A Message from Mr. Watson, Head of School

January 13, 2022

Part of the genius of the Catholic Church lies in its ability to hold seeming extremes in creative tension. For instance, the Church is a hierarchical institution whose authority structure is nearer to a medieval kingdom than a modern liberal democracy. At the same time, the Church’s social teaching insists upon the principle of subsidiarity, the idea that a higher authority ought to refrain from intervening in the life of the “smaller essential cells of society” (see Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 186-188).

Perhaps the most important way we practice subsidiarity at the Academy is by consistently inviting parents to establish their primary “school relationship” with their child’s teacher. More than anything else, it is the close partnership between the teacher and parent that creates good conditions for student learning and growth.

In any relationship, the reservoir of trust does not fill overnight. That is why even when there is a problem, we still ask that parents begin their attempt at resolution with the teacher or staff member closest to it. Nine times out of ten, this is all that is needed to restore collaboration and, in the process, build trust. When this is not enough, then it becomes appropriate to reach out to a department chair, team leader, or administrator for additional assistance.

When this process is understood by parents, teachers, and administrators, the atmosphere of a school tends to be marked by joy and a sense of shared commitment. Then students, in turn, cannot help but feel the wind in their sails.

Let us continue to pray for one another. Our Lady of The Atonement—Pray For Us!