Asking the Right Questions

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”

Proverbs 3:13

As we wind down to the end of 2024-2025, it is important to look back at the start of the school year and reflect on how much growth your child/ren have experienced. They grew not only physically – likely everyone grew taller and stronger, but they also grew socially, emotionally, spiritually, morally, and intellectually. This growth did not occur in a linear line, but rather a series of plots, high and low, based on achievements as well as mistakes.

For most of us – parents, students, and teachers – we focus primarily on academics, and for good reason. We want to make sure our students/children are learning to their fullest potential so they will be successful at the next grade level, in high school, college, and beyond. So, we ask: What are my child’s STAR scores? What grade did they receive on the last project, test, report card? Did they make honor roll? These are all important questions, and they should be asked, but in our quest to develop the “Whole Child” there is much more to consider.

Very few of us will live and work in isolation, and it is necessary for children to develop social skills to get along with others. Ask yourself: Is my child a good listener? Patient? Empathetic? We also want to help our children to become emotionally resilient. We should ask: Is my child confident? An independent thinker? Can he/she regulate his/her emotions? Finally, helping our children develop strong morals and values, as well as a strong faith foundation, is essential for our children to persist through difficult times as well as during times of joy and happiness. You might ask: Will my child do the right thing when no one else is looking? Is my child developing a relationship with Jesus through prayer and the Sacraments? These traits do not always come naturally, and like Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, they must be taught and practiced. Look for opportunities to start small and build from there.

Finally, while each of us are given a multitude of gifts to help us throughout our lives, we are also asked to be the hands and feet of Christ on Earth. So, in these last few weeks of the school year, in addition to asking yourselves the questions above, I also encourage you to ask your child the following:

• Did you see anyone having a hard time today? What did you do?

• Was anyone left out at recess? What did you do?

• Did you see something that didn’t feel right? Do you want to talk about it?

• If you could change one thing that happened today, what would it be? Why?

By asking questions, we find solutions; by persevering, we find growth; and by turning to God in all things, we find peace.

In Mission, Kathy