This week marks the national observation of Catholic Schools Week with its theme, “The Good News in Education.”

Cathedral School invites you to share in the celebration by attending our Open House from 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday. For those specifically interested in our pre-school and kindergarten program, you may also visit from 8:30 to 11 a.m. that day. All past and current parents, supporters and anyone interested in learning more about our academics, curriculum and activities are invited to see why Catholic schools mean an A+ for the community.

Our school educates students from age 3 to pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, with additional college credit available. We are a multi-cultural institution, with minority enrollment over 10 percent and students of other faith traditions making up 50 percent of the student body. Our over 2,600 graduates have attended the finest educational institutions in the country and have included priests, sisters, brothers, business professionals, government leaders, educators, athletes and representatives in many fields.

Nationally, there are over 5.1 million students in non-public schools, with almost half attending Catholic schools. The graduation rate nationwide is 99.2 percent, with 97 percent attending college. At Cathedral, 80 percent of our recent graduates were eligible for academic scholarships.

Founded in 1847, the school was originally staffed by the Daughters of Charity, who remained on staff until 2004. Many brothers, priests and sisters have ministered to the youth of our area, and in more modern times, lay teachers have added their ministry to the educational program of Cathedral. At present, over 25 percent of the staff is Cathedral alumni.

The theme of this week’s observance is taken from the gospel challenge to spread the good news. As a community of faith, we have been blessed with many gifts. The special good news gift we share as a Catholic school community is that Christ has called each one of us, just like his disciples, to be bearers of his message of love. In this context, our mission at Cathedral is to develop, encourage and support the spiritual, intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, social and physical growth of each member of our school community. In daily lessons and activities, we strive to teach our students that they, too, may become bearers of the good news.

As a graduate, former teacher, parent of three alumni and grandparent of three current students, I join the administration, staff and extended Cathedral family in inviting you to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, with us on Jan. 31. You may also follow the week’s celebration and the yearly activities by visiting our Web site: www.cathedralgreenwave.com. We hope to see you at our open house Wednesday. Come see for yourself why Cathedral means an A+ for the Miss-Lou community.

Betty Hicks is a Cathedral School graduate.