Our Lady of Peace School first-grader Colson Hellms and second-grader Jack Keys plant tulips. (Photo Provided)

WHEELING — Our Lady of Peace School is focusing on faith, growth and well-being to develop students to be leaders now and in the future.

Principal Maureen Kerr, who is also a 1994 graduate of the Marshall County hilltop school, noted each year the school selects a theme to help the children, staff, and school families as a fun and uplifting way to live the mission of the school. “maintaining a covenant spirit committed to spreading the Gospel values of Jesus Christ and providing a quality education. Our school exists to provide spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical excellence.”

There’s more to that, she added, “We are called to the Church’s mission to teach as we strive to develop the whole person – demonstrating respect and understanding for each child as a special and unique individual,” she said. So what is this year’s theme? Grow With God! “We will Grow With God by keeping our focus on becoming the best version of ourselves we can be, and that means we wholeheartedly know God is our guide,” she said. With a faith focus on prophets from the Old Testament and the lessons shared from Christ in the New Testament, we can see and understand how we all truly need God as our primary focus, strength, and hope.”

The Catholic grade school in the Marshall County section of Wheeling has an annual theme as another way the school emphasizes “cherished truths” – the importance of a strong foundation in faith in order to have confidence in life.

“All of us need to grow with God. It is the fundamental mission of Catholic education to develop students academically, spiritually, and morally,” Kerr said. “Classrooms help our students link spiritual growth to our character development, mental health, and social justice. “The theme applies to the entire OLP family, not just our students. Young and old, we embrace our theme to motivate us to continue to work very hard as a faculty, school board, and parish to offer not only an excellent education but more importantly a nurturing, inspiring and welcoming environment for every child.

“We are absolutely always working on new and exciting curriculum; transforming programs and technology to stay in the lead.”

Kerr, who has been principal at Our Lady of Peace for 11 years, said one of the best parts of her day is her daily visits to the classroom not only to greet her students, but also see the teachers dive into “creative in-class activities designed to help our students learn and practice what they’re learning. Then on top of that see how faith is woven into every subject naturally strengthens our purpose to prepare our students academically, sure; but moreover, set a solid foundation based on Christianity for life skills that go far beyond what textbooks, notebooks, and technology offer.”

Our Lady of Peace School continues to make updates a priority each year. They most recently completed numerous facility, security and technology enhancements over the summer. Notable improvements include new high-security entryway doors, new network, Wi-Fi and infrastructure upgrades, and other security resources such as new two-way radios and lockdown equipment.

These enhancements are “Phase II” of a multi-year, grant-funded major security and facility overhaul project. Last summer, a new state-of-the-art video surveillance system was installed along with improved perimeter lighting.

“Having a theme is one thing, providing the safest environment we can in order to be able to roll out that theme is another key to our well-rounded focus here at OLP. This is a serious priority for us. We don’t just say we are doing our best to teach and protect our students and staff, we make concentrated efforts to keep doing so. The FEMA grant and grants we are awarded for curriculum, recreation, and innovative programs are more proof that the people who are working for and with Our Lady of Peace School take our mission to heart.” Kerr said. “OLP is simply a great place to be – we learn, lead, work, and pray together.”