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Greetings!
As we enter into the summer months, there is much for which to be grateful. This year has again been marked by milestones and celebrations, and also marked with loss and challenge. Throughout, you have continued to ground the work in the mission of Catholic education, “[p]utting the person at the centre [and] educating [our students] to see with the far-sightedness of Abraham” (Pope Leo XIV, Drawing New Maps of Hope).
Now more than three years since the release of ChatGPT, Pope Leo’s recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, has elevated the call to continue to center our humanness in our educational institutional, observing that “school is the place where new generations can…reflect on the meaning of life and to recognize the dignity of every person” (Magnifica Humanitas).
For the past couple of years, my focus has been on where AI can create meaningful efficiencies. But a question one of my professors recently reoriented my thinking: “What are you building in yourself that gets harder to replace — not easier — as AI gets better?” I am still working on my own answer, but I have also been challenged to consider this for our schools. What are we building in our Catholic schools that will get harder to replace as AI gets better?
Heading into the summer, I pray you all find opportunities to step away and to spend meaningful time with family and friends. In recharging, I also invite you to ponder this question. I believe our Catholic schools are positioned to thrive in this new world, and that thriving will involve change. I am eager to see what we build together next year.
This marks our last Keystone for this academic year. They will resume on July 21. Have a wonderful summer.
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A few key administrative notes this week:
For all Level I archdiocesan school, if you have not already, please ensure that all of your new hires have received the link to register for the new employee orientation.
Summer schedules are busy so please be sure to communicate these dates to your new hires and ask them to register NOW. All new school employees should attend one of these sessions:
For all schools, the Spring Data Collection for the 2025-26 school year is now open. This collection is intended to secure information about our graduates and also various spring enrollment data. It is mandatory.
Please take a moment to complete the report.
If you have questions or problems related to OCS data collection, please contact Synthia Kaldi (synthiea.kaldi@seattlearch.org). We appreciate your work on this essential annual task.
With gratitude,
NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent
Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle
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