Each of us is called to share the Good News every day, making us all missionaries, no matter our age. Because mission education must be an ongoing part of our children s faith formation in any Catholic school or parish, the Church gives us The Missionary Childhood Association (MCA).
MCA funds projects in the missions for children under 14. Here at home, MCA is tasked with providing educational materials that bring mission awareness to our students. To implement the programs, each school or parish is asked to appoint a Mission Moderator a teacher or volunteer adult who will coordinate the programs. They receive monthly e-newsletters with a prayer service, lesson plans about saints and our work in mission countries, and hands on student activities for home or classroom.
Wicked Local
As Watertown Public Schools take part in a new statewide COVID-19 pool testing program, frustrated parents are focused on the education their children are receiving. Data shows that many of these families are turning to private or homeschooling options versus staying in the public school system.
In its most recent data, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reported that enrollment in public schools across the state is down. Data announced by DESE this past fall showed a decrease of 3.9% in student enrollment from the previous year across all 400 public school districts in the state. This compares to decreases of just .29% and .25% reported in the two years prior. Enrollment numbers are released annually based on October 1 data from individual districts. Watertown public schools represent 2,663 students.