By Ana Rodriguez Soto - Florida Catholic newspaper
Archdiocesan principals chat before their meeting with staff from the Office of Catholic Schools to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Jim Rigg, archdiocesan superintendent of schools, speaks to principals before the opening Mass of their meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
David Armstrong, president of St. Thomas University, speaks to archdiocesan principals before the opening Mass of their meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates Mass at the start of the Archdiocesan principals' meet with staff from the Office of Catholic Schools to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens. Next to him is Father Rafael Capo, vice president for Mission at St. Thomas University.
Archdiocesan principals pray during the Mass that opened their meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Members of an impromptu "principal's choir" prepare to sing at the Mass; from left, Anthony Luongo, director of Liturgical Music at Archbishop McCarthy High, Southwest Ranches; Donald Edwards, associate superintendent of schools; Edward Garcia principal of St. Louis Covenant School, Pinecrest; and Teresita Wardlow, principal of St. Mark School, Southwest Ranches.
Brenda Cummings, associate superintendent for academics, proclaims the first reading at the Mass that preceded the Archdiocesan principals' meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily during the Mass that preceded the Archdiocesan principals' meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Gabriel Cambert, director of Continuous Improvement for archdiocesan schools, reads the Prayer of the Faithful at the Mass that preceded the Archdiocesan principals' meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates Mass with archdiocesan principals. Behind him, from left, are Father Luis Flores, administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Miami, and Father Rafael Capo, vice president of Mission at St. Thomas University. Archdiocesan principals met with staff from the Office of Catholic Schools to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Harry Kraemer, business leader and author, speaks to archdiocesan principals about the characteristics of good leaders during their meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Archdiocesan principals received a copy of a book on leadership by Harry Kraemer, the keynote speaker at their meeting to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Photography: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
Photographer: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
Jim Rigg, archdiocesan superintendent of schools, speaks to principals before the opening Mass of their meeting with staff from the Office of Catholic Schools to prepare for the start of the 2022-23 school year, Aug. 2, 2022 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
MIAMI GARDENS | School starts Aug. 17, 2022, and archdiocesan school principals spent Aug. 2 preparing for the return of students and teachers.
They gathered at St. Thomas University's St. Anthony Chapel for an early morning Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski, then transitioned to the Convocation Hall to hear Schools Superintendent Jim Rigg. He gave them an overview of the 2021-22 school year and outlined the goals for 2022-23.
Then they heard from business leader and author Harry M. Kraemer about "putting your Catholic values into action" as school leaders.
The day concluded with updates on COVID protocols for the schools and a reception hosted by St. Thomas University's administrative team.
As STU President David Armstrong pointed out in earlier remarks to the principals, St. Thomas is one of only eight archdiocesan-owned universities, out of around 220 Catholic universities in the U.S. The principals were encouraged to use the university as a resource — including its campus ministry offerings — and to encourage their students to consider enrolling after they graduate from high school.
