SOUTH PORTLAND – This winter has been a busy one at the Holy Cross Catholic School in South Portland with a visit from Bishop Robert P. Deeley, a special event to celebrate student giving and the announcement that a new superintendent of Maine’s Catholic schools was hired.
Deeley, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, visited Holy Cross School on Feb. 25. The day began with a brief concert featuring student performances, stops in each classroom and a chance for the bishop to read to the younger children.
Laughter filled the air as Deeley read the book, “Old Noah’s Elephants,” which describes the misbehavior of the two elephants aboard Noah’s ark. Deeley also got a chance to observe the new emphasis on digital learning as he visited various classrooms.
Holy Cross School is a member of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative so each student in grades 6-8 has received a MacBook Air, while students in grades 4-5 get iPads. In addition, 20 other iPads are shared in the pre-kindergarten through grade 3 classrooms.
During his visit to the school, Deeley also fielded a wide range of questions from students, including one student who asked the bishop, a lifelong Red Sox fan, if it was okay for someone to be Yankee fans.
“Of course. That’s okay. Those people will get it right one day,” the bishop said.
The bishop also responded to questions about his world travels, but told the fifth-grade class that visiting schools and parishes in all corners of Maine has been one of his most rewarding and enjoyable experiences.
“Education is exciting and to hear about all the things that are happening in our schools is wonderful,” Deeley said. “It’s also great to meet people all over Maine and learn about where they live and what they think is important.”
As part of the recent national Catholic Schools Week celebration, students at Holy Cross School collected items for the Preble Street Shelter in Portland and the Animal Refuge League in Westbrook.?
On Friday, Feb. 6, representatives from both organizations attended a special prayer service at Holy Cross Church for a presentation by the students.
“We collected so much that the Animal Refuge League had to send for their van to get everything home,” said Christine L’Abbe?, principal at Holy Cross School.
The students gathered books, socks and mittens for the shelter and rugs, sheets and newspapers for the Animal Refuge League. The collection was a service project for Maine Catholic Schools Week.
“During this project, we took the time to think about how our faith teaches us to live, learn, share, help and serve so that we can be the kind of people that Jesus wants us to be and bring his love to others,” said L’Abbe?. “Every school is a place of learning, but what makes our school different is that we are also a place of faith.”
In addition, the students created thank you cards and baked cookies for police, fire and rescue personnel in South Portland. And during the prayer service, Lt. Todd Bernard of the South Portland Police Department thanked the children for their efforts and kindness.
Also recently, Deeley announced that Jim King would become the new superintendent for Maine’s Catholic Schools effective July 1. King, currently the interim director of elementary schools for the National Catholic Educational Association, will succeed the Rev. Louis J. Phillips, who has served as interim superintendent since last summer.
“The Diocese of Portland is blessed to have found an experienced educator recognized for his integrity and innovation,” Deeley said in a press release. “Jim has a strong commitment to keeping Catholic schools centered on faith.”
Deeley added that King “is enthusiastic and dedicated and works well with students, families, faculty and staff. Jim has a fresh and exciting vision for how best to strengthen and build our Catholic schools as superb centers of learning, service and faith.”
“I am tremendously excited,” King said. “This is an amazing opportunity. The Catholic schools in Maine have a rich tradition of success. I’m thrilled to work with the great people we have in our schools and maximize the incredible potential for growth.”
A native of Ohio, King, his wife Roberta, and their three children look forward to calling Maine home. “I’ve had so many different experiences in my career. Now, I am excited to really settle into this amazing position and work toward a successful future for the Catholic schools in Maine,” he said.
Bishop Robert Deeley visited Holy Cross School in South Portland recently. Here he reads to some of the younger students. Courtesy photo
Jim King is the new superintendent of Maine Catholic Schools, which includes Holy Cross in South Portland. Courtesy photo
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