I recently attended a fundraising event for Mother Teresa Middle School in Regina.  I went there in two capacities, as the Provincial Assistant for Secondary and Pre-Secondary Education, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Gonzaga Middle School in Winnipeg, because I felt it was important to lend my support to their venture.  I am very glad I went.

The measure of success of any school can only be the quality of the students that it turns out.  Mission and Vision statements, mottos, etc., have to be validated by the outcomes of the school’s educational project. 

So if there is a claim of academic excellence, then the students’ academic performance at the end of their time in the school and in subsequent levels of education has to prove the claim.  Similarly with any other stated goal or claim.  Where’s the proof?

At the Mother Teresa event, the proof was on display in full view of those who attended.  This was a crowd of supporters from several walks of life, but mostly from the business and professional community, a fairly high-powered group who have been contributing to the success of the school in a variety of ways over the past five years.

The students, mostly from Grade 8, mingled with this crowd, carried on intelligent and lively conversations, served finger food, and interacted with the adults with grace and aplomb, without embarrassment or hesitation.  It was heart-warming to hear them speak freely and enthusiastically about their aspirations for the future and their determination to succeed.

It must be remembered that these students entered Mother Teresa Middle School three years ago from seriously disadvantaged backgrounds, with academic deficiencies that were certain to impede their chances of success in school.  Most of them were working at two grades below level in literacy and numeracy skills when they started.  Their world was very small and was defined by the poverty, the social dysfunction, and the cultural deprivation that was all they knew. 

Over the three years at MTMS, these boys and girls have grown in self-confidence, academic skill, and cultural and social experience to the point where they recognize for themselves that, as stated in the tag line for the fundraiser, the sky’s the limit.  They now know that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to and that they have a legitimate place in this world, where they can make a difference.  This is perhaps the greatest gift that MTMS has given them.

For me, the highlight of that evening came when a graduating student addressed the assembly to speak about what his time at MTMS had meant for him, in particular in regard to the mentorship program that paired him up with a local businessman, who had also spoken about this from his perspective.  This young man delivered a prepared statement with such eloquence, self-assurance, and poise that he had the audience spellbound.

And not the least important part of it for me was the quality of language: perfect sentence structure, correct grammar, and elevated vocabulary, all far beyond what one would expect from someone that age.  It was a presentation that any adult would have been proud to deliver.

MTMS claims to provide individual care and sound personal, academic, religious and social formation for its students. Their intention is to put justice into concrete action to overcome poverty one child at a time.  Given what I saw at that event, I have to say that they have more than delivered on their claim.  The proof was there for everyone to see.  I can only hope that Gonzaga Middle School will be as successful as it begins its work in September.