ATLANTA-On Aug. 2, principals of archdiocesan schools gathered at the archdiocesan education office for their first meeting of the new school year.

In addition to the annual business items on the agenda, the principals, including five new elementary school leaders, prayed together and reflected on the theme for the school year, which is "to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God." Each principal was asked to respond to two questions: "What one thing would you like to say to your school community?," and "What one thing would you like to say to the people of the archdiocese?"

To the school community of St. Joseph's School in Marietta, new principal Charles Kraft wrote, "I am truly blessed to part of your community. I am grateful that you have invited me to join you."

Queen Grady, principal of St. Peter Claver wrote, "God has blessed our faculty and staff to server our school community as ministers in education."

Tricia DeWitt, a former assistant principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, who will begin her first year as principal, addressed the school community.

"We are so blessed at IHM," she wrote. "It is easy to take all that we have for granted. I challenge our school community to count our blessings daily and be mindful that for the Kingdom of God to evolve where we are, we must follow Jesus' example of service and unconditional love."

James Anderson, who will serve his first year as principal at St. John Neumann School, said that Catholic education is vital to the church's future.

"As we begin a new school year, let us all remember that we, teachers parents students and Religious are all together in doing the work of the Father," he wrote. "Through our commitment to Catholic school education, we will help our church live for future generations."

Patty Childs, a former teacher at St. Thomas More School in Decatur, will begin a new role as principal of St. Jude the Apostle School in Atlanta. She believes that all members of the school community contribute to the education of the student.

"As a community we are committed to and responsible for Catholic education," she wrote. "Community includes all of us-educators, learners, parents and parish. As this community our goal is focused and centered in Christ."

Angela Ritchie, new principal at St. Mary's School in Rome offered her prayers to those in the archdiocese and school community.

"My sincere thanks is given to you for your support and prayers as I assume a new role in the archdiocesan community," she wrote. "I reciprocate those prayers and support in kind."

The new principals are:

James M. Anderson, St. John Neumann School, Lilburn Age: 53

Birth Date: June 25, 1948

Place of Birth: Melrose Park, Ill.

Marital Status: Single

Children: Two daughters

Education:Bachelor's degree, 1971 from Illinois State University, Normal, Ill.; master's degree, 1984, from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill.

Work Experience: Has spent 31 years in education, 27 of them in Catholic schools and 17 as a principal.

Primary Hobbies And Interests: Sports and recreational activities.

Philosophy On Catholic Education: Our schools need to be excellent academically to go along with our Christ centered curriculum. We must teach our students how to be life long learners and critical thinkers. Special Educational Areas Of Interest: Curriculum

Accomplishments In Education: Successfully expanded all day programs in Pre-K and Kindergarten. Initiated a capital campaign to upgrade technology at one of the schools.

Goals For First Year As Principal: To learn as much as I can and work with everyone in helping to provide the best education for our children.

Patty Childs, St. Jude the Apostle School, Atlanta Age: 41

Birth Date: Dec. 3, 1959

Place of Birth: Sacramento, Calif.

Marital Status: Married to Doug Childs

Children: Son Geoff is a senior at St. Pius X High School in Atlanta.

Education (college degrees, locations and years): Bachelor's degree in education, 1981, from Mercer University, Atlanta; master's degree in education, 1987, from Mercer; leadership certification, from University of Georgia, Athens. Work Experience: Served as a teacher at Columbia Elementary School in DeKalb County from 1981 to 1989. Served as a teacher, resource teacher, and in various administrative duties at St. Thomas More School, Decatur, from 1989-2001. Primary Hobbies And Interests: Reading, cross-stitching, rooting for her son at St. Pius's football games and wrestling matches, and volunteering at St. Pius.

Philosophy On Catholic Education: Every child is gifted by God. It is our responsibility as a Christian Catholic community to teach children to be smart and good, to use their talents to benefit not just themselves but society as a whole, and to strive for excellence, not perfection.

Special Educational Areas Of Interest: Area of educational resource and in the development of reading and phonics skills.

Accomplishments In Education: Named in "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities"

Goals For First Year As Principal: To build a trusting relationship with the families, the students and the faculty and staff. To continue to strive for academic excellence and to continue to foster a caring, Christ-centered culture.

Tricia DeWitt, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Atlanta

Age: 45

Birth Date: Dec. 23, 1955

Place of Birth: Atlanta

Marital Status: Married to Stephen P. DeWitt

Children: Catherine, 19; Stephanie, 18; and Jacquelyn, 13.

Education (college degrees, locations and years): Associate's degree in mental health, Georgia State University, Atlanta; bachelor's degree, urban administration, Georgia State University; bachelor's and master's degrees in secondary education from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

Work Experience: Served as a fifth through 12th grade teacher; served as assistant principal at IHM from 1998-2000 and as IHM's Middle School coordinator from 1999-2000.

Primary Hobbies And Interests: Walking, reading and listening to music.

Philosophy On Catholic Education: When I was growing up, education was based upon the 'three Rs-reading, riting and rithmatic.' I stress the three Es of education which are as follows: engage both students and teachers as learners in the process of actively gaining knowledge; enrich the students' educational experience with the support of teachers, parents and the community; and empower our school community of learners by working collaboratively together in a Christ-centered environment. Accomplishments In Education: Attended Harvard University's "The Art and Craft of Principalship" this past June.

Goals For First Year As Principal: To continue emphasis on building a student-centered school that focuses on the needs of the student first and welcomes opportunities to continually refocus our vision to assure student needs are met. To be successful,

the student-centered education model requires a caring and collaborative culture in the school community. Building collegiality among the faculty and staff by networking, team share leadership and opportunities for reflection will also be top priorities this year. Finally, to make service learning a vibrant part of our educational experience at IHM School.

Charles A. Kraft

Place of Birth: Winona, Minn.

Marital Status: Married to Lisa.

Children: Three children and seven grandchildren.

Education : Bachelor's degree in education from Park College, Parkville, Mo.; master's degree from Webster University, St. Louis.

Work Experience: Over 20 years as a Catholic School principal in the Mid-west and the Southeast

Primary Hobbies And Interests: World war I and II, golf and reading.

Philosophy On Catholic Education: As a Catholic school principal I seek to create a nurturing environment which provides for the spiritual, mental social and physical development of the child, within the context of a Catholic/Christian faith community. Accomplishments In Education: Is a 1994 graduate of the National Catholic Education Association Principals Academy.

Goals for First Year as Principal: To Ensure that a Catholic/Christian identity is taught as part of the curriculum areas. To promote students' individual success. To improve communications within the school/parish community, (school, parents, teachers, and students).

Angela Ritchie, St. Mary's School, Rome Age: 40

Birth Date: Sept. 15, 1960

Place of Birth: Fort Campbell, Ky.

Marital Status: Married to J. E. Garnett

Children: Chelsea Rose, 12, Oakley Belle, 8, and Evan Newell, seven months.

Education: Bachelor's degree in biology and Spanish, 1983, from Berry College, Rome; master's degree, Spanish and biology, from University of Georgia, Athens; master's degree in K-12th grade school administration from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

Work Experience: Served as an assistant principal for seven years; taught Spanish and Berry College for four years while developing and implementing the foreign language program at Berry College Elementary School.

Primary Hobbies And Interests: Foxhunting, reading and being with her family.

Philosophy On Catholic Education: Catholic educational programs provide a centuries-old, worldwide tradition of academic excellence. Educating the whole child-the heart, the hands and the mind-has recently been presented as a new model of education; yet Catholic schools have fostered this approach for nearly a millennium. The major tenants of Catholic social teaching are the foundation for our classroom environment. Respect for the dignity of each child, a sense of community, traditional values, proven instructional methods, and the ability to nurture the spiritual aspect of children are our treasures in today's educational market.

Special Educational Areas Of Interest: Curriculum development and implementation, instruction supervision.

Accomplishments In Education: Received the Legacy Environmental Award, was named teacher of the year and is listed in the Who's Who Among American High School Teachers.

Goals For First Year As Principal: Successful implementation of the revised archdiocesan curriculum through the development of correlation matrices; development and implementation of an elementary Spanish program.