SIMPLIFYING OUR PRIORITIES

Dear St. Pius X Family,

“An authentically Catholic education is centered on the person of Jesus Christ. Catholic schools are not merely information delivery systems focused on secular success, but rather are about transformation in Christ.”

This passage, from a beautiful essay I recently read called “The Joy and Wonder of Catholic Education,” was written by Bishop James D. Conley, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Conley’s words provide clarity for the central purpose of Catholic education. Before I read his essay, I had been in a state of stress overload due to the growing demands of stewarding a high school that seems never to sleep. Yet afterward, I felt a sense of peace. Bishop Conley helped me realize that the beauty of Catholic education is its one priority to bring our young people closer to Jesus Christ. Our students are not numbers, and they are not measured by their grades or by how many extracurricular activities they participate in. They are made to become Saints. 

While the mission of Catholic education is beautiful and simple, I recognize that this mission is often forgotten. In a recent survey of independent school stakeholders across the country, the number one priority for parents is academics, and the number two priority is extracurricular activities. It is easy to see why families feel this way. Parents want their students to be successful and happy. A strong academic foundation leads to more opportunities, and students find happiness in extracurricular activities. 

While our school needs to have top-notch academic offerings and successful extracurriculars, I want to challenge our community to redefine happiness and success. Our students are under tremendous pressure. If we focus on our faith as our number one priority, Jesus will lead us to happiness and success. Sister Clare Fitzgerald, who had a long career in Catholic education, once told me, “They come because of the academics, but our job is to make sure they graduate with a relationship with Jesus Christ.” 

We are in week twelve of our eighteen-week fall semester. We are approaching Thanksgiving break, and soon, Advent will be upon us. My challenge to our families and teachers today is to revisit why you are so invested in Catholic education and to recommit ourselves to daily prayer in our homes and faithful participation in the Sacramental life of the Church. Although society tells us our children need busy schedules, our faith reminds us that we can only find peace and joy if we have transformation in Christ as our one priority. Bishop Conley was onto something when he said, “Catholic schools, forming children for the delight of eternal life with the Lord, should foster joy.” Perhaps we will find peace and joy if we remember our one true mission.  

Domini Sumus,

Aaron Parr ‘06

President

Have you ever wondered how a St. Pius X education transforms the lives of our students? Click here to read about Senior Anna Ruth McIntyre’s spiritual, academic, and social journey throughout her four years at St. Pius X. Annual Fund gifts ensure students like Anna Ruth receive the highest-quality, Christ-centered education possible. Please consider supporting our students by making a donation today. Thank you for your generosity!

The Strategic Planning process, which began late this spring with a community-wide survey effort, continues. Two public roundtable discussions were held in April, followed by similar meetings with faculty, staff, and students. Four domains were identified as the key areas by which to shape the entire plan. Each of these four domains is led by a team of two to three members and includes additional stakeholders from the St. Pius X community.



• Academics and Student Life (Kristin Kramer, Jenn Prindiville, Edye Simpson)
• Advancement and Enrollment (Sara Schmitt, Jenn Sedlack)
• Facilities and Finance (Dev Maguire, Kim Woods)
• Mission and Governance (Bonnie Chandler, Pat Esser, Aaron Parr)

These groups have been meeting periodically to review survey results, identify areas for improvement, and discuss proposed objectives. The core Strategic Planning Committee is convening in December to review progress to date and begin formulating a marketing plan for dissemination to the greater community.

2024 GRANDPARENTS' DAY

On Friday, October 4, we joyfully hosted our annual Grandparents' Day, welcoming nearly 200 visitors to celebrate with our freshman and new students. The day began with a breakfast set to the sounds of live student jazz, surrounded by beautiful student artwork. St. Pius X Chaplain, Fr. Robbie Cotta, led a special Mass, senior Anna Ruth McIntyre delivered a heartfelt speech, and the event wrapped up with guided tours of the school. We are grateful to our wonderful grandparents for making the day so memorable.

ST. PIUS X IS A PLATINUM AP SCHOOL!

St. Pius X has earned Platinum recognition on the College Board's 2024 AP School Honor Roll. To earn this distinction, Platinum schools must enable at least 80% of the Class of 2025 to experience one AP course before graduation, assist with college affordability by enabling at least 50% of the Class of 2025 to earn college credit by earning an AP Exam score of 3, and create opportunities for at least 15% of the Class of 2025 to take a total of five AP courses across their high school years, with at least one taken in 9th or 10th grade. St. Pius X earned 80%, 68%, and 35% in the corresponding categories.

The 30th annual St. Pius X Holiday Marketplace will occur on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The Marketplace is a long-standing St. Pius X tradition with over 175 vendors, as well as bake sales, cafes, raffles, and more.  The proceeds from Marketplace fund St. Pius X student scholarships. We look forward to seeing you!

DRESDEN GROUNDBREAKING

St. Pius X has a long-standing relationship with our neighbors, Dresden Elementary School, and we were on hand to help celebrate the recent groundbreaking for their new school. Construction has begun on a $76,000,000 facility slated to be completed in Summer 2027.