From the Director’s Chair
Dear Parents,
It’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up our second week of DECATS! The days have flown by, and I want to take a moment to share some highlights and celebrate the incredible experiences your Scholars have enjoyed so far.
This week has been both dynamic and inspiring as we continue to explore our theme: The Next Level. Our Scholars are embracing the challenge of pushing beyond their comfort zones—growing intellectually, socially, and spiritually through meaningful, hands-on experiences.
In Manners, Scholars practiced introductions, small talk, and table setting. They’re looking forward to showcasing their skills during Manners to Morals Day on Tuesday. Executive Functioning Scholars focused on taking their organization and initiative to the next level, honing skills like working memory, materials management, and social coordination. During Wellness, students engaged in thoughtful conversations around managing stress, cultivating a healthy body image, and making smart nutritional choices. Our Values & Morals Scholars launched a service project—a canned food and toiletry drive to support St. Vincent de Paul—putting their values into action.
Meanwhile, creativity and critical thinking were in full force in elective courses. In Animania, Scholars brought their imagination to life by sculpting vibrant papier-mâché animals. Slime Time was next level as Scholars experimented with textures and ingredients to create shimmering moon slime. In Food Truck Showdown, Scholars channeled their inner chefs and entrepreneurs, designing creative menus to highlight their unique signature dishes. Scholars in Game Show Network took play to the next level by designing and constructing life-sized board games for a hands-on, interactive experience. In The Great Escape, Scholars put their logic and problem-solving skills to the test as they encrypted and decoded secret messages using Caesar and Aurebesh ciphers.
It’s been a joy to witness the tremendous growth our Scholars have made in just two short weeks. With the support and guidance of our dedicated Mentors, they are setting goals, embracing challenges, and celebrating victories—each step taking them closer to their “next level.” The passion and expertise our Mentors bring to DECATS are what make this program truly exceptional.
This week, we were also honored to welcome members of DeBusk Foundation—Dr. Boazman, Dr. Bennett, and Mr. Barone. We are grateful for their visit and continued support of our program and Scholars.
As we look ahead to our final week together, we’re excited for what’s still to come. I have no doubt that your Scholars will continue to rise to the occasion and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Sincerely in Christ,
Dr. Kendall Shamas
Program Director, St. Anne
