Cardinal John Foley School

I always look at the parent letter from the previous year when I prepare the letter for the week because many of the events take place in the same time frame from year to year. When I read my reflection from last year, it was a reminder to me that the most important part of my job is the time I spend with the students, teachers, and parents cultivating relationships and building community. If you are like me and make to-do lists that help you manage your day, you might want to consider what is on your list when it comes to your children. You might say there is an extensive list because you have to get them to soccer practice, a play date, and piano lessons this weekend. Yes, those are things you need to do for your children, but those aren’t activities that are about time with your children.

When I think about what education means to me, the term ‘we teach the whole child’ resonates. Education is much more than teaching them to read and do math. It is the time teachers spend greeting children each morning and asking about what they did over the weekend so that they can better know and understand who is entrusted to their care each day. It is the time teachers spend helping students learn how to follow directions, use manners, and listen to one another attentively so that a positive classroom environment is experienced by all. It is the time spent discussing how we can be people of mercy so that the people who interact with the children will know that they are grounded in the knowledge that they are called to be Christ to others.

This week let us be conscious of making time to be with our children in a way that addresses their whole person, not just the one taking karate lessons or playing on the soccer field. Set aside time to play a game with them, ask them about their favorite part of the day, and share with them the memories that you treasure of