Outstanding Students, Outstanding Schools Annette Z. Parsons Chief Education Administrator, Catholic Diocese of Richmond and President, McMahon Parater Foundation

This has been another year of brought home the first place trophy for the eighth year in the blessings for Catholic schools of championship of the National Ocean Science Bowl, and Investing the Richmond Diocese! will compete at the nationals. Benedictine won its first Virginia While Catholic schools Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I State Football around the nation continue to Championship in over 10 years and Roanoke Catholic won the be challenged by mergers and VISAA Division IV State Basketball Championship this year. in Our closures, our student numbers In October, two SEES Alumni broke the Guinness Book of World are stable, and even up a bit over Records by simultaneously launching 4,100 model rockets. last year. Several of our teachers The Segura Educational Initiative continues to lead the and schools have achieved movement to increase the number of Latino children in Catholic Children national recognition, and our diocesan education staff and teachers schools. Bishop Di Lorenzo and Segura were highlighted at are beginning to be perceived as leaders in Catholic education. the Bishop’s conference, and our Chief Administrator was invited We are immensely proud of Mrs. Lynn Woods of St. Gregory by the USCCB to brief 70 US bishops on this successful, the Great in Virginia Beach, who has been replicable program. selected at the Distinguished Teacher of the year by the National In addition, many of the Catholic schools of the Diocese are Catholic Education Association (NCEA) because of her many beginning much needed facility upgrades and improvements. classroom innovations in curriculum and Thanks to funds provided through parish instruction. support, schools are applying for $7M Christ the King Catholic School, in worth of matching grants to pay for Norfolk, VA, has been nominated by the deferred maintenance projects identified US Department of Education for a Blue by engineering studies conducted in all Ribbon. Principal Dr. Fran Gagne will 24 Diocesan schools last year. accept the award in October at ceremonies Our Catholic schools are indeed in Washington DC. This brings our thriving, but success cannot be measured diocesan schools’ Blue Ribbon tally to an in awards or recognition. It is truly impressive 14. Only 50 private schools measured in the number of children we in the nation are selected for this honor serve, and the faith and morality we share Lynn Woods, St. Gregory Catholic School from among hundreds of private schools. with these young people. NCEA Teacher of the Year In addition, Christ the King School Diocesan leaders understand that our has received the national Today’s Catholic Teacher Award for great blessings are the many partners in Catholic education from innovation in implementing Catholic identity. around the diocese, including parents who sacrifice to send their National recognition was also bestowed on Kay Bisaillon, children to Catholic schools as well as committed pastors, teachers, of St. Gregory Catholic School, who was chosen by NCEA to volunteers, and those who contribute scholarship dollars in support host national EdCamp and Google sessions for Catholic school the mission of Catholic schools. On behalf of the children, we leaders and teachers. Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School thank all who share in this important mission of the Church.

Diocese of Richmond Catholic Schools: A Tradition of Excellence

According to the Cato Institute in its February 2012 report on Higher Graduation Rates: Diocese of Richmond Catholic schools schools, “One of the first things you learn when you start to maintain a 99% graduation rate. The U.S. average according to the study the comparative performance of school systems is this: National Center for Higher Education is 75.5%. on average,