There is nothing more exciting than the arrival of a new freshman class. Today 51 students arrived at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School to meet their teachers and each other. Though they were nervous and some were shy, most of them were very enthusiastic and positive.
About 20 of the older students planned the Orientation Day. They are the Campus Ministry Team. They have already experienced an overnight retreat in late July and a Leadership Retreat last week. At those events they focused on their own growing leadership and responsibilities as well as planned for the arrival of the freshmen.
Our day stated with "get to know you" activities which were fun for everyone. The older students took the new kids on a tour of the campus (Remember how some of you always said there was a swimming pool on the third floor???) and then delivered them to homeroom. There the freshmen struggled with the infamous lockers and the challenging combinations. Most of them were successful! Mrs. Fannon (still fighting against cancer) has already convinced her 9-B ers that they are the best homeroom ever!
After homeroom, we had lunch provided by Jim Moore, our new cafeteria guru. Wow! Can he cook!!! He served the best burgers around and everyone seemed happy with the lunch. Wait until they see the great menus for the year. The next session after lunch was a "talk" about handbook rules and uniforms etc. by Mike Naunton and Elaine Hartnett, the assistant principals. We ended the day in the chapel with a prayer service which the Campus Ministry Team planned. We ended with our daily mantra, "Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Pray for us!" With that shared prayer another group of students joined our little community!
It was a great day and I think what made it wonderful was not only meeting our new students (It is always a surprise to see how young they are and to sense how much they want to be older!) but also to see our older students volunteer their time to share their feelings about the school. One student said today, "You are going to love it here!" I hope that becomes true for every one of our new freshmen! It is also a joy to see how many of the upper level teachers came to meet the new students and say hello and welcome. Our little school remains a place of hospitality and welcome. Let's hope God blesses our new freshmen and that we have many more happy days with them!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Teachers Are Back!
We had our first faculty meetings of the year today. It was great to have all the teachers back and begin to get organized for next week when the kids arrive. Tom Rose, our Development Director, told everyone about the plans for our anniversary year and teachers signed up to help. We are going to try to contact all the former faculty members from years gone by and invite them to the big dinner on April 21,2010.
With the help of the archivist at the Mother House, I was able to get the faculty lists from 1959 through the eighties when most of the staff were Sisters of St. Francis! We will be able to list the names of all the Sisters who taught or administered the school from the first day the doors opened. Though plans are still being discussed, I am sure we will find a way to honor the Sisters for their service to the school. The Sisters gave so much to the schools and parish and we are so grateful for all the good that they did!
I was thinking today as I met with the teachers how much each faculty member gives of him/herself to meet the needs of our students. In order to be a great teacher, a person has to have two areas of "competence." Obvioiulsy they need to know their content material--and really like it! They also have to have a real dedication and belief in young people. The best teachers really believe that each child has gifts and potential and that, through them, the world can be a better place.
In a Catholic school, these beliefs are not just philosphical notions, they are a matter of faith. Catholic school teachers have to act every day out of the belief that all can be good, all can be successful, and all are not only gifted but called to serve. The Gospel becomes a reality on a daily basis when educators meet this standard.
I have worked with the most wonderful teachers at Mt. Carmel over the years and when we have not met our goals, it was not from lack of trying! I know that our current faculty will work for lofty goals too--all for the benefit of our students. We have a few more days to get ready and next week they will arrive. I know it will be a great anniversary year!
With the help of the archivist at the Mother House, I was able to get the faculty lists from 1959 through the eighties when most of the staff were Sisters of St. Francis! We will be able to list the names of all the Sisters who taught or administered the school from the first day the doors opened. Though plans are still being discussed, I am sure we will find a way to honor the Sisters for their service to the school. The Sisters gave so much to the schools and parish and we are so grateful for all the good that they did!
I was thinking today as I met with the teachers how much each faculty member gives of him/herself to meet the needs of our students. In order to be a great teacher, a person has to have two areas of "competence." Obvioiulsy they need to know their content material--and really like it! They also have to have a real dedication and belief in young people. The best teachers really believe that each child has gifts and potential and that, through them, the world can be a better place.
In a Catholic school, these beliefs are not just philosphical notions, they are a matter of faith. Catholic school teachers have to act every day out of the belief that all can be good, all can be successful, and all are not only gifted but called to serve. The Gospel becomes a reality on a daily basis when educators meet this standard.
I have worked with the most wonderful teachers at Mt. Carmel over the years and when we have not met our goals, it was not from lack of trying! I know that our current faculty will work for lofty goals too--all for the benefit of our students. We have a few more days to get ready and next week they will arrive. I know it will be a great anniversary year!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Parents are a Plus
Last night I had the first meeting of the year with the PTSA (which stands for Parent/Teacher/Student /Association) Executive Board. It is one of the key organizations that support the activities of the school and it provides a way for parents to really help. Maggie Eshman, Lil Paepke, Patrice Brylske, and Anne Aquilla are the officers this year. What a great crew! We talked about calling new students to welcome them, inviting folks to be part of the upcoming Festival (October 9,10,11) and Auction/Bull Roast (November 14) We talked about how fast the summer flew by, getting kids ready for school, and our high hopes for the 2009-2010 anniversary year.
The part of these conversations I love the most is the very prominent undercurrent of how much these parents believe in and are willing to work for the school and their kids. No matter what the challenge they are willing to pitch in and help.
I've discovered over the years that this spirit of working hard and being welcoming is true for most of our parents. As I think back there are so many names I remember of people that I could really count on: Copes, Crum, Brotzman, Kriss, Dwyer, Odle, Lyons, Reed, Concordia, Bosse, Issenock,Greaver, Pfeiffer, Edebe, Fillius, Steck, Donohue, Kammen, Celmer! I could fill pages with names of families who have given hours of service to benefit our school and ultimately their chilren--all of our children! To me this is like the Litany of the Saints! I hope these families and all the ones I did not list as well ( and they are many) know how deeply grateful I am and will always be for the work that they did and the joy with which they did it. I think that parent support in a school is a crucial ingredient for success. Whew! I am glad we have it in abundance!
The other thought I had last night is the whole notion of how important "community" is to our school. At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel everyone and everything is somehow connected. It's like the "Six Degrees of Separation" game. Connections between elementary and high school, both schools and parish, and among families is always amazing. How wonderful that community is and what a support it has been in good times and bad. That will be a story for another day! Let's just say that the community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has "saved' me more than once and I am truly grateful. Parents are an important ingredient in that community. Aren't we blessed!
The part of these conversations I love the most is the very prominent undercurrent of how much these parents believe in and are willing to work for the school and their kids. No matter what the challenge they are willing to pitch in and help.
I've discovered over the years that this spirit of working hard and being welcoming is true for most of our parents. As I think back there are so many names I remember of people that I could really count on: Copes, Crum, Brotzman, Kriss, Dwyer, Odle, Lyons, Reed, Concordia, Bosse, Issenock,Greaver, Pfeiffer, Edebe, Fillius, Steck, Donohue, Kammen, Celmer! I could fill pages with names of families who have given hours of service to benefit our school and ultimately their chilren--all of our children! To me this is like the Litany of the Saints! I hope these families and all the ones I did not list as well ( and they are many) know how deeply grateful I am and will always be for the work that they did and the joy with which they did it. I think that parent support in a school is a crucial ingredient for success. Whew! I am glad we have it in abundance!
The other thought I had last night is the whole notion of how important "community" is to our school. At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel everyone and everything is somehow connected. It's like the "Six Degrees of Separation" game. Connections between elementary and high school, both schools and parish, and among families is always amazing. How wonderful that community is and what a support it has been in good times and bad. That will be a story for another day! Let's just say that the community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has "saved' me more than once and I am truly grateful. Parents are an important ingredient in that community. Aren't we blessed!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Anniversary Year Begins
Today I finished signing several thousand (that's not even an exaggeration) letters that will arrive at the homes of alums, parents, and friends of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School in the next few weeks. My letter announces the 50th anniversary of our school. It is a time to look back at the traditions, joys, and struggles that our school family has experienced and a time to look forward to providing a great education, that touches both mind and heart, for students now and in the future.
It is my hope that this blog chronicles some of these experiences, past and present. Those of you who know me are sure to be a bit frightened at this moment because you know that I could talk for hours (that's not an exaggeration either) about Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I came to the campus in 1983 as a young professional, fell in love with the people and the place, and have stayed forever it seems. I have watched many children grow up including my own and have gained countless experiences about what to do with what life throws at us-- good and bad. I have learned that it is our faith and our community that allows us not only to "make it through" but to live a life that is full and happy.
Tom Rose, our Director of Development, has convinced me that I should take technology head-on and communicate via this blog. He even believes that some of you will enjoy reading what I have to write. I hope so!
So, when your letter arrives and you look up this site I will be ready to greet you with memories and new information. There are many truths I have learned along life's way but I am certain that this one ranks high--Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School has been and continues to be a special place that is blessed by wonderful people(especially our kids). It is a school that has remained faithful to our mission to educate students in the ways of the heart as well as the head and to lead them to an understanding and appreciation of God, themselves, and their community. I have always found this mission inspiring and challenging. It's a good thing we have our patroness working for us!
So, welcome to the anniversary year chronicle! I have so much to tell you! Oh my goodness, I have taken the "blogging plunge" and we are off on a new adventure!
It is my hope that this blog chronicles some of these experiences, past and present. Those of you who know me are sure to be a bit frightened at this moment because you know that I could talk for hours (that's not an exaggeration either) about Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. I came to the campus in 1983 as a young professional, fell in love with the people and the place, and have stayed forever it seems. I have watched many children grow up including my own and have gained countless experiences about what to do with what life throws at us-- good and bad. I have learned that it is our faith and our community that allows us not only to "make it through" but to live a life that is full and happy.
Tom Rose, our Director of Development, has convinced me that I should take technology head-on and communicate via this blog. He even believes that some of you will enjoy reading what I have to write. I hope so!
So, when your letter arrives and you look up this site I will be ready to greet you with memories and new information. There are many truths I have learned along life's way but I am certain that this one ranks high--Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School has been and continues to be a special place that is blessed by wonderful people(especially our kids). It is a school that has remained faithful to our mission to educate students in the ways of the heart as well as the head and to lead them to an understanding and appreciation of God, themselves, and their community. I have always found this mission inspiring and challenging. It's a good thing we have our patroness working for us!
So, welcome to the anniversary year chronicle! I have so much to tell you! Oh my goodness, I have taken the "blogging plunge" and we are off on a new adventure!
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