St. Jude’s celebrates Catholic Schools Week

St. Jude's celebrates Catholic Schools Week

School officials tout educational, moral benefits

John Kelleher

Carol Ortman has seen her children go through St. Jude Thaddeus School.

She has been a teacher and, in recent years, the principal of the 95-year-old school.

The longer she is involved in the school, the more she is enthusiastic about the quality of education and moral training the school provides.

She has seen St. Jude graduates as they move toward adulthood. Many go on to be top performers at Havre High School.

"Sometimes our graduates are the valedictorians," she said. "And then they go on to succeed at college."

That's why she is excited to be taking part in Catholic Schools Week activities this week.

Ortman is convinced that the school provides quality education because of the moral values it instills in students and because the smaller class sizes provide a family atmosphere.

She is especially proud of the school's no-tolerance bullying policy.

"We don't stand for it," she said.

The fact that classes are smaller enables teachers to keep an eye out for any kind of misconduct, she said.

The school offers preschool education as well as kindergarten through eighth-grades, and the school is open to Catholic and non-Catholic students, she said.

More than one-third of St. Jude students are not Catholic, she said.

It's been 50 years since the Rev. Dale Yurkovic, pastor of St. Jude Thaddeus Church and superintendent of St. Jude's school, entered Catholic school.

He's still grateful that his parents chose Catholic schools for him.

"When I was young, it didn't mean that much to me," he said.

But as years went by, Catholic school taught him that "there is something greater than me in the world," he said.

In school, he said, he learned about spirituality and prayer.

He said he is impressed with St. Jude's philosophy of prayer and service.

He said teachers care about students and can provide one-on-one teaching.

"That's not to say that public school teachers don't care. I know they do," he said. "But because our classes are small, it is easier for our teachers."

The school charges tuition, he said. But scholarships are available.

Yurkovic said that in his 18 years at St. Mary's in Livingston and during his tenure at St. Jude's, he has made a committment that no student will be turned away for lack of money.

"I will make a commitment that tuition will not be an issue," he said.

He invited everyone to take part in the many activities planned for Catholic Schools Week.

The school will sponsor the annual Kiddie Carnival from 10 a. m. to 1 p. m. Saturday at St. Jude Catholic Church Parish Center.

There is no admission, and tickets for carnival games are 25 cents each or five for $1.

Students will take part in Mass at 5 p. m. Saturday at the church to close out the week's activities.

Carol Ortman has seen her children go through St. Jude Thaddeus School.

She has been a teacher and, in recent years, the principal of the 95-year-old school.

The longer she is involved in the school, the more she is enthusiastic about the quality of education and moral training the school provides.

She has seen St. Jude graduates as they move toward adulthood. Many go on to be top performers at Havre High School.

"Sometimes our graduates are the valedictorians," she said. "And then they go on to succeed at college."

That's why she is excited to be taking part in Catholic Schools Week activities this week.

Ortman is convinced that the school provides quality education because of the moral values it instills in students and because the smaller class sizes provide a family atmosphere.

She is especially proud of the school's no-tolerance bullying policy.

"We don't stand for it," she said.

The fact that classes are smaller enables teachers to keep an eye out for any kind of misconduct, she said.

The school offers preschool education as well as kindergarten through eighth-grades, and the school is open to Catholic and non-Catholic students, she said.

More than one-third of St. Jude students are not Catholic, she said.

It's been 50 years since the Rev. Dale Yurkovic, pastor of St. Jude Thaddeus Church and superintendent of St. Jude's school, entered Catholic school.

He's still grateful that his parents chose Catholic schools for him.

"When I was young, it didn't mean that much to me," he said.

But as years went by, Catholic school taught him that "there is something greater than me in the world," he said.

In school, he said, he learned about spirituality and prayer.

He said he is impressed with St. Jude's philosophy of prayer and service.

He said teachers care about students and can provide one-on-one teaching.

"That's not to say that public school teachers don't care. I know they do," he said. "But because our classes are small, it is easier for our teachers."

The school charges tuition, he said. But scholarships are available.

Yurkovic said that in his 18 years at St. Mary's in Livingston and during his tenure at St. Jude's, he has made a committment that no student will be turned away for lack of money.

"I will make a commitment that tuition will not be an issue," he said.

He invited everyone to take part in the many activities planned for Catholic Schools Week.

The school will sponsor the annual Kiddie Carnival from 10 a. m. to 1 p. m. Saturday at St. Jude Catholic Church Parish Center.

There is no admission, and tickets for carnival games are 25 cents each or five for $1.

Students will take part in Mass at 5 p. m. Saturday at the church to close out the week's activities.