Written by Kim K. Lackey, St. Mary’s Cathedral School, Amarillo, TX, lackey@stmarysschoolamarillo.com
In Catholic education, the transition from early childhood programs into elementary school is about so much more than academic readiness—it is about forming the whole child for a life rooted in faith, love, and ultimately, an eternity with the Lord.
For many families, those first steps into a structured school environment can feel both exciting and uncertain. Will my child be ready? Will they be successful? Will they make friends? Catholic schools recognize that these questions matter deeply—not just because they impact a child’s success in kindergarten, but because they shape the foundation of who that child is becoming.
For St. Mary’s Cathedral School in Amarillo, TX, “Forming families for eternity,” is not just a mission statement—it is a calling that shapes the daily experience of education. Raising children truly takes a village: parish, school, and family, all working together in faith.
Building Belonging From the Start
To foster meaningful relationships within our community, St. Mary’s Cathedral School intentionally creates opportunities for connection at every level through “Faith Families.” Teachers collaborate closely to ensure consistent and supportive learning experiences for each child, while Faith Families bring students of different ages together to build mentorship, friendship, and a shared sense of belonging. What better way to nurture these bonds than by enjoying time with one another?
In Faith Families, students are invited to recognize their place as part of a larger community of believers and learners. The “Faith Family” experience in school is designed to combat the societal culture of isolation and competition by promoting connectivity, building an atmosphere of commonality, and fostering friendships across grade levels. As communal beings, made in the image of a trinitarian God, it is part of human nature to desire to build relationships with others. All students are sorted into Faith Families during their kindergarten year. This introduction to the “family” is always a special experience for children, as they find themselves enveloped into the community around them.
Each Faith Family has a faculty leader who supports and nurtures the family in a variety of ways. Several times a month, students meet in their Faith Families to play games, participate in prayerful activities, and get to know one another. Faith Family activities are intentionally designed to bring joy to learning and foster positive friendships between students. Bonds between older and younger students are born and nurtured so that everyone is able to see themselves as a valuable part of something larger than the classroom. Students form connections with peers they might not otherwise encounter, and these relationships—rooted across age levels and guided by caring teachers—create a strong foundation that can last a lifetime.
When students are given the opportunity to find acceptance among a diverse group of peers, they grow in their ability to problem-solve and learn collaboratively. Students are given multiple opportunities to get to know one another on a deeper level, they find joy together and learn beside each other. The invisible wall between grade levels—which exists in many educational settings—is removed and students can fully embrace the school as their educational “home,” caring for one another, and functioning as one family in Christ. An increase in school-wide activities such as buddy reading and partnerships in Mass has greatly impacted the school culture, creating a more inclusive climate which mimics the universalism of the Church.
Forming Hearts for a Lifetime of Faith
Because connection is such an important experience within the school, it is not surprising that students seek to build relationships beyond the school walls, as well. The school’s goal for all students is that they grow up knowing that they are surrounded by the love and care of the Lord in the form of his body—the Church. To promote connectivity to the faith outside of school, students take field trips to other local Catholic churches and participate in experiences with various Catholic community organizations. During Catholic Schools Week, students are given opportunities to interact with students from other Catholic schools in the area. All these experiences build a strong foundation of confidence that establish students who are rooted to the larger community of faith. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and support, students learn that God often acts through the avenue of other people.
In a world that often promotes the idea of individual success, it is refreshing to see the impact that can result from fostering a familial sense of connectedness to others. As students mature into adulthood, the experiences of unity in Faith Families can serve as a foundation for spiritual connection to the Church. Each child’s God-given talent for relationship building is put to good use as students learn to interact with one another, preparing them to combat the epidemic of loneliness that plagues so many young people today.
In the early years, spiritual formation begins in simple but profound ways: learning to pray together, understanding oneself as a child of God, practicing forgiveness, and recognizing the importance of loving others. These lessons—reinforced by both teachers and families—plant seeds that grow far beyond the classroom. Catholic schools attempt to foster the academic and spiritual wellbeing of every child; approached in this way, education becomes something sacred.
