ESAs offer a chance to check out Catholic schools

After a recent victory in the NFL playoffs, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud was interviewed by NBC. Prior to answering the first question posed to him by the reporter, he stated, “First of all I want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” When this interview was later replayed on social media, NBC inexplicably removed Stroud’s comments referencing Jesus.

Unfortunately, this decision by NBC is all-too-familiar. More and more, society seems to remove any focus or mention of Jesus Christ.

This week Xavier Catholic Schools and all other Catholic schools across the nation, celebrate “Catholic Schools Week.” Within Catholic schools, Jesus is not excluded, but rather He is at the very heart of everything we do. As Catholic schools, we continually look for opportunities to integrate Christ’s teachings into all aspects of the student experience.

My wife and I have recently begun to experience the joy of Catholic education as parents. Our oldest began his Catholic school journey this past fall at St. Pius X Elementary as a kindergartner. As parents, it gives us great comfort to know he is not only receiving some of the best education in the area, but that his experience occurs within an atmosphere that welcomes Jesus. Additionally, we appreciate the freedom which is afforded to the faculty and staff. We’ve discovered administrators have done a wonderful job creating an environment where, quite simply, teachers teach and students learn.

From an educational standpoint, perhaps Catholic schools never shined brighter than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the diligence of administrators and teachers nationwide who were committed to continuing to learn, more than 90 percent of Catholic schools opened safely, in-person, five days a week with hybrid options. It was incredible to see the ways many in our schools pressed forward, focusing solely on what’s best for kids.

This school year, many new families in Iowa also began to experience Catholic education for the first time. Thanks to the newly implemented Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs), many families were able to utilize $7,635 to attend our schools. It’s worth noting that amount ($7,635) fully covered tuition this year at all Xavier Catholic Schools (including Xavier High School). Our schools are open to all and we have great desire to serve anyone who wishes to experience what we have to offer.

A structured environment, filled with dedicated faculty and staff, centered and rooted in Jesus Christ. Combine all of that with a new opportunity for many to attend our schools with an ESA (again, $7,635 per student this school year), there’s never been a better time to check out what we have to offer.

Perhaps what I love the most about “Catholic Schools Week” is that it is a week-long, joyful celebration of our rootedness in Jesus Christ. And that, this day in age, most certainly is reason to celebrate.

Chris McCarville is president of Cedar Rapids Xavier High School.