Dear Parents and Families, As we begin Catholic Schools Week, I want to pause and express our profound gratitude for the journey we share together at Saint Joseph Academy. When you first chose Catholic education for your child, you made a decision that went far beyond academics—you entrusted us with something sacred. You chose to partner with us in forming not just students, but souls. Thank you for that trust and thank you for walking this path with us day after day. Preparing for Life Right now, in classrooms across our campus, your children are growing in remarkable ways. They're developing critical thinking skills, discovering their gifts, and learning what it means to serve others with compassion and selflessness. We're teaching them not just to succeed, but to lead Christ-centered lives of meaning and purpose, to see their talents as gifts meant to be shared, their knowledge as a tool for building up the common good, and their character as the foundation for everything they'll become. But we know this formation doesn't happen in isolation. You are their first and most influential teachers. The virtues we reinforce at school—kindness, integrity, perseverance, courage—take root because you model them at home. The works of mercy we undertake echo the generosity you demonstrate. The respect for human dignity we teach finds its deepest expression in the love you show your children each day. Forming for Heaven Even more importantly, we share a mission that transcends this world. Together, we're united in faith and community, forming your children for their ultimate destination: eternal life with God. Every religion class, every prayer before class, every moment we pause to acknowledge Christ's presence among us is oriented toward this magnificent end. We're not just helping students pass exams; we're helping them fall in love with the One who made them and who calls them by name. This week, as we celebrate all that makes Catholic education distinctive, we're also looking ahead with hope. The seeds being planted now, seeds of faith, wisdom, and virtue, will bear fruit in ways we may never fully see. Some will bloom in college classrooms and career choices. Others will flourish in future families and communities. And ultimately, by God's grace, they will bear fruit for eternity. You are irreplaceable in this mission. Your partnership, your prayers, and your witness make all the difference. Thank you for choosing this path, for walking it with faith and commitment, and for trusting us to help form the hearts and minds of those you love most. May this Catholic Schools Week be a reminder of the hopeful work we do together, and may God continue to bless our students, our families, and our school community. With gratitude and thanks, Mark Kalpakgian President