"Inspiring Catholic Faith and Principles While Encouraging Academic Excellence" One day while I was daydreaming, I began to reflect upon Visitation's mission statment. Remembering all of the hard work and intellectual discussions I participated in with my collegues, I allow my revere to lead me into thoughts of how I incorporate the elements of the statement into my daily life as a teacher and parent. Faith, I believe, is the element central to our mission; remember without the faith our school would not exist. Father Paul Richard had a dream to establish a new parish with a school and a church because of his faith in God and his dreams here we, Vistation of Our Lady School and Parish, are having a significant impact on the community and it's people. As a teacher at Visitation I make it evident to my students that I believe faith is an primary inspiration in our lives daily. Likewise I always try to instill in my own two children that faith is a central aspect of our lives as Catholics. Through personal reflection, daily prayer, and regularly attending mass, as a family, faith has become a vital aspect of my daily life at home and in the classroom. "Each time I walk on the football field I try to think how can I become a better football player," I don't remember which New Orleans Saints player said that quote, but when I heard what he said, it struck a cord. Instantly, I revised the quote, applying it to being a teacher, outloud I said, "Each time I walk into the classroom I try to think how can I become a better teacher." Wow! what better focal point for my academic scholars, my students, if I change it to, "Each time I walk into the classroom I try to think how can I become a better STUDENT!" I believe that academics should be the central focal point in the lives of my students at this time in thier lives because without the good educational foundation, which teachers at Visitation provide, our children will be lost in world which is constantly advancing in intellect and technology. What is exactly excellence? "Each individual has something to find, myself included," Deuce McAllister. This statement applys to the level of excellence I encourage in my students; I believe that each student needs to find something in themself, thier own level of excellence. A level of excellence which will make them shine in both self-confidence and academics. The only way Vistation's scholars can discover this is through the guidance and instruction which thier teachers provide each time the classroom doors are open. I know that this biographical page is not what is traditionally found on a teacher's webpage, but what better way to get to know who I am than through my personal reflection on Visitation's mission. Those nine words are not just an abstract philosophy which was created through a cooperative effort; they are the guiding elements which I apply "each time I walk onto the football field." Grace G. Hicks Language Arts Instructor |
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