Awaken Greatness: Archdiocese Premieres Campaign to Promote Catholic Education

(CHRISM NEWS/ CHRIS POTRATZ) On the heels of the overwhelmingly successful "Ignite the Faith" capital drive (which raised more than $40 million for local parishes, retired priests and nuns, and church renovation) the Archdiocese of Omaha will roll out another new marketing campaign this week called "Awaken Greatness" to promote the positive impact that area Catholic schools have on the lives of nearly 19,000 enrolled students.

From a purely academic standpoint, Omaha's Catholic schools are leading the way, consistently ranking higher in test scores than the state and national average, and graduation rates are above 98 percent – including inner-city schools. Moreover, 96 percent of all students graduating from Omaha's Catholic high schools go on to pursue a college degree.

But excellent academic performance is not the only benefit of Omaha's Catholic school system – it is also knowing that your child will receive a Christ centered education where the Catholic faith is fundamental to the learning process, said Catholic Schools Superintendent Patrick Slattery.

"Catholic education offers something more than academic success," said Slattery. "We put the primary focus of education somewhere else – on the very heart of every student attending our schools. Strong grades, high test scores and attending college mean very little if discipline, confidence and values are not present. Our students thrive in a safe, respectful environment as they prepare to take their places in society as responsible, faith-filled citizens."

Omaha's Archbishop Lucas agrees that the Catholic faith must remain as the central focus of a Catholic education, saying, "At our schools, faith isn't just part of our curriculum, it is the reason why we are here and the foundation for everything we do and say. Faith is core to our culture. We believe it is our duty to educate young people so that their God-given gifts can be awakened, developed and shared with the world."

The Awaken Greatness campaign will use a variety of communications channels, from parish newsletters and parent outreach to traditional online, print and broadcast ads, to tell the school story.

Within the Archdiocese of Omaha, there are 70 Catholic schools, all of which are approved by the Nebraska Department of Education – including 17 secondary schools and 53 elementary schools. In 2013, nearly $10 million in aid was awarded to families to reduce tuition to local Catholic schools.

For a preview of Awaken Greatness materials, visit http://lovemyschool.com/media

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