I have spent 27 summers at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel with sunny days filled with planning, meetings, ordering, moving materials,scrubbing, and renovating. Even in the midst of remembering all that work, this summer surely "takes the cake" so to speak! As the end of July approaches I do not think I can find one corner of the campus that is not in some state of upheaval! All this chaos, of course, will be resolved before our students return. It is important to focus on the upheaval as a means to the end of providing an even more positive Carmel experience for our kids. Let me share two big changes that seem, at last, to be coming together.
The first is the very exciting reconstruction of our web site. We will still be located at olmcmd.org but the current parish part of the site will be on a separate but linked domain of parisholmcmd.org. Tom Rose, our Director of Institutional Advancement, and I have been meeting all summer with the owners of VIM Interactive, Pete Karabetis and Steve Fickus. These guys really know their stuff! Not only have they done sites for several of the schools under the Johns Hopkins umbrella, several local companies, and currently campaigning politicians, they are alumni of Mt. Carmel High School!
I am always so elated when our kids do well and these men are achieving SUCCESS with more than a capital S! It is very exciting and heart warming for me for these alums to be giving back ot our school in such a generous way. They are literally transforming our current rather static site to reflect the vibrancy of our programs, our commitment to kids, and the new Early Childhood thorugh grade twelve configuration of our school. At every level there is a plethora of information for current members of the community and for those searching for a great school for their children. The site will be easy to navigate, information rich, and pleasing to the eye. Pete and Steve have been patient with my lack of expertise in this area and I am so grateful for their help. After going through this astoundingly detailed process (and learning lots about information architecture and analysis of content!),I understand why web design is costly. Our new site will launch on September 1 (fingers crossed) and be ready for the new recruiting season as well as the beginning of school. Please take a look--It is going to be great! This renovation of the web site is a crucial part of our effort to meet people where they are in today's fast paced, information rich society. Thank you to VIM Interactive and to alums with a desire to give back!
The second project has to do with our library. Up until a few weeks ago, there was an under-utilized library in the elementary building and another library/media center in the the high school. Both areas needed attention and it seemed a good idea to combine them into one fabulous library/media/ learning area for our kids. Little did I realize at the time that idea was uttered, how work intensive it would be. Literally several thousand books needed to be relocated in order to paint, moved again in order to put down carpeting, and then reorganized according to a very speciifc organizational code. I rue the day Dewey invented that system! Thank goodnes for the many hours or service given by our high school students who cleaned, moved books, cleaned some more and then moved books again!
Given all that moving around , I think we have created something great. There is a reading room for younger children which houses their collection. There is one media room filled with brand new PC's and another quiet work room with reference materials and computers. All these smaller rooms are off the main library which is now bright, open and inviting. This resource space is one which "invites" students to work at learning. It is bright, clean, and (fingers crossed) will be ready for business when school starts. There is an Open House to see the new library on August 29 from 11:00a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the high school. Please come see the results of a good idea and lots of hard work!
These are two of the many initiatives that we have taken on this summer but they are two that are coming together! I hope you take a look at both and that you come to agree that all this work is really a labor of love which will provide great oppportunities for our kids--They deserve the best we have to give!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
"...Shoulder high we bring you home...Townsman of a stiller town"
There are some events that make us stop and take pause in the business of life. There are some events that cause us to mull over all that has been and all that we hoped would be. And, there are some events that just seem to suck the life and breath right out of us. Yesterday was like that...
Early in the morning I got a call from our Athletic Director and as soon as I answered, I knew something was wrong. He tearfully told me that one of our students, John Crowder, had been gunned down in the streets of Baltimore the night before and had died from his wounds. It was and still is impossible for me to imagine that very tall, gangly kid who never stopped smiling, stilled forever.
John always reminded me of a big pup who was all limbs and legs who had not yet quite grown into himself. And, what a "schmoozer" he was! He could charm the attendance moderator out of multiple demerits for lateness without blinking an eye--He only had to smile and come up with any lame excuse. He could make his whole lunch table of sophomore boys burst into laughter because of a face full of donut powder or making generally non-acceptable noises at the lunch table. He could illicit the admiration of a teacher for hard work done or a discussion question sincerely asked. And, he could play basketball better than most guys who were older and had more experience.. He was a "natural"--a natural, wonderful, talented kid with a wonderful future within his grasp.
And, these positves were hard won. John had no parents and was being rasied by his grandmom and his uncle. He had experienced loss more times than most adults and recognized that life had sharp edges and black holes as well as promises and hopes. But, he generally chose the positve and kept right on smiling, learning to be a good student, sharing experiences with his many friends,flirting with girls, and, of course, playing basketball.
And, then in the midst of all that promise, this athlete died young. But, in this case, there was no cheering crowd carrying him "shoulder high." Instead, there was a dark street and a passing car and bullets flying.
How is there any possible way to make sense of this kind of tragedy? Yesterday afternoon, our basketball coach gathered his team in our cafeteria to help them process what happened and try to support them in their grief. Our school is small and most of our kids describe our community as "family." So, we had our family meeting and we talked a little and cried a lot and sat quiet when no words came. I hope our boys know how deeply we share their loss and how much we ache for them. So much was lost---John himself, innocence, trust in the world's justice....What kind of world is it anyway?
In answer to that question all the negatives apply--It is a world where life means too little to too many, a world where children have guns and use them on each other, a world where it is not safe to walk back to your grandmom's house...
We grownups who have been called to work with kids, are obligated to wade through all these terrible realities. It is our job to help kids (and ourselves as well) reach some steady ground so that we can use life's tragedies to make us live out a truer version of that same world...We have to live in a way that shows that life means EVERYTHING! We have to teach our children to stay out of harm's way without living in fear. We have to show them how to treat self and others with the respect we each deserve. We have to keep them safe and build them neighborhoods that truly are safe havens. We have to do our part to make the world the way it should be. We owe it to John and to all kids who deserve the best we can offer them--the best of our world.
In time we will come to "own" and teach about this better world. Right now, we are overwhelmed by "the silent sounds no worse than cheers" and are mourning our lad who has "slipped..away." Right now, it is enough to pray--God bless you dear John and may God already be holding you in his arms.
Early in the morning I got a call from our Athletic Director and as soon as I answered, I knew something was wrong. He tearfully told me that one of our students, John Crowder, had been gunned down in the streets of Baltimore the night before and had died from his wounds. It was and still is impossible for me to imagine that very tall, gangly kid who never stopped smiling, stilled forever.
John always reminded me of a big pup who was all limbs and legs who had not yet quite grown into himself. And, what a "schmoozer" he was! He could charm the attendance moderator out of multiple demerits for lateness without blinking an eye--He only had to smile and come up with any lame excuse. He could make his whole lunch table of sophomore boys burst into laughter because of a face full of donut powder or making generally non-acceptable noises at the lunch table. He could illicit the admiration of a teacher for hard work done or a discussion question sincerely asked. And, he could play basketball better than most guys who were older and had more experience.. He was a "natural"--a natural, wonderful, talented kid with a wonderful future within his grasp.
And, these positves were hard won. John had no parents and was being rasied by his grandmom and his uncle. He had experienced loss more times than most adults and recognized that life had sharp edges and black holes as well as promises and hopes. But, he generally chose the positve and kept right on smiling, learning to be a good student, sharing experiences with his many friends,flirting with girls, and, of course, playing basketball.
And, then in the midst of all that promise, this athlete died young. But, in this case, there was no cheering crowd carrying him "shoulder high." Instead, there was a dark street and a passing car and bullets flying.
How is there any possible way to make sense of this kind of tragedy? Yesterday afternoon, our basketball coach gathered his team in our cafeteria to help them process what happened and try to support them in their grief. Our school is small and most of our kids describe our community as "family." So, we had our family meeting and we talked a little and cried a lot and sat quiet when no words came. I hope our boys know how deeply we share their loss and how much we ache for them. So much was lost---John himself, innocence, trust in the world's justice....What kind of world is it anyway?
In answer to that question all the negatives apply--It is a world where life means too little to too many, a world where children have guns and use them on each other, a world where it is not safe to walk back to your grandmom's house...
We grownups who have been called to work with kids, are obligated to wade through all these terrible realities. It is our job to help kids (and ourselves as well) reach some steady ground so that we can use life's tragedies to make us live out a truer version of that same world...We have to live in a way that shows that life means EVERYTHING! We have to teach our children to stay out of harm's way without living in fear. We have to show them how to treat self and others with the respect we each deserve. We have to keep them safe and build them neighborhoods that truly are safe havens. We have to do our part to make the world the way it should be. We owe it to John and to all kids who deserve the best we can offer them--the best of our world.
In time we will come to "own" and teach about this better world. Right now, we are overwhelmed by "the silent sounds no worse than cheers" and are mourning our lad who has "slipped..away." Right now, it is enough to pray--God bless you dear John and may God already be holding you in his arms.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
"Time, Oh, Good, Good Time..."
My work has always been in the world of education and there is an ebb and flow of the activities of a school year. Though it is always busy, there are times when the pace accelerates. The creation of report cards and the parent conferences that accompany them, right before a holiday or the end of a term, and the end of the year are times in a school community when the activity level reaches a zenith. Nothing compares, though, with the week of graduation and exams in a high school! Emotions run high with the bitterweet leaving of our students and students, teachers, and families share a roller coaster ride of events such as awards, Mass, and graduation itself not to mention the anxiety of exam grades, grade point averages, and final college plans. At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, early June was such a time and graduation was accompanied just twenty four hours later with the five year reunion of the Class of 2005! What a whirlwind!
First of all, our graduates deserve so much credit for the poise and humor with which they dealt with the graduation "event." They paid attention as awards were given and laughed at some of the humorous traditions at school such as the senior bowling honor. They laughed at themselves as they watched a slide show that included photos taken over the last four years. Even the students were amazed at the changes that were so evident as children grew into adulthood. They listened to the advice of many and endured the tears of the adults who care about them even as their thoughts were turning toward graduation parties and the beach. Those of us who worked with them were proud of their grades, the college credits they already earned and the scholarship dollars (over 1.5 million) that have been promised to them. Most of all, it was a great feeling to know that they are ready to leave us and that they are prepared for the next stage of their lives. They are ready for the rigors of college classes and the decisions that accompany independent living. The Class of 2010 has made us proud and we smile with them as their adult journey begins.
And then, less than twenty four hours later, many faculty members joined the Class of 2005 for their fifth year reunion. It was a great evening and many class members attended. There were many recent college graduates, several graduate school students, and discussions of jobs, careers, and plans for the future. Class members seemed genuinely glad to see each other and their former teachers and marked the occasion as a right of passage. There is something about sharing a drink with a mentor or teacher that makes adulthood a reality. The conversation included the ususal "Do you remember?" and "What happpened to so and so?" but for me there was one conversation that said it all. A former student gave me a hug hello and whispered in my ear, "I wanted to thank you for supporting me and giving me the space to discover who I really am." Though I was happy to hear that she is now a professional woman with a degree, I was elated to see that she remains quirky, bright, and creative and now has added confident to the list of qualities that describe her. It was a lovely evening in so many ways.
And, this past week the underclassmen finished their exams and final grades are being computed. Tomorrow teachers will finalize this school year and simultaneously begin to work on the next one. In just a few weeks another group of youngsters will join our community and we will begin again. It is truly a blessing to journey through these formative years with students who become so much more than that word conveys.
And, as each year passes we value the time we spend with students and the time we take planning to provide the best in Catholic education for them. This year, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, there are big changes in the works. Our school will be reconfigured into an Early Childhood through grade 12 school. We will operate using an Upper School/Lower School model rather than as the three separate units we now have. The cohesion that will come from this reconfiguration will benefit our students through an improved use of resources including both personnel and space. Outward signs of this change are already happening. The library is being consolidated and the book collections decentralized for optimum use. Classrooms in our elelmentary building will be moved to allow students closer access to their assigned administrator. More challenging academic classes will be introduced at both the middle and high school levels. These changes and many others are outward signs of internal growth.
Our school community has been given the time to re-assess how we can best serve our children, of all ages, in a fast-paced, information rich, value poor world. There are exciting changes on the horizon but they will make for other stories yet to come. It is my hope that, in time, I can share all these new stories with you! I hope you decide to take the time to read along and join in the journey!
First of all, our graduates deserve so much credit for the poise and humor with which they dealt with the graduation "event." They paid attention as awards were given and laughed at some of the humorous traditions at school such as the senior bowling honor. They laughed at themselves as they watched a slide show that included photos taken over the last four years. Even the students were amazed at the changes that were so evident as children grew into adulthood. They listened to the advice of many and endured the tears of the adults who care about them even as their thoughts were turning toward graduation parties and the beach. Those of us who worked with them were proud of their grades, the college credits they already earned and the scholarship dollars (over 1.5 million) that have been promised to them. Most of all, it was a great feeling to know that they are ready to leave us and that they are prepared for the next stage of their lives. They are ready for the rigors of college classes and the decisions that accompany independent living. The Class of 2010 has made us proud and we smile with them as their adult journey begins.
And then, less than twenty four hours later, many faculty members joined the Class of 2005 for their fifth year reunion. It was a great evening and many class members attended. There were many recent college graduates, several graduate school students, and discussions of jobs, careers, and plans for the future. Class members seemed genuinely glad to see each other and their former teachers and marked the occasion as a right of passage. There is something about sharing a drink with a mentor or teacher that makes adulthood a reality. The conversation included the ususal "Do you remember?" and "What happpened to so and so?" but for me there was one conversation that said it all. A former student gave me a hug hello and whispered in my ear, "I wanted to thank you for supporting me and giving me the space to discover who I really am." Though I was happy to hear that she is now a professional woman with a degree, I was elated to see that she remains quirky, bright, and creative and now has added confident to the list of qualities that describe her. It was a lovely evening in so many ways.
And, this past week the underclassmen finished their exams and final grades are being computed. Tomorrow teachers will finalize this school year and simultaneously begin to work on the next one. In just a few weeks another group of youngsters will join our community and we will begin again. It is truly a blessing to journey through these formative years with students who become so much more than that word conveys.
And, as each year passes we value the time we spend with students and the time we take planning to provide the best in Catholic education for them. This year, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, there are big changes in the works. Our school will be reconfigured into an Early Childhood through grade 12 school. We will operate using an Upper School/Lower School model rather than as the three separate units we now have. The cohesion that will come from this reconfiguration will benefit our students through an improved use of resources including both personnel and space. Outward signs of this change are already happening. The library is being consolidated and the book collections decentralized for optimum use. Classrooms in our elelmentary building will be moved to allow students closer access to their assigned administrator. More challenging academic classes will be introduced at both the middle and high school levels. These changes and many others are outward signs of internal growth.
Our school community has been given the time to re-assess how we can best serve our children, of all ages, in a fast-paced, information rich, value poor world. There are exciting changes on the horizon but they will make for other stories yet to come. It is my hope that, in time, I can share all these new stories with you! I hope you decide to take the time to read along and join in the journey!
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Fruits of Our Labor!
Most people who go into the profession of education do so because they love kids. They also share some fundamental beliefs about the human condition. They believe that people can change for the better. They believe in the infinite potential of children. They believe that learning about the past can improve the future. They believe that children who have acquired solid information about how to learn can take us quantum leaps into a better future. Educators are the harbingers of hope and include many of the last "hold outs" of idealism. Sometimes this vision of hope becomes dulled by dispassionate kids, uncooperative parents, and the world gone amuck. Very often educators never know of the good that they do. They never see the fruits of their labor because sometimes the benefits that they have inspired do not come to fruition for many years. Unless they happen to re-unite with former students many years after teaching them, educators often wonder if their labor matters at all. In recent weeks, the educators at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel have had two wonderful occasions to "see" the fruits of their labor of love and, both of those occasions were very, very good!
On April 21, 2010, our high school celebrated our fiftieth anniversary at a dinner celebration with several hundred people in attendance. There were alumni there from most classes including the very first class of 1963. There were current and former faculty members and parents from various eras at the event. There were current and former school and parish leaders, too, and as you can imagine, stories were being swapped for hours on end. The room was filled with chatter and laughter. Most of all, the room was filled with gratitude. As we honored representatives of each group--pastors, teachers, parents, students, Board members--each took their turn to give tribute to what our small school did for them. Those stories resonated an important theme--
Mt. Carmel High School made a difference in so many lives because excellent teachers gave their best to their students who deserved nothing less. Not surprisingly, no one mentioned the bricks and mortar of the place. They mentioned how much being challenged to excellence meant to them, how much being cared for mattered, and how much they learned about self, life, and faith as well as the world. It was and is a wonderful school--a small school that makes a big difference in the lives of people!
The second occasion that showcased how our former students were doing out in the world was Alumni Night at our recent Festival. Friday night of the Festival is always the night that former students gather to share their recent accomplishments,introduce their new heart throbs, and show off their beautiful children. This Festival was a banner year--both in the number of alums attending (over 200!) and their stories. Several recent college grads returned to get a much deserved hug of congratulations--There were teachers, a P.A., several nurses, an engineer and a former high school "technology kid" who works with and helps invent the gadgets at CNN. There were tales of law school, graduate degrees, and life in New York City. In the midst of these stories were the stories of weddings,new babies, and the perennial sentence starter--"Do you remember...?" And the answer from the many current and former faculty there was always, "Of course we do!" The bonds of relationships at a small school are powerful and often span the decades.
I am a firm believer that given time and nurturing, all kids eventually grow up in the sense of reaching maturity and developing the wisdom to make good choices. It is so wonderful to be in a place like Mt. Carmel where seeing this process from beginning to end is a frequent reality. There is no doubt that teaching is a craft, a profession and hard work. It takes long hours and it sometimes breaks your heart. But, it is also true that, though teaching is labor, it is a labor of love. Seeing the fruits of that labor--adults who are people of kindness, integrity, faith, and successful as well--is a joy!
On April 21, 2010, our high school celebrated our fiftieth anniversary at a dinner celebration with several hundred people in attendance. There were alumni there from most classes including the very first class of 1963. There were current and former faculty members and parents from various eras at the event. There were current and former school and parish leaders, too, and as you can imagine, stories were being swapped for hours on end. The room was filled with chatter and laughter. Most of all, the room was filled with gratitude. As we honored representatives of each group--pastors, teachers, parents, students, Board members--each took their turn to give tribute to what our small school did for them. Those stories resonated an important theme--
Mt. Carmel High School made a difference in so many lives because excellent teachers gave their best to their students who deserved nothing less. Not surprisingly, no one mentioned the bricks and mortar of the place. They mentioned how much being challenged to excellence meant to them, how much being cared for mattered, and how much they learned about self, life, and faith as well as the world. It was and is a wonderful school--a small school that makes a big difference in the lives of people!
The second occasion that showcased how our former students were doing out in the world was Alumni Night at our recent Festival. Friday night of the Festival is always the night that former students gather to share their recent accomplishments,introduce their new heart throbs, and show off their beautiful children. This Festival was a banner year--both in the number of alums attending (over 200!) and their stories. Several recent college grads returned to get a much deserved hug of congratulations--There were teachers, a P.A., several nurses, an engineer and a former high school "technology kid" who works with and helps invent the gadgets at CNN. There were tales of law school, graduate degrees, and life in New York City. In the midst of these stories were the stories of weddings,new babies, and the perennial sentence starter--"Do you remember...?" And the answer from the many current and former faculty there was always, "Of course we do!" The bonds of relationships at a small school are powerful and often span the decades.
I am a firm believer that given time and nurturing, all kids eventually grow up in the sense of reaching maturity and developing the wisdom to make good choices. It is so wonderful to be in a place like Mt. Carmel where seeing this process from beginning to end is a frequent reality. There is no doubt that teaching is a craft, a profession and hard work. It takes long hours and it sometimes breaks your heart. But, it is also true that, though teaching is labor, it is a labor of love. Seeing the fruits of that labor--adults who are people of kindness, integrity, faith, and successful as well--is a joy!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Anniversary Dinner--When is a Dinner MORE than a Meal?
Next Wednesday on April 21, 2010, there will be a dinner celebrating the fifitieth anniversary of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School. The dinner will be held at Martin's East--the site of many a prom--and should provide an opportunity for a gathering of several hundred wonderful people. Many of these people will reconnect with others that they haven't seen in years. Others will renew acquaintances and share information that hasn't been updated since that last soccer game, baseball event, or graduation exercise. There will be former students and faculty and parents of alums as well as current students, parents, and faculty. The people attending will leap over the barriers of time and revel, for one evening at least, in a common theme.
The common thread that binds all of our dinner guests together is that each of them played a part in the history of our school. Many of our guests grew up in the classrooms and corridors of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School learning both important academic information and important lessons about life. Many of our guests are the men and women who provided the inspiration and guidance for that growth of mind and heart to happen. Many of the guests are loving parents who sacrificed so much and worked so hard on fund raisers and tuition challenges in order to provide an opportuntiy for their children. Many of the guests shared the joys of friendships that have lasted through decades. Many of the guests were supported in times of heartache and challenge by the loving community of Carmel and the faith on which that community is built.
It is my great hope that the dinner provides a special "moment" for all who gather to pause and think about what it is that we all share. I know that there will be memories shared of classroom antics, sports events, and individual accomplishments. Beyond that I hope there will be at least one moment when everyone realizes that we share several beliefs that are much more profound. These are some of the beliefs that we celebrate and share--
We share a belief in the importance and value of every child. Knowing that children come in all shapes, sizes, and with assorted gifts of mind and heart, we believe that they ALL deserve our love and attention.
We believe that education provides the stepping stone that indiviuals need to make life better for themselves and their family. Knowing that families struggle to provide for their children, we believe that we need to work together to support those who need assistance.
We believe that when excellent academic programs are combined with faith and a Gospel vision, students are inspired to be the people God intended them to be. Knowing that setting standards of quality and developing a sense of service are necessities for living a Christian life, we hold in high regard the contribution of every student and the development of their character.
We believe that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has provided a "family" for many young people who have thrived and have reached adulthood with integrity. This year, on our fifitieth anniversary, we celebrate every successful young life our school has touched and every member of our school family who has helped that success to come to fruition.
Even as we celebrate the past, we look to the future. There are students today even more in need of the nurturing community at Mt. Carmel than ever. In these competitive times, post-secondary education is a must for all and our students need to be prepared. In these days of political and economic crisis, integrity is crucial to becoming a leader. In these challenging times, faith in a loving God is foundational as is the belief that we each have a part to play in making this world a better place. Today and in the days to come, more than ever before, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a school and a community that is necessary!
At our anniversary dinner, it is these beliefs as well as the people who share them that will be celebrated. As you can see, our dinner will be a celebration dinner that is, oh so much more than a meal! (If you would like to attend our dinner that is so much more than a meal, call Laura Cummins at 410-686-4972 for ticket information)
The common thread that binds all of our dinner guests together is that each of them played a part in the history of our school. Many of our guests grew up in the classrooms and corridors of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School learning both important academic information and important lessons about life. Many of our guests are the men and women who provided the inspiration and guidance for that growth of mind and heart to happen. Many of the guests are loving parents who sacrificed so much and worked so hard on fund raisers and tuition challenges in order to provide an opportuntiy for their children. Many of the guests shared the joys of friendships that have lasted through decades. Many of the guests were supported in times of heartache and challenge by the loving community of Carmel and the faith on which that community is built.
It is my great hope that the dinner provides a special "moment" for all who gather to pause and think about what it is that we all share. I know that there will be memories shared of classroom antics, sports events, and individual accomplishments. Beyond that I hope there will be at least one moment when everyone realizes that we share several beliefs that are much more profound. These are some of the beliefs that we celebrate and share--
We share a belief in the importance and value of every child. Knowing that children come in all shapes, sizes, and with assorted gifts of mind and heart, we believe that they ALL deserve our love and attention.
We believe that education provides the stepping stone that indiviuals need to make life better for themselves and their family. Knowing that families struggle to provide for their children, we believe that we need to work together to support those who need assistance.
We believe that when excellent academic programs are combined with faith and a Gospel vision, students are inspired to be the people God intended them to be. Knowing that setting standards of quality and developing a sense of service are necessities for living a Christian life, we hold in high regard the contribution of every student and the development of their character.
We believe that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has provided a "family" for many young people who have thrived and have reached adulthood with integrity. This year, on our fifitieth anniversary, we celebrate every successful young life our school has touched and every member of our school family who has helped that success to come to fruition.
Even as we celebrate the past, we look to the future. There are students today even more in need of the nurturing community at Mt. Carmel than ever. In these competitive times, post-secondary education is a must for all and our students need to be prepared. In these days of political and economic crisis, integrity is crucial to becoming a leader. In these challenging times, faith in a loving God is foundational as is the belief that we each have a part to play in making this world a better place. Today and in the days to come, more than ever before, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a school and a community that is necessary!
At our anniversary dinner, it is these beliefs as well as the people who share them that will be celebrated. As you can see, our dinner will be a celebration dinner that is, oh so much more than a meal! (If you would like to attend our dinner that is so much more than a meal, call Laura Cummins at 410-686-4972 for ticket information)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Alumni: When Does It Ever End?
This past week Our Lady of Mt. Carmel has been inundated with visitors. It has been wonderful to see our alumni come back to visit during the spring break of their colleges. Since 95% of our graduates go on to college, their midsemester break has become a traditional time for them to reconnect. The young women who return look a bit more polished and sophisticated. Young men are broader of shoulder and are often sporting their first ever beard,scruffy though it may be. That is where differences end. All of these recent graduates tell tales of courses they have loved, grade point averages that are respectable, and discuss career options and changes of major with their former teachers and administrators at out school. This past week we heard from a photography major at The Maryland Institute of Art, a political science and international studies major from St. Mary's College, as well as from several students in nursing, physical therapy,health care and related fields. We even got tickets in the mail from one of our alumna from the University of Southern California (a theater major) who is putting on a one woman show in Baltimore in a few weeks. Those of us at the school are elated to have these conversations and interactions. Seeing these graduates move forward with independence and success is one of the gratifications teachers share. I thought several times during these visits that our relationships last long after the final blessing of graduation is over. When do these connections end? I hope that they never do!
From the perspective of those of us who teach at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as long as people remain who have known our former students certainly there are connections. Beyond that,though, there is a connection to the school itself that goes beyond individuals. Whether a former student attended in the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties,or in this new century, the experience of a small, nurturing yet challenging community where there is not only room to grow but an expectation to grow has been constant. In our fifty years of serving young people, the commitment to help them develop God's gifts and achieve success, happiness, and a life of faith has remained a priority. Our school has done her part!
In the past few weeks, in the aftermath of the school consolidation plan, there has been a great deal of noise made by alumni of various schools. It made me wonder if alumni really understand that they, too, have a responsibility to their former school that does not end. I wonder if alumni ever think about those expectations? If they do, is it only in a moment of need or crisis? Is it too often "too little too late?"
I believe that the first expectation of Carmel alumni is that they live their life in a way that reflects the values and information they have learned at Carmel. Are they good parents to their children? Are they leaders in their neighborhoods and communities? Are they using God's gifts in appropriate ways? Can we look at them and be proud of the adults they have become? I would hope that all our grads could answer, "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
The expectations go beyond that. Are our alumni advocates for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the community? Do they articulate the news about the great education available at Mt. Carmel? Do they tell the same stories their teachers remember about how learning happens--sometimes the easy way, sometimes the hard way? Do they relate that in that process, they were never abandoned? If our alumni become advocates for our school in the community, they help make our school, small in size, stronger and less vulnerable to the econmic tides of the times. Our alumni need to "talk it up" about all that our small school is willing to provide in education of a young person's mind, and heart, and soul.
And, finally, our alumni need to support our school financially. When letters come asking for help with student scholarshps, Annual Appeals, or building projects, those alumni who have reached some success and security in their own lives need to give back. Being of service and supporting our community is a theme about which every Carmel student has heard. "It is not all about you, it is about our community, and building a better world," is a statement I have been making to kids for decades! Every Carmel alumni should be considering the extent to which they can support our school. As recent events have shown, it is too late to wait until crisis has descended. Now if the acceptable time!( If you haven't sent your Annual Appeal gift, now would be a great time to do so!)
I have come to be a believer that the world improves, if it does at all, a person at a time. Educators have a rare opportunity and responsibility to make that happen on a daily basis. But, help is needed from those who "get it." No one gets the importance of a Gospel based, Catholic education better than those who have benefitted from one. I know that our alums "get it!"
So, to get back round to the beginning-- The relationship between Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and her graduates--recent or not--never ends. It is also true that their relationship and responsibilty to our school never ends either. Live a "good" life, talk the good talk and dig into those pockets to support a wonderful school that supported you!
From the perspective of those of us who teach at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as long as people remain who have known our former students certainly there are connections. Beyond that,though, there is a connection to the school itself that goes beyond individuals. Whether a former student attended in the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties,or in this new century, the experience of a small, nurturing yet challenging community where there is not only room to grow but an expectation to grow has been constant. In our fifty years of serving young people, the commitment to help them develop God's gifts and achieve success, happiness, and a life of faith has remained a priority. Our school has done her part!
In the past few weeks, in the aftermath of the school consolidation plan, there has been a great deal of noise made by alumni of various schools. It made me wonder if alumni really understand that they, too, have a responsibility to their former school that does not end. I wonder if alumni ever think about those expectations? If they do, is it only in a moment of need or crisis? Is it too often "too little too late?"
I believe that the first expectation of Carmel alumni is that they live their life in a way that reflects the values and information they have learned at Carmel. Are they good parents to their children? Are they leaders in their neighborhoods and communities? Are they using God's gifts in appropriate ways? Can we look at them and be proud of the adults they have become? I would hope that all our grads could answer, "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
The expectations go beyond that. Are our alumni advocates for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the community? Do they articulate the news about the great education available at Mt. Carmel? Do they tell the same stories their teachers remember about how learning happens--sometimes the easy way, sometimes the hard way? Do they relate that in that process, they were never abandoned? If our alumni become advocates for our school in the community, they help make our school, small in size, stronger and less vulnerable to the econmic tides of the times. Our alumni need to "talk it up" about all that our small school is willing to provide in education of a young person's mind, and heart, and soul.
And, finally, our alumni need to support our school financially. When letters come asking for help with student scholarshps, Annual Appeals, or building projects, those alumni who have reached some success and security in their own lives need to give back. Being of service and supporting our community is a theme about which every Carmel student has heard. "It is not all about you, it is about our community, and building a better world," is a statement I have been making to kids for decades! Every Carmel alumni should be considering the extent to which they can support our school. As recent events have shown, it is too late to wait until crisis has descended. Now if the acceptable time!( If you haven't sent your Annual Appeal gift, now would be a great time to do so!)
I have come to be a believer that the world improves, if it does at all, a person at a time. Educators have a rare opportunity and responsibility to make that happen on a daily basis. But, help is needed from those who "get it." No one gets the importance of a Gospel based, Catholic education better than those who have benefitted from one. I know that our alums "get it!"
So, to get back round to the beginning-- The relationship between Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and her graduates--recent or not--never ends. It is also true that their relationship and responsibilty to our school never ends either. Live a "good" life, talk the good talk and dig into those pockets to support a wonderful school that supported you!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
"Sometimes Ya Don't Know What Ya Got..."
Over the last day or so the first line to the lyrics of an old song has been running through my head. The tune is lost as are the words to the rest of the song. The part I remember is "sometimes ya don't know what ya got 'til it's gone." I have been thinking about how false these words ring in our present school situation.
This morning Archbishop O'Brien announced that thirteen schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will not open next September but will be consolidated with other school communities. Many have suffered from enrollment decreases, the challenges of old buildings (some well over 100 years old!), money problems, and the changing populations in neighborhoods once filled with children. The plan was thoroughly done and based on solid research and projections. It is a valiant attempt to trim the number of schools so that there can be new growth and increased excellence in the schools that remain. The consolidation plan is an attempt to insure that Catholic education in Baltimore will thrive for now and for the future. This was quite a challenge! Given that painful challenge, there is no one involved at any level who does not know clearly and painfully what has been lost.
One of the great blessings of Catholic schools is that they are more than educational institutions. They are families in the best sense of that word. Certainly students learn not only the basics but also skills of leadership, lessons of faith, and the need to work for justice. All of this learning happens because of the relationships that exist within each school. Without sounding like a Pollyanna, I truly believe that where Catholic schools do their job, love abides. Educators love their kids. They love them enough to teach them, challenge them, go to all their games, chaperone their events, show up for advice sessions, retreats, and prayer services. They rejoice at the family celebrations of their students and support those same families when sadness comes to them. There is no end to the connections that bind one to the other--students,parents, teachers, administrators, priests and religious.
What happened today in Baltimore was not a failure of these relationships. In some cases the buildings failed and in many cases the finances failed but in no case was there a lack of love, caring, and dedication--one for the other--in those school families. That is why, though many realized that this day needed to come in one form or another or all could be lost, sadness abounds. I believe that for a time, that sadness must be allowed to happen and be respected.
It is the great hope that the children of these families who are now engulfed in loss,can find their way to a new Catholic school--a new family that will continue to teach, love, and nurture them. It will be in realizing that the Church is bigger than any one place and the spirit of one should permeate all, that will allow many to begin to move forward.
Something wonderful was lost today and everyone in our school communities knows it. Those who remain are obligated out of solidarity and respect to carry on the dedication, tradition, and excellence that have always been the marks of Catholic education. We also carry forward hope which is another mark not only of our schools but of our faith. Pope John Paul II said, 'There is hope for the future and its name is youth." We continue to teach, serve, and nurture our youth in schools of excellence knowing the great sacrifices and traditions that allow us to continue. We pray for those families and school communities who are grieving. We also pray that we always recognize and appreciate the blessings that we have in our school families and relationships--while we have them!
This morning Archbishop O'Brien announced that thirteen schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will not open next September but will be consolidated with other school communities. Many have suffered from enrollment decreases, the challenges of old buildings (some well over 100 years old!), money problems, and the changing populations in neighborhoods once filled with children. The plan was thoroughly done and based on solid research and projections. It is a valiant attempt to trim the number of schools so that there can be new growth and increased excellence in the schools that remain. The consolidation plan is an attempt to insure that Catholic education in Baltimore will thrive for now and for the future. This was quite a challenge! Given that painful challenge, there is no one involved at any level who does not know clearly and painfully what has been lost.
One of the great blessings of Catholic schools is that they are more than educational institutions. They are families in the best sense of that word. Certainly students learn not only the basics but also skills of leadership, lessons of faith, and the need to work for justice. All of this learning happens because of the relationships that exist within each school. Without sounding like a Pollyanna, I truly believe that where Catholic schools do their job, love abides. Educators love their kids. They love them enough to teach them, challenge them, go to all their games, chaperone their events, show up for advice sessions, retreats, and prayer services. They rejoice at the family celebrations of their students and support those same families when sadness comes to them. There is no end to the connections that bind one to the other--students,parents, teachers, administrators, priests and religious.
What happened today in Baltimore was not a failure of these relationships. In some cases the buildings failed and in many cases the finances failed but in no case was there a lack of love, caring, and dedication--one for the other--in those school families. That is why, though many realized that this day needed to come in one form or another or all could be lost, sadness abounds. I believe that for a time, that sadness must be allowed to happen and be respected.
It is the great hope that the children of these families who are now engulfed in loss,can find their way to a new Catholic school--a new family that will continue to teach, love, and nurture them. It will be in realizing that the Church is bigger than any one place and the spirit of one should permeate all, that will allow many to begin to move forward.
Something wonderful was lost today and everyone in our school communities knows it. Those who remain are obligated out of solidarity and respect to carry on the dedication, tradition, and excellence that have always been the marks of Catholic education. We also carry forward hope which is another mark not only of our schools but of our faith. Pope John Paul II said, 'There is hope for the future and its name is youth." We continue to teach, serve, and nurture our youth in schools of excellence knowing the great sacrifices and traditions that allow us to continue. We pray for those families and school communities who are grieving. We also pray that we always recognize and appreciate the blessings that we have in our school families and relationships--while we have them!
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