New Mission Statement: To form saints and scholars with the heart and mind of Christ.
New Vision Statement: Fully Catholic, Fully Alive.
Mission defines what we do and vision defines who we are and where we’re going. It’s important for our school, that these be clearly defined and that they become the guiding principles for the decisions we make.
These statements will inspire our work at Seton going forward. Our goal is to form scholars that are saints and saints that are scholars. If this is to happen, then our students must encounter Christ in every aspect of our school. If our students are to be saints and scholars with (possessing) the heart and mind of Christ, then they must be formed with (by means of) the heart and mind of Christ. This is what we want Seton to be: a school that is Fully Catholic and Fully Alive.
So, what are we doing practically to support this mission and achieve this vision?
A Rich Sacramental and Prayer Life. Beginning this fall, our students attend Mass twice each week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at Holy Name. Tuesdays will remain our school Mass, with students serving in various ministries at Mass. Fridays will be a regular daily Mass attended by both students and parishioners.
Our students will also be attending Eucharistic Adoration weekly in the new Adoration Chapel which is connected to our school. Confession will also be offered regularly, at least monthly.
In addition, each class will have the opportunity to go on retreat this year.
Faithful and Joyful Catholic Teachers. Our first priority when hiring teachers is that they be faithful Catholics who live their faith joyfully. Personnel is policy. Of special note is the Sr. Mary Teresa Bettag joined our staff this year as our middle school math teacher and K3-8 gym teacher. Sr. Mary Teresa belongs to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity whose motherhouse is located in Manitowoc. Sr. Mary Teresa is a graduate of Seton and is the daughter of Dr. Mark and Teresa Bettag. We are grateful to the Franciscan Sisters for this opportunity to have Sr. Mary Teresa return to Seton as a teacher for this year. Her witness as a young religious sister will be inspirational for students and teachers alike. Her presence will continue to help us work toward a school that is Fully Catholic and Fully Alive.
Catholic Curriculum. We are excited for two new Catholic curricula which will we be integrating into our classrooms this year. The first is Art Education Through Religion Series from St. Augustine Academy Press. This will tie in well with the 10 pieces of classical Catholic art that we purchased through Benedictus Art that will be hung up in our hallways, making our school more beautiful and more Catholic. Additionally, we have added an Education in Virtue curriculum which will teach Catholic virtues through age-appropriate storytelling, interactive lessons, and vibrant visuals.
Becoming a “Low-Tech” School. Seton will prioritize tactile books, physical play, and handwriting over digital screens, and create a sacred space that fosters quiet reflection, spiritual focus, and a genuine wonder for God’s creation. Seton’s classrooms will focus on real, face-to-face connection to help build collaboration, connection, and empathy. Low-tech classrooms allow teachers to focus on their student’s hearts and minds through meaningful relationships, active imagination, and hands-on discovery.
Embracing Classical Approaches to Education. For a school to be Fully Catholic, faith must be at the heart of everything it does—from how students are treated to what is taught in every class. The goal of a Catholic education is not just to prepare students for college or a job. More importantly, it is to help students know, love, and live the Truth who is Jesus Christ. To do this, the school will work to embrace the principles of Catholic Liberal Education. This approach is rooted in the long traditions of the Catholic Church and focuses on building good character and searching for truth, beauty, and wisdom through the study of the great ideas and works of Western civilization. We will also work to align our library to meet Cardinal Newman standards. The collection will be reviewed to make sure it promotes intellectual, spiritual and moral growth.
Beauty. A school that is Fully Catholic and Fully Alive is also a school that is committed to beauty. Beauty is classically defined as the attractive power of truth. Beauty can lead others to Christ who said, “I am the truth” (Cf. John 14:6). Our faith is beautiful, and we want that to be on full display at Seton. To that end, we are working on beautifying our school. This summer we repainted the entire interior of our school to give it a clean and fresh look. As mentioned earlier, we are also hanging beautiful pieces of classical Catholic artwork in the hallways. Of special note are the 11 new pieces of classical art that nowadorn our hallways including The Annunciation by Fra Angelico and The Calling of St. Matthew by Caravaggio. Our parking lot also got a facelift this summer! We realize that the most beautiful thing is a saint, but beautiful surroundings help form hearts and minds toward what is true, good, and holy.
