WHEN FREE ISN'T FREE

WHEN FREE ISN’T FREE

At this time of year when increased tuition rates for the coming year are announced, one is tempted to look at the public school with the price tag of “free”.  I, myself, look at those beautiful buses and buildings with their awesome cafeterias and meeting rooms.  These are not free.  It has caused me to take a good hard look at our school and ask myself some key questions:

Where else can you get a Church and community who will loyally stand by you in your joys and your grief, your challenges and your successes.

Where else can you find support from others who share your philosophy and your values.

Where else can you find families and friends who accept you for who you are – and where can you find life-long friends for your children who will support and lead them in the ways you trust.

Where else will you find a child’s open belief in God that reminds you there is more to life than worldly goods.  Where will you be called to be your best, and where will you be thanked when you strive to fulfill that goal.

Where else will you find such awesome examples of generosity and service; utter selflessness and genuine goodness as in this school community.

Where will you find a climate where it is OK to be smart and get good grades…Where it is not OK to bully, and there will be a consequence if you do.

There are three states which are the least churched in our nation.  Oregon and Washington are two of the three.  Where will our children find values and morals to live by that are not destroyed by secularism and non-ethical conduct?  Even those who stray, know that a better value was held out to them, and that they are always welcome back.

Where will your child feel comfortable when it seems everything is lost and wrong, if it is not in the memories learned at school and church, where everyone believes and knows God is always present and will never leave us.

Yes, there are many sacrifices made to attend a Catholic School.  On the other hand, our most valuable possession is our children – more valuable than our cars and homes and vacations – PRICELESS.  No price is too great.