Ann Fallon special for The Citizen
“The vocation of all those who help parents in the fulfillment of their duties and, as representatives of the human community, undertake the task of education in the schools, is beautiful and of great importance. This vocation requires special qualities of mind and heart, very careful preparation and constant readiness.”
As the Board of Trustees of St. Albert the Great Academy set out to found a new Catholic elementary school in Auburn, they knew this statement would be the encouragement they would need to overcome many obstacles. Trusting in the virtues of faith, hope and love, they opened a school in the midst of a pandemic when Catholic churches and schools were declining and shutting down. They relied on faith to be open to that call for guidance and trust in Him. They relied on hope when most thought Catholic education couldn’t hold its own here and schools didn’t know when they might be allowed to open for in-person classes in 2020. They counted on love to pledge to open the gate to the first 30 students, even though they knew that God would send the families that needed St. Albert’s most. And he did. We opened our doors to 95 students! Beyond these virtues, this board has a level of prudence, and it is level of prudence that continues to pave the way to GREATNESS every day.
People also read…
“Prudence is the virtue which enables us, under all circumstances, to discern what our true good is, and to choose the means of attaining it.” Therefore, acts of prudence involve both an assessment of the most appropriate ways of attaining it of a specific goal as well as the instruction to carry out those actions. Prudence is based on remembering the past, knowing about the present and, as far as possible, anticipating the consequences of our decisions. It indicates the right balance of the other virtues, between excess and deficiency; between exaggeration and deficiency or mediocrity.”
Ann Fallon
CoCo board member
It was prudence to plant the first seed, which was as small as a mustard seed, which has now grown into a tree—a good tree—and growing more and more branches. Over time, the limbs have become stable to accommodate the academic and social emotional needs of their students and families. It’s good to remember where the first seed came from and thank God for a solid start. It’s also nice to see the new shoots growing.
The Hillbilly Thomists sing a song called “The Good Tree”. The text was inspired by the Bible verse Luke 6:44, where Jesus teaches that a tree is known by its fruit. The lyrics begin with this:
Or pluck a fig from thorns
Some sink into the big ground
“For every tree is known by its own fruit.” The “fruit” at St. Albert’s today is a growing school of teachers qualified for their calling, in their desire to be witnesses of the truths of the gospel, and who through solid training programs and master’s degrees are certified. Our enrollments are growing 10% each year, with a retention rate in the 90th percentile. In the coming year we will have two pre-school classrooms with the aim of having two kindergarten classrooms the following year. We restored and revitalized two Catholic school buildings. We have successfully provided academic support and services to children in need of special education and encouraged students to pursue higher academic levels than grade level. Leading by example, we will be introducing a virtue-based leadership program called Quest for our seniors next year. Our students will begin by learning leadership skills, putting together service projects, and entering our community to learn and take action.
The beauty of the “good tree,” planted with care, is that when the time comes, you can lean against it for support, and that every limb, branch, and branch sustains you holds. Under our slogan, “You were made for GREATNESS,” we strive for nothing less: GREATNESS of mind, GREATNESS of body, and GREATNESS of soul for every member of our community. Join us on this quest and find support at The Good Tree. “And watch your children grow up great at St. Albert the Great Academy!
Ann Fallon is the principal of St. Albert the Great Academy, a Catholic pre-K-6 school at 134 Washington St., Auburn. For more information, visit stalbertthegreatacademy.com or call (315) 283-0555.
Be the first to know
Get local news in your inbox!
auburnpub.com
https://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/st-albert-the-great-leadership-in-the-good-tree/article_5357978c-0951-11ee-a978-9f8e96047216.html
