Governor John P. deJongh Jr. has proclaimed Jan. 27-Feb. 2 as “Catholic Schools Week” in the Virgin Islands to recognize and applaud the outstanding work in education being done by the territory’s Catholic schools.
This year’s theme is Catholic Schools Raise the Standards. The 2013 theme supports the recent launch of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, which ensures the effective operation and responsible governance of Catholic schools across the country, promoting high academic standards and Catholic identity. The logo designed for the week illustrates a chart of steady growth culminating in the highest achievement of all, a cross representing the faith that underscores all Catholic education.
“I, like so many others in the Virgin Islands, credit Catholic schooling for the great education I received as a young man, and I am proud to see this tradition continue in the halls of our territory’s four Catholic institutions of learning,” deJongh said.
Catholic education strives to instill and support values in every student, teacher and school administrator. In the Virgin Islands, Catholic education was introduced on St. Thomas in the mid-1800s, and today there are four Catholic schools in the Territory: Saints Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas, as well as Saint Mary’s, Saint Patrick’s and Saint Joseph Catholic Schools on St. Croix.
These schools have contributed to their respective communities by instilling values, character and compassion in their students.
Governor deJongh urges Virgin Islanders to join in the national celebration of Catholic Schools Week so as to recognize the important contributions these schools make toward the development of our children and youth, and our community at large.