Good Evening!
 
Even though our students were off today, we continue our Middle School Monday series with the important topic of Christian Leadership! 

At every Catholic K-8 school that I have served at, there are always parents who are concerned about the transition from "small" to "large" when students graduate 8th grade and attend a larger high school. There are some families who assume that it would be best to put their child in the large environment for middle school, so they don't have to adjust to a larger environment in high school. 

Those families who do graduate 8th grade at a Catholic school and head off to any size high school will tell you that children are better served gaining the Christian leadership and individual advocacy skills offered in a smaller setting and then heading off to not only succeed, but lead and excel during their high school years!

The one thing that I have consistently noticed at schools like St. Therese is that each student is not only challenged to be a leader, but really forced to be a leader in so many ways. When armed with these leadership skills, students continue to shine in all realms of their high school experience!

Having been in our Middle School for 6 months, Mrs. McInerny reflects below on the Leadership opportunities she is already seeing:

The observation of Martin Luther King day makes me mindful of MLK’s Christ-like leadership. He was truly a servant-leader, someone who put the good of others before himself. He led with strength but also humility, and without force or violence. He let his Christian faith guide the principles of his leadership and the movement he started. This is surely why, many decades after his death, the United States continues to strive toward greater participation and equality among all people of every race.

At St. Therese, our great desire is to form students who also become leaders formed by our Catholic faith. Our middle school students are given many opportunities to lead, both in quiet and gentle ways, and also in more public and obvious ones. 

One leadership opportunity that warms my heart is our buddies program. Middle school students are assigned buddies from the elementary school classes every year. Our middle school students sit with their buddies during Mass, serve together during service projects, and celebrate together in classroom holiday parties. Our middle school students lead by example, showing their younger buddies how to be reverent, respectful, and how to have fun!

Our middle school students also have opportunities to develop servant-leadership. Every other month, Sr. Tresa Jose takes a group of middle school students to volunteer at Sharing & Caring Hands. We are always blown away by our students’ care and outgoing warmth for the people who come to Sharing & Caring Hands for a meal. Our students demonstrate that they understand the dignity and importance of every person in God’s eyes.

Middle school students also have ample opportunities to show their leadership in extra curricular activities. 100% of our middle school students are involved in at least one STS extra curricular and most are involved in two or more. Many are willing to try new activities because they are in a small and safe environment. Some examples include competing in local math league competitions, our incredible middle school musical, band and choir!

As always, if you have any questions about our St. Therese Middle School, please do reach out! 

Sincerely,
 
Clarey McInerny, Assistant Principal
cmcinerny@st-therese.org
Adam Groebner, Principal
agroebner@st-therese.org