Scholar Family Values Kindness Found in Catholic Schools

Thanks to the Aim Higher Foundation, three of the Terronez children have received a Catholic education in the blended community of Divine Mercy Catholic School and Bethlehem Academy. And the lessons in kindness they received extended beyond just the teachings in the classroom. Her son enjoys helping kindergarteners and preschoolers at Mass, while her middle-school age daughter helped tutor friends’ children who were in high school.

“The education is way more advanced in a Catholic school,” says Blanca, referring to her daughter’s ability to tutor someone two years her senior. “That’s another thing I noticed. If something is wrong, [the teachers] send me a text or an email right away. They’re really on top of it.”

The individualized attention that her children received, especially during the pandemic, is another aspect of a Catholic education that Blanca values and won’t soon forget. “When the kids were online, the school was awesome,” she says. “They’d ask if something was wrong if a child didn’t get into a class, and they sent computers or iPads, so we were ready to get online.”

The Divine Mercy and Bethlehem Academy community was especially helpful, with the support of Aim Higher, in aiding the Terronez crew when a fire relocated the entire family for a month. “When we had the fire, they really tried to help me out,” she says. “They asked if I was okay and if I needed anything. I remember, they even sent me gift cards to buy food… because we were living in a hotel and didn’t have anything to cook. They helped me out a lot.”

Blanca continues to witness the power of kindness in her children, and she pairs that kindness with gratitude. Gratitude to the Aim Higher Foundation; gratitude to Divine Mercy and Bethlehem Academy. And gratitude for a Catholic education. “We all really like Catholic schools,” she says. “So, thank you. It all helps so much.”