As you receive this, we will be starting our celebration of Catholic Schools Week.  Two weeks ago, we celebrated our Marianist heritage during Founders Week.  Both of these weeks highlight what is special about Catholic education, and particularly a Marianist education here at Gross Catholic.

As we reflect on the five characteristics of a Marianist education, we are particularly proud that our students continue to be leaders in service, justice, and peace.  Our student Marianist LIFE Community prepared a presentation for us to raise awareness and to support our larger Marianist Community and the Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya.  The MLC students, led by staff members Mikaela VanMoorleghem, Kim Matzen, and Maggie Monzingo, educated the student body and faculty about living conditions in Nairobi and explained the mission of OLN.  You may view their presentation here.  The MLC challenged the Gross Catholic community to donate $125 throughout Founder's Week to support a student at OLN, promising to match donations up to $100.  The students raised $600 which will support five children at the Marianist Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School for one year.

Along with most people throughout the world, we have been praying for the people of Haiti.  The students were so moved by their suffering, they asked permission to raise funds for the relief efforts, totaling $600 to send to the American Red Cross to help the people of Haiti.

Gross Catholic students, led by our art students and teacher CaSandra Johnson, also recently completed a four-year effort that created original, hand-drawn interpretations of U.S. $100 dollar bills as part of the Fundred Dollar Bill Project.  This innovative art project seeks to raise $300 million to address the hidden lead-contaminated soil problem in New Orleans and other cities.

The National Honor Society recently completed a book and game drive for the Stephen Center.  They were able to donate five boxes of books and games for use by the center's children and adults struggling with poverty and homelessness.

Next month, 17 students along with four staff members will travel to the Gulf coast for a week-long service immersion experience, allowing students to join with young people from across the country to work in an environment that goes beyond their local community. They will work with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast building homes in an area where 90% of the buildings along the coast in Biloxi and neighboring Gulfport were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. 

These are just a few of the projects in which our students are involved.  In addition, students in our  Dux Esto Apostolic Outreach program provided over 12,500 hours of service to their school, church, and community last year.  We are proud of our students' efforts to live our motto Dux Esto - Be A Leader! 

Sincerely,

Beckie Cleveland, President