What Does Success Look Like?
- Kathleen Mock
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
Today, we begin the final quarter of the school year. We celebrated as a school community by gathering for prayer, and remembering that, “We Are So Blessed.” As we look back on all of the accomplishments and growth our students have made, we also look forward to an exciting final stretch.
When I consider why St. Michael’s School is exceptional, it is because our primary focus is on spiritual formation and character development. Putting God first in our lives, and learning to be responsible, respectful people are the foundations for future success. We also look at our commitment to educating the whole child, which is why we place value in our co-curricular programs such as Art, Music, Physical Education, and technology. Finally, our academic program, led by dedicated and passionate teachers, who motivate our students to reach their potential, is grounded in best practices. Specifically, we credit our adoption of Visible Learning+ which has resulted in consistency and continuity of learning among and between grade levels. This was affirmed recently as our school completed the six-year Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) accreditation process. The Visiting Team, which consisted of teachers and principals from the Diocese, and chaired by the Associate Superintendent from Salt Lake City, were extremely impressed by our program and the high engagement of our students. Part of this success stems from the goal of teaching our students to become aware and involved in their own learning. It is not just enough to help them develop goals, but they must also know if they have successfully achieved these goals.
To illustrate my point, let me provide a few examples. The weather this weekend was gorgeous, and it prompted me to get outside and dig in the dirt (one of my favorite pastimes). My goal was to plant a few spring flowers and add color to the perennials that border my yard. In order to do that, I needed to prune and dead-head existing plants; weed the beds, digging down to the roots, while also ensuring pesky seeds did not fall to the soil; and turn in new soil and earthworm castings. Only after several hours of prep work was I able to finally add some pansies and ranunculus. I knew that in order to be successful, I had to complete several steps, or my beds would eventually be in disarray. My second project was to bake a cheesecake for a belated birthday celebration. Everyone who bakes and cooks has a few tips up their sleeve to make sure their recipe turns out well. In my case, the key is to make sure the cream cheese is soft before blending, and, of course, always beat in one egg at a time. This ensures the batter is creamy and smooth.
Helping children know what the end result should look like before they set out on their goal will assure they are actively involved in their learning and they have a better chance of success. If you ask them to clean their room, but do not give them parameters or guidelines (clothes must be hung or folded, not thrown in the closet or hidden under the bed), likely the end result will not meet your expectations. If they are expected to pack their lunch but they do not know what food groups to include, they will probably stock up on snacks. Before you ask them to complete a task, sit down together and talk about what the expectations are and why. The goal alone is not enough.
So, even though we are winding down the school year, there is still much quality learning and growing to be done. In this final quarter, help your children set goals AND establish success criteria to finish the year strong.
In Mission, Kathy
