May 23, 2025
Dear Holy Cross Community,
First, thank you so much for making the last days of classes such a joyful experience. From celebrating our students’ and team’s accomplishments to enjoying the Talent Show and simply spending time together, it was a beautiful way to close the year. I deeply appreciate the care, heart, and energy you poured into making it so meaningful.
My time at Holy Cross has been a true gift—one that I will carry in my heart always. Please know that I care deeply about the school and strongly believe in its mission.
Much of my time this year was devoted to strengthening the school’s financial and operational foundations—work that was essential for Holy Cross’s long-term sustainability. I poured myself into these efforts, knowing how vital they are for the school’s future. While my time here has been brief, I truly wish I had more opportunities to connect with each of you more deeply. Still, know that I will carry our time together in my heart and that I remain proud of what we accomplished together this school year. Some examples include:
- Securing over $450,000 in grant funding for the 2025–2026 school year—an increase of over 40% from previous years—to support key academic and student-life initiatives, including the addition of full-time reading intervention support, differentiated instruction, expanded STREAM programming, new curriculum resources, continuing our counseling program, new laptops for teachers, and more.
- Surpassing our Celebration fundraising goal, enabling us to continue offering need-based tuition assistance and to enhance our security and technology infrastructure.
- Advancing mission-aligned professional development for staff, including English as a New Language (ENL) certification, Building Thinking Classrooms (thanks to the Brown Family Foundation of Kansas City), LETRS literacy training, and ongoing faith formation through the Seelos Institute.
- Upgrading the school’s Wi-Fi and phone systems.
- Strengthening operational policies for long-term effectiveness.
- Welcoming 28 new families and 34 new students (so far!) for the upcoming school year—and anticipating even more joining the community over the summer.
As we look ahead to the 2025–2026 school year, Holy Cross remains committed to academic excellence by strengthening and enriching our educational programs to maximize student growth and success.
To this end, we are adding full-time reading intervention support to provide targeted small-group reading instruction, further supporting our commitment to literacy excellence across all grade levels. The school is actively engaged in the hiring process to fill this position.
In terms of world language instruction, Holy Cross has partnered with the Missouri Language Project over the past three years. While we are grateful for the partnership, the program is designed explicitly for non-heritage learners with limited Spanish exposure. Given the increasing number of heritage Spanish speakers in our community, we recognize the need for a more inclusive and differentiated approach. As such, Spanish will not be offered in the 2025–2026 school year while the school thoughtfully evaluates and selects a program that will best meet the diverse needs of all our students.
Additionally, we are pleased to share that Holy Cross will implement Frog Street, a new preschool curriculum, beginning next year. This comprehensive, research-based program integrates literacy, math, science, social studies, STREAM, social-emotional learning through Conscious Discipline, assessment, and family engagement. Most importantly, it allows us to continue placing our Catholic faith at the heart of all that we do.
It has been an incredible privilege to serve this mission and community. Thank you for your trust, your dedication, and the many ways you’ve inspired me. Holy Cross is filled with faith, talent, and promise—and I will always be cheering you on with great affection and hope.
Ben Compton will begin his tenure as the new principal on July 1. I wish him the very best as he builds upon the strong foundation in place and leads Holy Cross into its next chapter. I know the community will welcome him with the same warmth and support that make this school so special.
I wish you a restful, joyful, and restorative summer. May the warmth of the season wrap its arms around you and yours, and may God’s abundant blessings renew your spirit, fill your hearts with peace, and guide your steps in all that is to come.
With heartfelt gratitude and best wishes,
Paola V. Clark, Ed.D.
Principal
