Student of Grace Awards 1/5/23

Good morning, students and families! 

We are honored to present our fourth  set of Students of Grace awards! This fourth trait is a beautiful one: authenticity. 

Thomas Merton is one of the great modern-Catholics. However, as a young man he struggled understanding what he was meant to do, or even who he was. Merton finally found his vocation, God’s plan for him at the Monastery of Our Lady in Gethsemani, Kentucky. 

From this long and difficult journey, we have received some of the most beautiful insights about holiness and individuality. Thomas Merton said, ‘to be a saint means to be myself. Therefore, the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and discovering my true self.’ For Merton, this required several things. First, we must recognize that God created us to be good. Second, life is a journey of prayer and discovery in discerning who God created us to be. Our identity and true self is hidden in the love of God! When we empty our lives to the fullness of God’s love, we become saints! 

All of our teachers were paying attention to students who were living out our call to be our authentic selves. I am so happy to formally recognize our Students of Grace for this month for the virtue of authenticity. 

1.Ella Barefoot

Ella brings a unique and cheerful spirit to our classroom and enjoys sharing her diverse interests with others. She is always very much her true self!

2.Asher Cirka

Asher isn’t afraid to express his thoughts. He allows himself to be true to his values and strives to find success. 

3.Mitchell Dikijian

Mitchell is a genuine and authentic person. Mitchell is fully trustworthy and is honest with his feelings. His smile lights up the room. 

4. Kyle Gilmore

Kyle always shows up as his authentic self. His funny personality, values, and spirit always shine through his writing, class participation, and interactions with others. 

5. John Moser 

Jack is not afraid to be his true self and let his personality shine through class discussions and assignments. He is honest and caring towards his peers. 

6. Carter Esposito 

Carter is always true to his personality. He is someone who is not afraid to be truly himself. He is very honest with his peers and makes good decisions based on his values. 

7.Grace Burns

Grace is reliable and trustworthy. Grace has a genuine heart and will stand-up for what is right. He will admit when she is wrong and will make amends. 

8. Shane Lafferty

Over the past three years of knowing Shane, we have seen him grow in knowledge and character.  While Shane has shown growth, he has remained true to himself. He continues to be involved in school events, assists peers and staff in a selfless and genuine manner.

Teacher: Mrs. McCrossan

This teacher is authentic. She surrenders herself entirely to God’s love in how she conducts herself. She teaches with love, she corrects with love, and she inspires with love. She is herself and she is on the path to sainthood. Thanks for all you do, Mrs. McCrossan.