From the Pastor

Dear friends in the Lord,
 
     As I write this, I’m on my way to Washington, DC, with Mrs. Kellie DesOrmeaux, our principal, to receive the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award on behalf of our school from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVoss.
 
     As I hope you have heard, it was announced on September 26 that IHM School has been recognized for the second time as an “Exemplary High Performing School.” We received our first Blue Ribbon in 2009, and schools are only eligible to be considered every ten years. This year, IHM was one of only 50 private schools around the country to be so honored. Among other
criteria, our standardized test scores met and surpassed the required threshold in reading and math.
 
     Through the National Blue Ribbon Award process, we were given the opportunity to create a written record of our school’s history and legacy—a chronicle of 61 years of academic excellence rooted in faith. We remembered with gratitude the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, who began this wonderful enterprise back in 1958 to serve our parish and to reach out into the community. In fact, the recognition we celebrate today could not have been accomplished without the dedication of all the many wonderful religious sisters, principals, priests, teachers, staff, students, parents, volunteers and parishioners who came before us.
 
     We are currently blessed with a remarkable team of gifted and dedicated teachers, caring staff, engaged parents and generous volunteers. My special gratitude goes to Mrs. DesOrmeaux, who began readying our application for this honor shortly after she arrived as IHM School’s 14th principal three years ago.
 
     As I told the school assembly the day that our second Blue Ribbon was announced, this doesn’t surprise me at all! I see “exemplary high performance” every time I walk the halls or visit classes or celebrate the Eucharist with our school. But it’s nice for the whole country to know, too!
 
Your brother in Christ’s word and work,