Letter from the Principal - March 2023

March 8, 2023

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

This morning we held our “Champions Parade” to celebrate the various students and groups who have advanced to state or national competitions. Students, teachers, and staff lined the halls to watch the parade. This parade was led by our CDH band playing our rouser, followed by those groups we honored today, including MacKenzie Couch ‘23 (Gymnastics), Josh Ojo ‘23, Calla Massari ‘24, and Luna McLeod ‘24 (American Choral Directors Association National Honor Choirs ), Matt Baumberger '24 (Boys Swim and Dive Team), Luna Cui ‘25 (State Math), and our Boys Hockey Team.   

I love these champions parades because they are a simple way to incorporate inclusive celebrations into our students’ experience. This is one way to assist in our commitment to creating a culture of belonging at CDH. We are also deliberate in our efforts to recognize and include diverse groups of students in our community gatherings. Our faculty, staff, and coaches strive to know their students as individuals. We also know that students in a faith community or those with a shared purpose, also report a greater sense of belonging. 

Because belonging is an important initiative at CDH, we are interested to learn more about our students' experiences at school. The Christian Brothers Midwest District (CBMD) is dedicated to understanding their students’ experiences at school and are partnering with us in these efforts. CBMD is working with Springtide Research Institute to explore the belonging and thriving of their students. Springtide Research Institute is a third-party, independent and confidential organization that will distribute and analyze a survey to help CBMD better serve the students in their district — including our student(s)!

All students in CBMD high schools have been asked to complete an anonymous survey to help understand their schools’ culture of belonging. CDH students are completing this online survey this week. This data will allow Springtide Research Institute to make recommendations to help school faculty/staff support students in their belonging and thriving. The data they collect is confidential, and nobody will be able to identify individual responses to survey questions (including anyone in the school and CBMD district). Participation is voluntary, but we encourage students to participate in providing the best data possible.   

Please encourage your students to complete this survey to help us create the best environment possible for them. Thank you for your partnership in these efforts. 

Sincerely,

Mona Passman