TO: School Leaders
FROM: Rev. Stephen C. Rowan, Ph.D.
DATE: March 24, 2014
SUBJECT: Message to Principals

Dear Principals and Colleagues:

On Sunday I read an article in the Seattle Times (p. A9) on how “War interrupts education for a generation of Syrians.” It records the heroic efforts of teachers to provide an education – and a respite from violence – for the children who are refugees from the war in Syria. As the mother of one of the children says, “I want [my children] to have a future. I want them to become somebody. Somebody smart.”

The article reminded me of the important mission of our Catholic schools and of the dedication of you and of our teachers to provide the education that makes a life-affecting difference for children here in western Washington.

Out of respect for your time, I have not written to you often or at length, but as we move ahead on the strategic plan, you may be hearing from me more often with updates and words of thanks and encouragement. I will try to keep the messages short.

As you saw in March, the strategic plan has now been approved and contains 33 actions as part of a comprehensive and integrated plan to strengthen our mission. We are finding new ways to work together and to help all boats to rise.

We will be providing services that we hope will make the work of the principal a little easier. A new religion curriculum, a resource for pastors and canonically appointed leaders, and an update on the marketing plan were presented in March. In May you will be seeing a checklist of “markers for a mission-centered school,” ideas for professional development and methods of evaluation, and a first look at the “indices of vitality” that will be useful for planning.

These documents represent the work of many people, and they are intended as a service to you in your multi-faceted role as school leader.

As this school year draws to a close, thank you for the work you are doing, especially given the unusual challenges that have affected us this year. We are reminded by the headlines from Syria and other trouble spots in the world that we cannot take our mission for granted. I pray that we will be strengthened with wisdom and fortitude for our work, and I ask you to pray for our colleagues in other lands, for whom the work of education is very challenging.

Sincerely,
Fr. Rowan