The mission of Father McCartan Memorial School is to provide a Christ-centered education so that students can grow academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically to reach their full potential.
The faculty, staff, volunteers, parents, and students will continually promote an atmosphere ofcaring and respect for others. As a part of our Catholic community, our faith will be interwoven intoevery aspect of the learning environment.
The Father McCartan Memorial School educational program will provide opportunities to:
•Help students realize their responsibility to become actively involved in their parish
at all levels of life.
•Receive a quality education in academics, attitudes, and values.
•Meet and/or exceed national and diocesan test averages for achievement.
•Develop life skills and real world academics including leadership, responsibility,
self-discipline, organization, problem solving, work ethic, accountability for one's actions, reading, and writing to communicate.
The Father McCartan Memorial School program will be challenging, exciting, and hope-filled an education with a Shepherd's care.
Fr. McCartan School is a family oriented Christian environment that serves Marceline and
surrounding parishes. Educational services are offered for preschool through eighth grade. Seven full time educators focus on teaching God's word through scripture, example and faith. Each faculty and staff member serves as a living symbol of God's love, knowing that what we instill in the children must first take root and grow in our hearts and minds.
Fr. McCartan School provides students with many opportunities for personal development. These activities include the Bellarmine Speech League, Science Fair, Religion Fair, Music Enrichment Day, National Geography Bee, Sketch Day, Basketball and other sports and numerous classroom extension projects. We attend mass two mornings a week and the children are routinely involved in planning Liturgies.
Fr. McCartan School has received special honor within the Diocese of Jefferson City. For the third consecutive year, the school has reached the number one ranking in achievement test scores (out of the 37 schools).
Our student to staff ratio averages approximately nine students per grade to each teacher. These small class sizes allow our students to receive individualized instruction for superior academic success! Our classrooms from first through eighth grade are double graded
classrooms. Our curriculum reflects a strong emphasis on academics with the added dimension of personal and spiritual development. The curriculum and structure also foster student responsibility to self, family, community and the church.
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After 30 years of working in public education, Kathy Harlan embraces new challenges as she takes on the role of principal at Fr. McCartan Memorial School for the 2023-2024 school year. She is familiar with education but is excited to experience the unique opportunities of working in a Catholic school.
She believes that her purpose as a Catholic school administrator is to
upport the staff put in place who will educate our students and to instill the Catholic faith into daily tasks so that they become a part of who our students are when they leave our building. She realizes that her example, encouragement, support and leadership for the staff and students will be important to make our school mission successful. She plans to continue to focus on our school’s mission and perform work to the Glory of our Lord.
Mrs. Harlan loves the quote from St. Catherine of Siena which states, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” She loves this reminder for herself but also enjoys sharing it with students. Each of us has a God-given purpose. Our mission is to find it and allow God to work through us to set the world on fire.
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Mrs. Harlan believes that if our school does its job well, our students who graduate from Fr. McCartan will go on to be academically successful in their future educational settings, but, most importantly, they will be strong Catholics who believe in the power of the Eucharist and importance of holy mass. They will live lives demonstrating their commitment to the church and their love of the Lord. They will pass these beliefs and values on to their own children someday. She loves seeing so many parents of our students who were Fr. McCartan students as children. This shows that the job has been done well here in the past and she is excited to do her part in continuing that success.
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An excerpt from The Catholic Missourian August 3, 2023
When Kathy Harlan’s daughters left home after high school, she gave each of them a framed quote from St. Catherine of Siena:
“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”
“This is a great reminder to me, as well, when I face challenges,” said Mrs. Harlan, the new principal of Father McCartan Memorial School in Marceline.
“To me, this quote is humbling, reassuring and inspiring,” she said. “God put me in this place — what does God want me to do during this difficult time?”
Mrs. Harlan brings with her 30 years of experience in public education in Missouri: two years as an agriculture instructor and FFA Advisor in Keytesville and 28 years as a school counselor in schools including Glasgow, Salisbury, Westran in Huntsville, and Marceline.
“Catholic education is important because it not only prepares our students for academic challenges ahead, but also teaches them daily habits of Catholic formation which they can draw from in the future,” she said.
She grew up in mid-Missouri and has lived most of her life in Chariton County.
She and her husband Mike live in Salisbury and are members of St. Joseph Parish. They have two adult daughters.
“As a Catholic, I believe that my new role at Fr. McCartan is a true blessing from God,” Mrs. Harlan stated. “He placed me exactly where He wanted me to be at the right time of my life. I continue to trust in him and follow his plan for my future.”
She believes the purpose of a Catholic school is best summed up in Father McCartan Memorial School’s mission statement: “to provide a Christ-centered education so that students can grow academically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically to reach their full potential.”
She knows that her example, encouragement, support and leadership for the staff and students will be important to make the school’s mission successful.
“I need to continue to focus on our school’s mission and perform work to the Glory of our Lord,” she said.
She’s convinced that her role as a Catholic school administrator is to provide support for the faculty and staff in educating the students.
“A large part of that is instilling the Catholic faith in our daily tasks so that they become a part of who our students are when they leave our building,” she said.
She called to mind some advice her former principal, Matt Finch, an influential mentor, gave her.
“When decisions had to be made, he would always ask the most necessary question: ‘What is in the best interests of all our students?’” she recalled. “That was the basis for moving forward.”
Mr. Finch also reminded her that each day, good or bad, is a part of God’s plan, “and that my job is to trust God’s plan,” she said.
Her favorite prayer is the Rosary.
“I truly believe that the holy Rosary is the most powerful weapon of our time and I pray it daily,” she said.
She enjoys traveling with her husband to visit her daughters, and nieces and nephews.
Two of her favorite books are Loved As I Am, by Sister Miriam James Heidland, and My Sisters The Saints, by Colleen Carroll Campbell.
“Each tells a story of the author’s life and the important lessons learned as they relied on their Catholic faith,” she said. “They empower me to live a good Catholic life and to share my story, when possible, to encourage others.”
Mrs. Harlan believes that if a Catholic school is doing its job well, its graduates will go on to be academically successful in their future educational endeavors.
“But, most importantly, they will be strong Catholics who believe in the power of the Eucharist and importance of Holy Mass,” she said.
Likewise, she stated, they will spend the rest of their lives demonstrating their commitment to the Church and their love of the Lord, and will pass their beliefs onto their own children someday.
Seeing so many Fr. McCartan parents who were once students there shows her that the job has been done well there in the past.
“I am excited to do my part in continuing that success,” she said.
he asked for prayers for her and her colleagues at Father McCartan to “reach the needs of each student in a positive godly way to instill in them a strong educational foundation as well as a strong Catholic foundation.”
“Both will be so important when they leave the halls of our school,” she said.
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Father McCartan Memorial School
327 S. Kansas Ave., Marceline, MO 64658
(660)376-3580
Carly Smith — office@fathermccartan.com
Kathy Harlan — principal@fathermccartan.com
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
409 S. Kansas Ave., Marceline, MO 64658
660-376-3239
Office — stbonmarceline@gmail.com
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