“Happy Catholic Schools Week!"

From Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, students, parents, faculty and staff at Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City celebrated National Catholic Schools Week. The following letter from Lara Schuler, director of Catholic education for the archdiocese, was sent to Catholic school principals. 


“Happy Catholic Schools Week! Today, across the country Catholic schools are honoring faculty and staff and all the hard work that goes into the formation of children. As Catholic school educators, we are called to an incredible task. We welcome students into our classrooms with the daunting mission of releasing them at the end of the year stronger in their faith life, academically prepared for the next level, and psychologically and emotionally developed according to their age level. 

We pass on life skills in building friendships, overcoming adversity, leadership, sportsmanship, and recognizing and loving our neighbor through prayer and visible practical action. We form children for their mission of reaching the ultimate goal: a full, well-lived life that ends with eternal life with Christ. It takes the village working as a team to conduct this mission, and it takes dedicated and loving people willing to answer this call to be part of this team. You are the hands, feet and mouth of Christ for your students in your classroom. What you say and do matters greatly in both big and small ways in the everyday life of the students you influence. 

The majority of adults can look back and remember at least one teacher who was special to them in some way. And, most of the time, it wasn’t because of the academic subject being taught or the grades received. It was because that person directed them to the truth, goodness and beauty of God. They showed them they were loved by being compassionate while maintaining high expectations for their behavior and course work. 

It is usually the teacher who was honest about their strengths and shortcomings and gave them practical help to improve both. It was the teacher who cared about their struggles outside of school and gave them the direction and assistance to navigate them positively. It was the teacher who did not let them fall into making excuses that allowed them to be less than they were meant to be. It is the teacher who loved them, regardless of if they were thanked or respected as they should have been by others. 

As educators, we look back and recognize our own great teachers who played a role in our life story. Your students will do the same. They will recognize your knowledge, dedication, sacrifice and your love. If we think of our students each as a beautiful tapestry, we quickly realize that we only get to see the portion of the picture that we work on, but our work affects the beauty of the whole piece. We so often must focus on the messy thread side of the fabric. But God, he has designed the image and sees the whole picture before it is done. He has chosen who the craftsmen of the piece will be. You are one of those people! 

I would like to express my personal gratitude and the gratitude of Archbishop Coakley and the whole of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City for all that you have done this year to serve your students and their families in this spirit of love. Your dedication amid numerous obstacles this year is inspiring to us, to the parents, and to the students sitting in the seats. Bravo to the job you are doing! 

While we have had some snow days this week, many teachers across the archdiocese are still teaching virtually to meet the needs of students. We would like to offer a small gift to each school administrator, teacher and staff member by designating March 11, 2022, as a No School Day. This would be the Friday preceding Spring Break. It is hopeful that this will give teachers time to plan accordingly so that on that day they can be truly off the clock. Thank you for all you do to serve in our Catholic schools with joy. Happy Catholic Schools Week!” 

Respectfully yours, 
Lara Schuler
Director of Catholic Education 
Archdiocese of Oklahoma City