06/13/2026
A Blessed End to a Beautiful Year at St. Martin of Tours
From the Desk of our Principal, David Cortese
As the final school bell rings and summer stretches out before us, we pause to give thanks to God for the many blessings of this past year and to celebrate the remarkable students, dedicated families, and faithful staff who make St. Martin of Tours Catholic School such a special place.
Growing in Faith & Service Our students gave generously of their time and hearts this year, and the fruit of that generosity was visible throughout our community. Their involvement in the Food Box program continued to be a powerful witness of service, putting tangible help into the hands of families in need and teaching our students that faith calls us to act. Faith Nights brought our school families together in prayer and community, deepening the bonds between school and parish. Our middle school youth program gave our older students a space to grow in their faith alongside their peers. And perhaps most encouraging of all, we saw increased attendance at Mass this year, a sign that the seeds of faith planted in our classrooms are taking root.
Our mission calls us to walk with every child as they discover how they learn, teaching them to advocate for themselves so they can grow to become advocates for others, and this year, we saw that mission come alive in every act of service, every prayer, and every moment our students chose to show up for one another and for their community.
We also welcomed a wonderful new presence to our school community this year — Deacon Thien. In a short time, he has already made a lasting impression on our students through the simple, powerful gift of showing up. Whether he is leading prayer or lacing up his sneakers for a game of basketball on the yard.
A Special Thank You to Our New Faculty and those who moved to new positions This year we were blessed with several new faces who wasted no time making their mark on our school community, and they deserve to be celebrated.
Mrs. Kim Lawrence is not new; she is one of our most veteran teachers at St. Martin of Tours, having taught 1st grade and kindergarten here for years. This year, she made a courageous transition to lead our Art program, and the results have been nothing short of transformative. Her creativity, warmth, and deep knowledge of our students have brought the Art program to life in a beautiful new way.
Mrs. Cat Lavelle is also not new, but made a big transition from 8th grade to 3rd grade this year, and what she has built in that classroom is something truly extraordinary. She has created a community, not just a class, where every child knows they are seen, known, and deeply loved. Walking into her room, you feel it immediately. Those kids are thriving, and it is no mystery why: Mrs. Lavelle pours herself into each and every one of them. We are profoundly grateful for the gift she is to our school.
Ms. Einhorn joined us with just one year of teaching experience, but you would never know it. She has brought an abundance of joy, energy, and genuine love to our 2nd grade classroom, and her students have thrived under her care. She is the kind of teacher you feel grateful for, the kind who makes children excited to come to school. We are so proud to have her on our faculty.
Mr. J joined us this year as our PE and Social Studies teacher, and he hit the ground running. With a gift for connecting with students, especially on the basketball court, he has breathed fresh energy into our Athletics program. We are thrilled to share that he will be stepping into the role of Athletic Coordinator next year, and we cannot wait to see what he builds.
A Word of Gratitude Every person on our faculty contributes in so many ways every day. None of this happens without their commitment. Thank you to our parents, volunteers, staff, and parishioners for your prayers, your presence, and your generosity throughout the year. The children who learn and grow in our classrooms are the same ones who will one day serve at our altar, sing in our choir, and lead this community forward. The seeds planted here take root in ways we may never fully see, but God does.
We wish everyone a restful, joy-filled summer. May God bless you and your families until we gather again in the fall.
In gratitude and faith,
David Cortese
