News in Education," we have chosen to demonstrate to our community that ~we choose~ Catholic School education, that we support Catholic Schools and we believe in the school that w~e have chosen by placing school-colored ribbons on the antennae or mirror of our automobiles. Along with each of our celebrations we should have a colorful Catholic Schools Week across Southeast Missouri!

We are very fortunate in this area to ha~v~e excellent public and pri~~vate schools and the professionals of both are ~~very d~edicated. E~ven though schools in this district are very good, they can continually improve if they are receptive to open discussions and criticisms about educational systems~ both pu~blic and private!

The communities can be ~very proud of the good things~ that are happening in Catholic schools. We at St. Mary Cathedral School are proud~ of our school. We saw the valedictorian and salutatorian from Notre Dame Hi~g~h School both come from St. Mary last year. There is a tradition of strong~~ academics and athletics. We've seen second and third graders taught a foreign language, Spanish.~ The whole school has shared in the Japanese culture through Yoko, our exchange teacher. Computers are everywhere. We are small, but our heart is big!

For our celebration, there ~~will be a St. Mary song ~~~written by one of ~the students. It will be sung this week and hopefully become a tradition. ~~There are flags being hung. These are only a small part of the acti~~vities planned. St. Mary Cathedral School and the teachers truly embrace the logo~ "Come That You May Have Life!" We really appreciate all that the Southeast Missourian and staff have done for the Catholic community and the celebration of our Catholic School's ~~~Week.

Brenda J. Schoenberger~

School Board Member

St. Mary Cathedral School