Back 2 school 2023

VICKSBURG – Michael Phan is ready for his first day of Kindergarten at St. Francis Xavier/Vicksburg Catholic School. (Photo by Lindsey Bradley)

NATCHEZ – (Left) First grade teacher Torri Webber gives assistance to students Emma Williams and Tatum Johnson at Cathedral School.

COLUMBUS – (Left) Annunciation third grader, James Thomas is ready to learn. (Photo by Logan Waggoner)

FLOWOOD – (Above) St. Paul Early Learning Center PreK 4/5 students enjoy morning circle. (Photo by Tamera Herron)

MADISON –(Right) Paul Marion is all smiles at Assisi Early Learning Center. (Photo courtesy of school)

SOUTHAVEN – (Left) Amber Zachary's third grade class participate in an activity to learn about their classmates at Sacred Heart School. (Photo by Sister Margaret Sue Broker)

(Photo by Cara Moody)

MADISON – (Left) Thomas McDaniel, James Wilkins and Frankie Brown spend some quality time reading in the St. Anthony School library.

(Photo by Virginia Hollingsworth)

JACKSON – (Above) Sister Thea Bowman School principal Chris Payne walks PreK-4 student Ka'Miyah Anderson to class. (Photo by Rachel Patterson)

CLARKSDALE – (Left) St. Elizabeth first grade assistant, Anna Claire Luster reads with students before school begins. (Photo by Mary Evelyn Stonestreet)

VICKSBURG – (Below) Vicksburg Catholic School Seniors celebrate their last first day of school! (Photo by Lindsey Bradley)

JACKSON – Bo, Cecelia and Reid Brown take a Back-to-School picture in the photo booth with new St. Richard School Development Director, Celeste Saucier.

(Photo by Jennifer David)

CLARKSDALE – The Armstrong family walks in on the first day of school at St. Elizabeth School. (Photo by Mary Evelyn Stonestreet)

MADISON – Shari White works with Riley Ward in religion class during the first week of the 2023-2024 school year at St. Joseph School. (Photo by Terry Cassreino)

VICKSBURG – Father Rusty Vincent blesses backpacks and students in preparation for a wonderful school year on Sunday, Aug. 6 at St. Paul parish. (Photo by Connie Hosemann)

JACKSON – (Above) On Sunday, Aug, 6, Deacon Denzil Lobo blessed backpacks at Christ the King parish, in addition to students, faculty and all who work with schools. (Photo by Gina Lobo)

VICKSBURG – Second grade students engaged in a fun STREAM learning activity – Can You Save Fred? – on their first day of school. (Photo by Lindsey Bradley)

Dawn Meeks name principal of St. Aloysius High School/Vicksburg Catholic School

By Staff RepoRt

Happy Ordination Anniversary

August 5

VICKSBURG

– Dawn

Meeks has been promoted to principal of St Aloysius High School at Vicksburg Catholic School (VCS). A 42-year veteran in education, Meeks has been a member of the St. Aloysius faculty for 13 years. In her fourteenth year, she has decided to take on the role of principal because of her love for the school and her call to serve. Meeks refers to the principal position as well as all positions at VCS as “vocations” not “occupations.”

Meeks’ career in education has spanned throughout Warren County. She was the science department chair in the Vicksburg Warren School District for nearly 30 years. In that time, she authored grants, participated in the development of the Mississippi Science Framework for elementary and secondary science alignment, developed and implemented curricula, authored curricula to for new courses, and supervised and evaluated department faculty performance. Upon joining Vicksburg Catholic School, she has served as department chair and senior advisor. Along with continuing similar job duties, Meeks also coordinated inventory, and maintained and monitored the department budget as well as teacher expenditures.

Meeks is a graduate of Mississippi College with a Master of Education Secondary Science Education. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Biology Education from Mississippi State University. She is currently pursuing administrative licensure in educational leadership.

Meeks was named Warren County Chamber of Commerce Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2019. She has been honored as STAR Teacher eight times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2020). She was awarded the Mississippi Economic Council ALL-STAR Teacher as well as the U.S. Presidential Scholar. Meeks is an active member of St. Michael Catholic Church. She has two daughters, Haley and Hannah; and one grandson, Haden (10th grade), all who are very involved at Vicksburg Catholic School.

Brock named national finalist as innovative teacher

50 years - Golden Jubilee

Msgr. Elvin Sunds Retired

August 14

Father Anthony Claret

Chuckwuma Onyeocha

St. Joseph, Woodville & Holy Family Mission, Gloster

August 16

49 years

Father Joseph Dyer Retired

September 15

39 years

Father Bill Henry Retired

Thank you for answering the call!

MADISON – Sarah Brock, technology director and English teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School-Madison, was recently named a national finalist in the FACTS Innovative Teacher Awards. Brock was recognized as an “exceptional educator creating lasting educational impacts through grassroots innovation in their schools.” Of the 115 submissions, Brock’s “Student Choice in the High School English Classroom” was the only finalist in the English category.

(Photo courtesy of Rachel Patterson)

VICKSBURG – Dawn Meeks was named principal of St. Aloysius High School/Vicksburg Catholic School for the 2023-2024 school year.

(Photo courtesy of school)

Youth around the diocese

FLOWOOD – From July 9-15, youth groups from St. James Tupelo and St. Paul Flowood attended Catholic Heart Work Camp in Nashville, Tennessee. This year's theme was "Made for More." Amidst lots of fun, youth poured their hearts out to the Nashville community by assisting with home/school repairs, yard work, farming, digging trenches, serving the poor, organizing at a local food pantry and more. (Photo by Mary Frances Strange)

YAZOO CITY – Several children of St. Mary parish had their backpacks blessed before the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Pictured (back row l to r): Kelsie Kennedy, Michael Dew, Father Panneer, Kinsley Crawford, Ella Grey McMaster and Kiley Dew. (Front row l to r): Trace Kennedy, Rosie Dew, Mary Cole McMaster and Annie Crawford. (Photo by Babs McMaster)

PEARL – Deacon Mark Bowden and altar server Maya assist Father Cesar Sánchez in blessing Olivia Don and her backpack on Sunday, Aug. 5 at St. Jude parish. (Photo Tereza Ma)

NEW ALBANY – Youth had a blast at vacation bible school at St. Francis of Assisi parish this summer. (Photos courtesy of Jamie Fetter)

Around the diocese

NATCHEZ – (Left) Father Aaron Williams and Deacon Tristan Stovall begin the annual blessing of the helmets at Cathedral School. (Photo by Cara Moody)

LELAND – Father Sleeva Mekala blesses the backpacks for youth of St. James parish before the start of the school year. (Photo by Deborah Ruggeri)

MADISON – St. Joseph volleyball ladies get ready for a game against Presbyterian Christian School on Aug. 1. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

NATCHEZ – Holy Family, First Communion, April 30. Pictured from left is Haylee Herbert, Isabeau Hoyle, Trinity Perry and Kahlea Davis. Behind is visiting Josephite deacon Henry Ihuoma and Father Anthony Okwum. (Photo courtesy of parish)