We are off and running and we have had a wonderful start to the year. No matter how many times over the years I’ve watched our students enter Banchero Hall for the first Prayer Assembly of the year, it always renews my spirit. Their energy and enthusiasm, along with their laughter and singing makes being with them again so special. Thank you for sharing them with us each year!
Our school theme for this year is “Come and See – The Works of the Lord”. This phrase from Psalm 66 calls us to look for and recognize the marvelous works of God. No one knows us better or loves us more than God. There is not a better example of his loving creation than in the students we are gifted with each day. This year, we are called and our students are called, to see the goodness of the Lord in ourselves and those around us.
Opening School Mass. Please join us this coming Friday, September 8th at 8:45am as we ask God’s blessing on this school year with our first all-school Mass on the feast of the Nativity of Mary. The 7th graders are helping to prepare the liturgy. It is a beautiful way to begin a new year.
Last Wednesday we had a “jump-start” to the school year with a Middle School Leadership Orientation for our 6th, 7th and 8th graders. It was an amazing half-day with interactive icebreakers, exploration of leadership opportunities, an activity where student made “glasses” focusing on our school theme of “Come and See” with qualities they see in themselves and others. We finished with a hot dog picnic lunch to end the morning. Feedback from both students and teachers was that it was a great way to get back together in a fun, productive, and entertaining environment.
Fund It! Thanks to the generosity of the donors at last year’s auction, our Fund It initiatives are well underway. Over the summer, 4 new refrigerated, combination drinking fountain/water bottle filling stations were installed, 32 new laptops and a charging cart were purchased, and we began our year-long professional development coaching with Hanna Bogen MS.,CCC-SLP.
During our in-service week, Hanna presented a workshop on “Partnering with Families and Supporting High Achievers”. She will be onsite throughout this year to work with teachers on meeting the needs of all students within the classroom. Based in Los Angeles, she has a wealth of experience working with schools throughout the country and is the author of “Brain Talk Therapy”. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to work with her this year. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 12th at 7:00pm for an evening presentation for parents on how you can support your student in achieving his/her highest potential.
If it’s fall, it must be time to Tailgate! Please join us this Friday evening at 5:30pm for a tailgate party to kick-off the school year. Tim and Samantha Stack will be grilling burgers and hot dogs, for an evening of food, family, music and fun. It’s a chance to get re-acquainted and celebrate the start of the school year. Please see the event flier for all of the details.
Please join us next Wednesday, September 13th at 7:00pm in Banchero Hall for our all-school (PreK-8) Back-to-School Night. We will start in Banchero Hall with a general session and then proceed to individual classroom presentations. The evening is a wonderful opportunity to be an active participant in your child’s education. You will have time to meet your child’s teacher, hear about their curriculum and get answers to any questions you might have.
Finally, a big thank-you to Kathleen Gallagher and her team of helpers for preparing a wonderful welcome for our new parents at the New Parent Garden Party. It was a beautiful evening with delicious food, drink, and the chance for new parents to get acquainted with mentor parents. The temperatures cooled from the high 80s we have been experiencing, making for a comfortable evening event for all.
Thanks too goes to Ester Burkhart for her organization of the first day of school welcome coffee for parents. It’s always nice to see our parent community come together to start the school year. I saw some of the biggest smiles around, on the parents, as summer comes to a close and their children begin another school year!!!!
Sincerely,
Mary Sherman
