‘A lifetime investment in a Catholic education’

Mount Carmel School is celebrating 2006 Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 29 to Feb. 3. As part of that week, the school will feature profiles on different members of the school family: a student, a parent, alumni, a teacher, a staff member, and the school itself. Today’s profile is on parent Donald Barcinas.

Parents of Danandro and Aitau Barcinas, Donald and his wife Martina have enrolled their sons at Mount Carmel School since their boys were in the first grade. That makes 12 years as their eldest, Danandro, rounds out his Senior year this semester. Aitau is on track to graduate in 2007.

Twelve years of enrolling his children at the school reflects Donald’s faith in Mount Carmel and the Catholic education it provides. He said, “Mount Carmel is the only school on Saipan that provides a good Catholic education.”

For Donald and his wife, the value of a Catholic education is “immeasurable.” “It is a lifetime investment.” He especially appreciates those moments when “a child comes home one day and, with a big smile, says to you, ‘Mom and dad, I know God is with me.'”

For Donald, the school’s Catholic education is matched by the school’s trademark excellence. He describes his family’s experience with the school as “excellent.” “On a scale of one to 10, I give it a 10.”

Donald added, “There is an awesome spirit of cooperation from teachers, staff, and administrators.”

Over the years, Donald has taken his appreciation for Mount Carmel School by giving back, almost tenfold. From 1996 to 2002, he served two consecutive three-year terms on the school’s board of directors, the maximum allowed by the board’s by-laws.

Soon after his service on the board, Donald stepped up his commitment and, in 2005, was elected as the president of the Parent Teacher Organization.

Asked why he has continued to volunteer his time for the school, Donald said, quite simply, “I want to help the school.”

As the current PTO president, Donald has very ambitious goals. Along with the PTO officers, he intends to “increase and strengthen parental involvement.” In particular, he wants to “raise enough funds to purchase furniture, math textbooks, theology books, and a new sound system.”

To reach these goals, Donald has led the PTO in an innovative fundraising drive that allows donors to sponsor new books and furniture at the school. And in an effort to expand the donor base of the school to include more parents and alumni, he has worked with the PTO to offer affordable sponsorship opportunities. In return for such sponsorship, donors will have their names engraved in bronze plates to be placed on the sponsored item.

Indeed, Donald’s commitment to the school is indicative of the parental support that has helped make Mount Carmel School what it is today: in Donald’s eyes, a place of “Faith, Excellence, and Success.” (PR)