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English Translation: The new principal of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Elementary School in College Park, Katrina Fernández, with one of her students at lunchtime. Photo / Javier Díaz
Parents can help their children achieve academic success by supporting them with homework, getting involved in academic performance, working hand in hand with teachers, participating in school activities and volunteering at the school.
That is the advice given to parents by Katrina Fernández (35), the new principal of Holy Redeemer Catholic Elementary School in College Park, Maryland, at the beginning of the school year.
"You also have to talk about faith and the importance of going to college," she added.
"In Catholic schools we have the opportunity to educate students of Christ, children who are not only concerned with academics, but grow to be disciples of Christ, who have values and contribute to the community as volunteers," said the principal.
Fernández defines Catholic education as an integral part of educations since it transmits values for a lifetime. She, who has studied 14 years and worked 12 years in Catholic schools, said "Unlike the public school system, it gives us the opportunity to speak to students with pride about their faith".
She also made it clear that the task of sowing Catholic values in children is a joint work of school and home.
She is excited about the new challenge of running Holy Redeemer. "I am so happy because it gives me the opportunity to help our community."
Hispanic families - she said - value Catholic education very much, but they see it unattainable. "Many immigrant parents do not believe that their children can study in parochial schools."
Therefore, she has set the goal of increasing the number of Hispanic students in her school. To do this, she plans to approach Hispanic parents in the sector to tell them that Catholic education is within their reach, inform them about available resources and guide them in the admission process.
She stressed that there is financial help for low-income families who want their children to also benefit from the excellence of Catholic education.
At Holy Redeemer School, for example, 90 percent of students receive financial assistance to pay the tuition fee of $9,000. The school offers subsidies along with the Archdiocese of Washington and families can apply for BOOST scholarships through the state of Maryland. In addition, there are other programs that help low-income families: adw.org.
Thanks to the efforts of the former principal, Maria Bovich, Holy Redeemer is characterized by it’s diversity: 60 percent of the students are Caucasian, 18 percent Hispanic, 17 percent African American, 7 percent Asian, 16 percent from other backgrounds.
"We accept each student as they are," said the new principal open to multiculturalism. She is interested in continuing that initiative, because she believes it is very important that the school is open to all.
Half of the Catholics in the archdiocese are Hispanic, but regrets that their children are not in Catholic schools.
Therefore, she plans to approach Hispanic families in nearby parishes to enroll their children at Holy Redeemer. It will also train its teachers and employees to learn to work with the diversity that characterizes this region.
The school has the 'Madrinas' program through which parents work in groups to reach the Hispanic community with the message.
Likewise, the ESOL program, from English as a second language, will be expanded by increasing the number of Hispanic students.
"I want to serve the immigrant community, especially because my parents are too," said the new principal.
Fernandez said that her parents and grandparents struggled for her and her sister to study primary and secondary school in Catholic schools in the state of Florida. "It's an investment," she said, recalling that both were the first in the family to graduate from college.
Already with the degree in elementary education from the University of Miami, she moved to Ohio where she received a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Dayton and worked as a Spanish teacher.
She arrived in the Washington area in 2010, worked as an admissions director at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (Takoma Park, MD), then as an assistant principal at the St. Mary of the Mills Catholic School (Laurel, MD). There she served as a principal for one year and the last 3 years as principal of St. Columba School in Oxon Hill, MD.
Katrina attributes her achievements to the Catholic education she received from pre-school, where she was encouraged, spiritually enriched and comprehensively trained. "That is the reason why I continue my professional career in the Catholic school system."
The Catholic Schools Office of the archdiocese is conducting informational workshops for Hispanic families. For details about the workshops, registration or financial aid, write in Spanish to Miryan Cabrera at Escuelas@adw.org.
Holy Redeemer will open its doors on October 17 to inform families interested in enrolling their children. They accept children from 4 years to 8th grade.
OPEN HOUSE
Holy Redeemer School will hold its Open House on October 17 from 9AM to 11AM and from 3PM to 6PM at 4902 Berwyn Road, College Park, MD. Inf: (301) 474-3993.