Dear Mater Christi Families:

Summer 2016 is underway and hopefully your child(ren) are adjusting to new routines as they relax and enjoy the slower pace as we head into the warmer lazy days of summer.

The final week of school was quite busy as our community learned of the resignation of our principal, Mr. Fontana.  I know that many of you were surprised by this announcement and are concerned with the amount of change that is taking place at Mater Christi.  Having served in Catholic schools for over 22 years, I have witnessed and lived through significant changes. What I have learned throughout all these change processes is there is light at the end of the tunnel and that good things do result as a result of systemic organizational change. Please know that I am confident that our school community will navigate these changes faithfully and successfully so that ultimately the students of our school are the beneficiaries.  Over these brief months of summer I ask for your continued prayer, support, and patience as I manage and oversee these personnel changes.  As we begin to hire new staff to fill both administrative and teaching vacancies, I will certainly keep you up-to-date.

Speaking of decisions, last week I decided; after much feedback and observations, that significant changes are needed in our schools food service program for the upcoming school year. Over the course of the summer we will be searching for new staff who are can provide healthy and attractive meal options as well as an inviting dining room experience for all. Over the summer, our kitchen and dining room will receive a deep cleaning and sanitization as we embark on preparations to improve this very essential ancillary school operation.

It is my hope that our community will come together this summer to help us begin to clean, paint and transform both the exterior and interior of our school buildings. This extreme school makeover will be completed over the next 18 months but will require many volunteers this summer to help complete some of our early priorities.

Attached to this communication you will find a form that you were asked to complete and return to Jean Rock as soon as possible.  We are looking for many hands to help complete a variety of projects as well as people who are willing to donate their time talent and treasure to support these projects.

Finally, in the near future you will be receiving a survey that measures your opinions related to the mission and Catholic identity, academics, operations, and leadership and governance of Mater Christi School. I had hoped to get the survey out to you this week, but due to the busyness of last week and this week, I was unable to get the survey prepared and out to you. Please know this survey will be used as we embark on a community-based and comprehensive strategic planning process in the fall of 2016. More details will be forthcoming about the survey and strategic planning process.

In the meantime, I am back in Virginia and preparing to close on the sale of our family home. I look forward to officially starting at Mater Christi on July 5th.

Have a wonderful week!

Pat Lofton, Ed.S
President