The
ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD
GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
EACH WEEK THE ST. COLUMBA SHEPHERD
provides all the information you need to know and links to things that you might need to cross off your list. Stay organized by reading it every week and making sure that you add events and deadlines to your calendar!
LET'S DO IT!
DATES TO REMEMBER
9/23 - Middle School Volleyball vs Bayfield - 4:30
9/25 - School Mass - 4th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 9/25 - Middle School Volleyball vs Miller - 4:30
9/26-9/27 - 6th Grade Retreat to Cross Bar X
9/26-9/27 - 7th Grade Retreat to Stations of the Cross & Sand Dunes 9/27 - St. Columba Capital Campaign Kick-off & Happy Hour Info Session in the Gym - 5:15-6:15 9/30 - Middle School Volleyball vs Ignacio - 4:30 10/1 - Living Rosary - 2:15
10/2 - School Mass - 3rd Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 10/2 - Middle School Volleyball vs Miller - 4:30 10/3 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Mesa Verde
10/4 - St. Columba School Student Field Day 10/9 - School Mass - 5th Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 10/10 - Prayer & Praise Assembly - 8:15
10/11 - Professional Development - K-8 Early Dismissal - 11:30 10/14 - Individual School Pictures 10/15 - Class Pictures 10/16 - School Mass - 2nd Grade Leading Liturgy - 8:15 10/18 - Middle School Dance - 6:30 10/19 - Preschool Open House - 10:30-1:30
A Message from Mr. Chick: A Warm Welcome Back and Important Updates for the School Year
Dear St. Columba Families,
It was wonderful to see many of you at our Back to School Mass and Open House last weekend. For those of you who were unable to attend, I’d like to take a moment to recap my opening reflection and to give an update on our school as we settle into this new academic year. Many exciting things are happening!
We are blessed and grateful to share that our school enrollment is strong, with most classrooms full. We still have a few openings in kindergarten and first grade, while all other grades have waiting lists. Overall it’s been a wonderful start. This is thanks to you, our community members, and your commitment and support of our school’s mission to teach Gospel truth and moral value in an environment of academic excellence according to Catholic tradition.
Equally important, I’m thrilled to tell you our teacher retention is strong as well. We are blessed to have many dedicated and passionate teachers and staff, including some who have served many generations of students, alongside new teachers who have quickly embraced our mission and values. Together, they bring so much to our community and truly honor the mission of St. Columba in everything they do. As a team we continue to strive to maintain the highest academic standards in all core subjects. We also continue to offer our signature programs including music, visual and performing arts, incredible field trips to historic churches, national parks, and museums in the region. We extend the learning opportunities with our monthly civic event known as our Prayer and Praise assembly. With all those programs what is really special to our school is our student retreats, community gatherings, and our beloved student buddy program that strengthen our faith and community connections.
It is because of your generous giving and support that we continue to expand our enrichment programs to include offerings in self-awareness and emotional intelligence training, STEM lab education, and a new program in digital citizenship, which teaches our students to behave responsibly and positively online.
Many know St. Columba School is the largest ministry of St. Columba Church, and through the mission and teachings of Catholic education, I am blessed and moved every day by the transformation I see in our students. In a world that can surround us in the shallow and superficial, we see that when young people are exposed to God and taught to lead and serve, they respond with enthusiasm, generosity, and openness to His teachings. Witnessing this transformation every day is the biggest gift and blessing. Personally, I am incredibly grateful and honored to serve as your principal. I'm also excited to share that, for the second year, I’ll be teaching 8th-grade history. This is truly one of the highlights of my day, where I get to connect with our middle school students, not as a principal, but as their teacher and someone who genuinely loves the art and vocation of education
This year is an exciting and pivotal one for St. Columba. After more than two years of discerning our path forward as a church and school, beginning with a visioning group formed by wonderful, dedicated members of our community, we are now ready to embark on a capital campaign to address much-needed improvements to our campus. This effort includes a team of over 100 volunteers led by capital campaign consulting firm, Church Development. This has been both a beautiful and challenging process. Our needs are significant, and we are currently in the process of prioritizing the most critical areas, understanding that we won’t be able to address everything at once. St. Columba is planning with a long-term vision, looking 30+ years into the future. Financial forecasts project that St. Columba can raise $15 million over the next 10 years, with Phase 1 targeting $6 million. This funding will come from a combination of donor pledges from both the church and school communities, potential grant funding, tuition revenue, and other sources we have secured and still others we are actively exploring.
Your feedback is invaluable, and we want to hear your thoughts and concerns and answer any questions you may have. If you were unable to attend our recent architect town hall, please click HERE to view our dedicated page with details such as preliminary construction design concepts and a place for you to offer your feedback. We ask you to keep us in your prayers and stay informed and engaged as we go through this process together.
When I think of the Sisters of Mercy, who founded St. Columba in 1882, I am truly humbled and grateful to have been called to serve in their footsteps and for what they were able to achieve in this little mountain town with such simple beginnings. They established not only a church and school but also Mercy Hospital. It is truly remarkable. The last significant upgrade to our campus was in 1954, and now it is time to take the next step forward. My hope and prayer is that the Holy Spirit will guide us as a community to come together and support this effort, ensuring that St. Columba remains the cornerstone of faith and education in our community for generations to come.
It is our hope and prayer that every family whether you are part of our parish and school community, alumni, grandparents, or special friends—will attend one of our one-hour campaign info sessions over the next month, where we will share the exciting campus improvement plans, and invite you to prayerfully consider how you might contribute. We’ve made every effort to schedule these sessions around school drop-off and pick-up, weekend Mass, and even a few evening happy hours. Child care will be provided.
Please sign-up for a one-hour capital campaign info session by filling out THIS FORM or feel free to simply attend any of these events at your convenience. While RSVPs are not required, they do help us plan ahead and ensure child care is available if needed.
Thank you so much for the many ways you support St. Columba. Whether through your time, talent, or financial gifts, we know we are never alone in this mission—it truly takes the entire Body of Christ. May God bless you and your families as we begin this new school year together and always.
With the deepest appreciation, Kevin
Join us next Friday, September 27th for our first Capital Campaign Kick-Off and Happy Hour Info Session in the Gym or sign-up for any of the onehour info sessions below by filling out THIS FORM. Feel free to simply attend any of these events at your convenience. While RSVPs are not required, they do help us plan ahead as childcare and pizza will be provided upon request.
September Smiles:
kkehrer@stcolumba catholic.org
