Blakely Swanson is a Registered Nurse in the Neuroscience and ENT Intensive Care Unit at the University of Kansas Health System and is a member of the CEF Futures Committee.
Along with several other members of the Catholic Education Foundation Futures Committee, I recently had the privilege of touring Christ the King Catholic School in Kansas City, KS. I arrived at the school on a rather chilly November day, eager to meet the students and converse with them over school lunch. Upon entering the front entrance doors of the school, I immediately felt surrounded by warmth and happiness. We were greeted by several faculty members, including Cathy Fithian who is Principal at Christ the King, and a group of four 8th grade students who would serve as our tour guides for the afternoon. The students excitedly introduced themselves and then began proudly touring us through the halls.
As we wound through the halls, we passed various groups of students with big smiles across their faces and waving hands welcoming us to their school. This particular Friday at Christ the King was a “Spirit Day” at the school. On “Spirit Days” all students are allowed to dress out of uniform and wear their purple and gold CTK Cobra gear. Each of the students seemed to be beaming with pride for their school, and rightfully so as Christ the King was named the 2018 CEF School of Excellence. This award recognizes a CEF-sponsored school for providing superior Catholic education.
Our tour guides showed us the music room, school library, art room, and pointed out each grade’s classroom location. The hallway walls appeared bright and cheery as they were covered with beautiful artwork and creative banners. As our tour was coming to an end, we asked each 8th grade student to tell us their favorite thing about attending the school. They each admitted it was difficult to choose just one thing, but one student shared how much she felt loved and cared about by the teachers and her peers at this school. After experiencing the joy and kindness that filled these halls during my tour, I easily understood how true this must be for many of the students at CTK. This grade school not only provides its students with learning opportunities for a strong education, but the ability to express and practice their Catholic faith.
The tour of the school came to an end, and a group of 4th and 5th graders escorted us to the cafeteria for the school’s famous long-standing tradition: Sloppy Joe lunch. The hype I heard from the students was true - this was the best Sloppy Joe I had ever tasted! While I did enjoy the meal, I enjoyed talking with the young girls at my table even more. I heard about volleyball practice, math class, and where this weekend’s sleepover was going to be held. But the conversation that made me smile from ear to ear and warmed my heart was hearing the girls eagerly tell me about their faith families, how they enjoyed acting out the gospel at school Masses, and just how much they loved their teachers. Once again, I heard how the students feel so supported by the staff at CTK and cared about by their classmates.
While the students I interacted with may have been young, it was easy to see that they did not take the opportunity Christ the King provides them for granted and appreciate all of the love and support they are shown day in and day out. It was truly wonderful to see the positive impact a Catholic education can have on a child and see the direct benefits the Catholic Education Foundation is providing for our youth.
