Photos are representative of the promotional materials the Office of Catholic Schools is using to promote Catholic education in the diocese.
Contributed photos
Raul Ramon, principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Academy in Corpus Christi, said he sees the value of a Catholic education in his students everyday.
“The knowledge they possess of the traditions of their Catholic faith, of a loving and merciful God and the hopefulness for life everlasting is immeasurable,” Ramon said.
Life lessons, such as prioritizing for life’s journey, choosing friendships based on similar familial values and the value of a prayerful life can be found daily through a Catholic school education, he said.
Officials with the Diocese of Corpus Christi agree with that assessment and they want to spread the good news to the community about the importance of a Catholic education. They began rolling out a new marketing campaign in May with a billboard located at the Crosstown Express Way and S.P.I.D and have also unveiled 8-foot-tall door wraps at La Palmera Mall.
“We’re really excited about the new campaign. It’s rich, bold and vibrant with many different layers,” Rosemary Henry, superintendent of schools for the diocese, said.
The images feature photos of students from Catholic schools within the diocese with bright wedges of color resembling stained glass. The students in the photos are engaged in activities such as athletics, the arts and general academics. Each picture is inscribed with the phrase “Let them Shine,” and with one of the seven pillars or foundations found in a Catholic education within the diocese, such as “Values and Virtues,” “Goals and Grades” and “Creative Thinkers.”
Other elements of the campaign will include a news website,
catholicschoolscc.com, placing the banners on the various diocesan school web sites and a presence on Facebook. The three to five-year media plan also calls for radio spots, produced by KLUX radio, and Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority bus wraps to reach as many people as possible.
“The purpose is to tell the stories and good news about Catholic schools,” Henry said, adding that there are 18 schools in the diocese, located in Corpus Christi, Alice, Kingsville, Robstown and Rockport with a total of 3,390 students in pre-k through 12th grade.
And there is plenty of reason to be proud, Henry said. The schools provide well-qualified teachers with advanced degrees. Ninety-nine percent of the students are college-bound and exceed national averages on standardized testing scores. The two high schools, St. John Paul II and Incarnate Word Academy, offer dual enrollment in college classes and have smaller class sizes so students get more individual attention, she said.
“The schools also offer a Christ-centered environment and an opportunity to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ,” Henry said.
Increasing the enrollment in the diocesan schools is another goal of the marketing campaign, she said, noting that enrollment has fallen between 10 and 20 percent in the past two to three years in the diocese.
“This is consistent with Catholic schools across the country,” she said.
The reason for the enrollment drop in the diocese may be attributed to the economic slowdown in oil and gas production in the region, Henry said.
“Sometimes, there is a family crisis or an illness,” she said, adding that life can be difficult and sometimes students must withdraw. Henry pointed out that Catholic schools have tuition-assistance for families who need it.
Response to the campaign so far has been enthusiastic.
“It’s been amazing. So many are excited when they go on the websites or go through the mall and see the banners. They will email me,” Henry said.
Evelyn Burton, the principal at St. Patrick School in Corpus Christi, said she is happy about the campaign because she considers Catholic education to be a gift to each child.
“Public awareness opens this gift up to a much bigger audience, thus extending the gift to more children,” Burton said.
As both a parent of children who have attended Catholic schools and an educator, she said there is no greater gift to give them.
“Catholic Education gives us the opportunity to form the whole child. We are able to instill our beautiful faith in everything we do. We give children the knowledge that touches their hearts and their minds,” Burton said.