Investing in Our Future

On January 10, 2006 the Office of Catholic Schools received approval on the brand positioning platform of "Investing in Our Future" from senior staff at the Archdiocese of Denver. The brand positioning platform approval was the culmination of a marketing and branding research study that started in early 2005 and involved many stakeholder groups. On February 5, 2006, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. declared the Year of the Catholic School as an opportunity for the Church community to celebrate, dialogue and reflect on the ministry of Catholic education in our schools. The Year of the Catholic School was one initiative that is part of a larger branding platform development effort involving all of the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools. The Year of the Catholic School ended on February 4, 2007.

In today's world, parents have many school choices and the Catholic school education voice is lost in all of the environmental noise. Catholic School: Take Another Look is our call to action for parents of school age children to take another look at what Catholic schools have to offer as an education choice.

The Office of Catholic Schools has develop a series of global-level information snapshots to provide parents with specific proof points on how Catholic schools are delivering on the "investing in our future" promise in the areas of Catholic faith formation, nurturing community, reinforced family environment, and rigorous academic curriculum.

Reasons to Believe

The reasons to believe that the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools can deliver the promise are:

• Catholic faith formation: The Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools Religion Curriculum promotes and supports an understanding of the liturgical seasons. Beginning in Preschool through grade 12, students participate in regularly scheduled Mass, daily prayer, the sacrament of Reconciliation, praying the Rosary, May crowning, and recounting the lives of saints as parts of their faith formation.
• Nurturing community: In "The Holy See's Teaching on Catholic Schools" by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB he discusses the importance of the school as a community - a community of persons and, even more to the point, "a genuine community of faith." Catholic schools have close ties to the parish community, and surrounding neighboring communities through service opportunities. Parent involvement is high and families are involved in volunteer projects and fund raising.
• Reinforced family environment: Parents are the primary educators of their children. The Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools is committed to being an extension of the family by reinforcing the morals and values that are taught at home by a child's parents. Catholic schools promote Catholic faith and values, respect and dignity, and the ideals of sacrifice and service.
• Rigorous academic curriculum: The Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools core curriculum is based on national standards and can be applied flexibly school by school. Catholic schools typically have a more intimate class size with increased individual attention than public schools and provide a caring, loving teaching environment with discipline and order that only produces safety but increased receptivity to learning.

The Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools is committed to the development of the whole child - moral, spiritual, academic, and physical. For parents and grandparents who attended Catholic schools, enrolling today constitutes a desirable, continuing legacy. 

Fox News: Educating Our Children: Catholic Schools Doing More With Less

Printable Article: Educating Our Children: Catholic Schools Doing More With Less

Flyer: "More Than One Reason to Choose a Catholic School" (pdf)