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Catholic Education
Dear Families,
I remember during one of our principal’s meetings, one of the presentations listed that the Archdiocese of Milwaukee was the second-largest school district in the state, behind only Milwaukee Public Schools. This surprised me, and I’m not sure why. The more I thought about it though, the more sense it made. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee runs from Kenosha in the South to Fond Du Lac and Sheboygan in the north. It’s a wide swath of territory with many churches, and in turn, many schools.
According to their own website and using data from the 22-23 school year, the Archdiocese consists of 85 elementary schools, 16 high schools, and almost 27,000 students. A product of the Catholic schools myself, I remember as a youth wondering if Catholic schools would have a chance. How do you compete with the large school just down the street that charges no tuition? Especially in an age that seems to be growing increasingly secular.
Yet, here we are. Amidst all of the challenges, we persist. At St. Mary’s, we even appear to be growing, year after year. I believe that is because we are doing something right. Christ is our focus, and everything flows from there.
There is also a sense of community here that is palpable. Everyone has sacrificed something to be here: for the families, it is the cost of tuition, the volunteering, and maybe a longer daily drive; for the staff, it is lower pay than compared to similar roles in public schools. When you sacrifice for something, you love it, and it becomes just a little bit more yours to cherish.
Thank you for your support. Your help makes Catholic education something viable, something that can last. You help give the next generation the precious gift of faith; the most worthy and lasting gift one could ever give someone else. And now, starting this weekend, let’s celebrate this special little place we call ours. Happy Catholic Schools’ Week.
God Bless,
Siggy Spelter
Principal
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