Dear Brothers and Sisters,

National Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate the gift of Catholic education in the United States. This week is filled with fun activities that bring together our students, school community, and partners in the mission of educating children in the Catholic Faith. Our goal is to highlight the many ways Catholic education benefits our students and contributes to the church, our local community, and our nation as a whole. Thank you for being a vital part of our school community!

The Wall Street Journal published an article in June of 2018 named, “The Catholic School Difference”. It included the findings of a study by scholars at the University of California-Santa Barbara regarding the success of Catholic schools. Students in Catholic schools, “are more likely to control their temper, respect others’ property, accept their fellow students’ ideas, and handle peer pressure.” In other words, Catholic School students exhibit more self-discipline and have a more productive environment in which to learn and academically and spiritually excel.

That self-discipline has led to many successes at St. John XXIII School that we celebrate during Catholic Schools Week! Our school is known for its academic excellence while upholding and promoting strong Catholic values. As our mission reminds us: Saint John XXIII Roman Catholic School Community is a partnership of parents, students, staff and parish communities that nurtures the growth of the whole child in a Catholic faith-based education through a challenging academic environment. In this Christ-centered atmosphere, the unique qualities of each student are recognized. Children are encouraged to be life-long learners and are taught to be active Christian leaders throughout their lives.

The Wall Street Journal article advised that readers should not underestimate the teaching of faith that positively influences the behavior of children. “Religion” the article says, “isn’t the only way to foster self-discipline but it’s effective compared to most of the alternatives in channeling youthful energy into productive self-control.”

Our school is led by our principal Mr. Preston Colao and assistant principal Mr. Carl Hess who are wonderful faithful-filled examples. We are also blessed with an innovative and religiously committed teaching staff that lead by example. We also have the blessing of being able to offer a solid family catechesis program, as well as our priests and team, who teach the faith to our children. In short, with the cooperation of our parents at home, our students know Jesus Christ and are prepared to live the Catholic faith.

In has been reported to me by local high school administrators that they can always pick out high school students that were educated at our school. They reminded me that our students are respectful, principled, know how to study and are well prepared to succeed in high school! They are leaders in high school and beyond.

I am proud of our students, and I am thankful to our wonderful team! I am also very thankful for our parents who make the commitment to our school’s success. And finally, I am grateful for the stewardship of our parishioners that has helped us maintain our modest tuition that allows a diversity of students to receive this high caliber education at St. John XXIII School!

I believe that Catholic education not only benefits the students who attend Catholic schools but all of us. St. John XXIII students may one day become doctors, nurses, dentists, lawyers, businessmen and women, politicians, soldiers, teachers, mechanics, engineers, artists or musicians. Some of our students will be called by God to a vocation as missionaries, mothers or fathers, priests, deacons, brothers or sisters.

Celebrate the many ways our Catholic students learn, serve, lead, and succeed! Our school is almost at capacity with only a few grades that have openings. To register for the 2025-2026 school year, feel free to contact our school at 480-905-0939 or visit our school website at http://saintjohnxxiii.org

God Bless,

Fr. Don Klin

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