WHEREAS, Catholic schools celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2012 with the theme: Catholic Schools: Faith. Academics. Service; and
     WHEREAS, The week focuses on three priorities that Catholic schools establish: Helping each child reach his or her potential through high standards in academics, through learning the basics of faith, and through service, the giving of one's time and effort to help others, both as an expression of faith and good citizenship; and
     WHEREAS, A quality education is the foundation of a child's future and this week recognizes one of the many types of education choices available to our children; and
     WHEREAS, With an emphasis on academic excellence and moral values, Catholic schools and their students attain high achievement, including high school graduation rates of more than ninety-nine percent; and
     WHEREAS, Catholic education is an integral part of the mission of the Catholic Church, and its strong commitment to students and educational excellence is of great value to Washington State; and
     WHEREAS, The 7,800 Catholic schools in the United States, both elementary and secondary, save almost twenty billion dollars a year in public school expenses; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State has 27,000 students of diverse backgrounds in ninety-three Catholic schools; and
     WHEREAS, Catholic schools encourage and prepare students to obtain high levels of achievement through religious, academic, and cocurricular programs; and
     WHEREAS, With a commitment to service, Catholic schools have produced many of our state's and our nation's finest leaders, including members of this legislature;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the Catholic schools of Washington State and honor their academic excellence and faith-based instruction during the celebration of Catholic Schools Week, January 29 through February 5, 2012; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the school departments at the Archdiocese of Seattle, the Diocese of Spokane, the Diocese of Yakima, and the Washington State Catholic Conference.