Volunteerism at Its Best!

A few weekends ago I witnessed a miracle of sorts! The Fall Festival, which is months in the planning stages, happened with a convergence of perfect weather, hundreds of volunteers, and the good spirit of an entire community. In this age of "all for me" and "I am out for myself", the good spirit of that weekend renewed my faith in the power of people to do good for a cause in which they believe.
Our Fall Festival which has happened on the first full weekend of October since the mid-sixties has a dual purpose. First of all, it creates tremendous spirit in the community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Every group in the school and parish sponsors multiple booths of games or food. Rides are rented from a local amusement firm and the parking lot is transformed into a fair. The Festival is a full weekend of events and volunteers take shifts to man the booths. Over the course of the weekend hundreds of people participate. There are games for young children where everyone is a winner everytime. There are games of chance for lucky adults and there is food in abundance. The pit beef is to die for and there is nothing better than fried dough with powdered sugar covering nose to chin once a bite is taken. Friday evening has been dubbed Alumni Night and this year we renewed our relationship with more than two hundred graduates of our school. They came with stories of jobs and opportunities,introduced us to new spouses and children and reminisced about their days on campus. The value of this Fall ritual is priceless and everyone who particpates feels the energy and excitement that I like to call "Carmel Spirit."
The second purpose of the Festival is that it generates funds to support our school. The Carmel community understands that education is everyone's repsonsibility and people young and old work together to make the event a success. This year, though final tallies are not available, the Festival will generate money that supports students, upgrades technology and helps us maintain our beautiful but aging buildings. There are some families--the Brotzmans, the Satterfields,the Bonners, the Webers, the Cummins who give above and beyond for the success of this venture. There are many who do their share and more. For all of these generous folks I am grateful. We surely can put the funds they generate to good use! We can also look to them as examples of volunteerism at its best--Young people can benefit from the example of these volunteers who give both their time and their treasure for something in which they believe--the community of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

1971--It Was a Very Good Year!

Two weekends ago I had the opportunity to attend the fortieth class reunion of the Class of 1971. It was a delightful event in so many ways! First of all, this group that graduated 51 strong, had never had a class reunion. Secondly, as they gathered, it was clear from their shrieks and shouts that they each had maintained a fondness for each other and still felt a connection to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. They shared many common memories of those formative years and stories abounded of the "senior cut day" that lasted only fifteen minutes, basketball, cheerleading and the selection of the cougar for the school mascot.(It sounded like the squirrel was in the running and I am certain that classes that followed were grateful for the choice of the mighty cougar!)Finally, the evening reminded me of the richness that every class brings to the ongoing story of our school and the value that alumni play in our future.
Members of the Class of 1971,diminished by the passing of six classmates, met in almost full attendance for an evening of good conversation, catching up, and sharing memories. Though several members of the class had remained in the Baltimore area, many came from afar for the reunion. Some arrived from Florida, Texas, and Virginia while some came from points north. The theme for their senior year was "Becoming" and many conversations of the evening centered on what they, in fact, became. The accomplishments of their adult lives were shared. Photos of children and grandchildren were passed from one to another. One class member did a great job of creating a booklet with recent biographical information that focused on "What We Became." What I saw that evening was a group of men and women who had shared their growing up years. In retrospect, they appeciated the caring teachers they had, and treasured the experiences in sports, plays, and in leadership roles that helped create the confident adults they became. Though many years passed, there was a bond that remained. As one classmate remarked,"We may not have done a great job of connecting over the years, but we were a class that got along and truly loved one another."
After I met the friendly and energetic members of the Clas of 1971 I began thinking of the dynamic that happens to all classes in a school. Each class is composed of diverse and unique individuals who achieve, accomplish, and succeed based on their own talents, determination, and gifts. Those individuals, however, form a class whose members bond. The class takes on a personality of its own! Some classes are known for their academic excellence, some for athletic prowess, and some for their sense of compassion and service. Each class contributes to the ongoing history and story of the school. Each class takes into itself what I like to call the "Carmel Spirit."
The Carmel Spirit includes the values that center on some foundational tenets. They include cherishing and building a sense of family in the school community, achieving academic excellence according to one's gifts, developing a willingness to serve others, and integrating faith into every aspect of life. This spirit is one which I hope all Carmel students "catch" and then create as they move forward in life. I could feel those qualities the other evening from the members of the Class of 1971 as I have from the classes with whom I have worked over the years.
It is my great hope that as young people graduate, reach adulthood and are able to reflect back on their Carmel experience with the wisdom of years, they appreciate what they learned. I also hope that they support the current efforts of the school to share the Carmel Spirit with a new generation of young people.
So, it was wonderful to meet the Class of 1971! Leonita and Margaret as well as others did a wonderful job of finding classmates, inviting, cajoling, and remembering. It was a special evening for all who attended including me! I know that the Carmel Spirit is thriving among the members of this class and I could tell--even forty years later--that 1971 was truly a very good year!

The Power of Prayer

I was talking to our Athletic Director recently and he described some of the events of the past week as "surreal." In one sense he was correct, but in another it was a week that --as always-included the humorous, the happy, the generous, and the sombering. When you are surrounded with many students each day, each with their own ups and downs, there is always the possibility of drama both real and created! Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, serving as a "home away from home" to more than six hundred students is just like that.
Last weekend we celebrated Homecoming at our school, a weekend full of pep rallies and athletic games which generate both school spirit and excitement. Last Friday began with an out of uniform day and all the students could wear school colors or their school sports jersey. At the pep rallies, one for the Lower School (k-5) and one for the Upper School (6-12) there was a sea of blue and gold and LOTS of noise! Cheerleaders led a competition yelling match , grade against grade. This long standing tradition is great fun and it allows kids to really get into the excitement of the day as they chant at the top of their lungs, "Spirit, spirit, we got spirit! How about you!" In addition to the shouting, all the members of the sports teams are introduced and there are some fun games with volunteers from each class. Both of the pep rallies were great events and the little ones especially were quite impressed by the chance to cheer for their older classmates. Being a Cougar fan starts at a young age and lasts forever!
That evening included a "dress up" dance for the high school age students which was sponsored by the Student Government. Seeing the girls with their new outfits, fancy hair and high heeled shoes and the guys with shirts, ties, and adult attitudes gave a glimpse of the young adults they are and the grown-ups they will become. They had a great time with dance competitions, great food (graciously prepared by several of our dedicated teachers--nothing is too much for the kids!) and lots of time with friends. Perhaps the most impressive part of the night for me, was the willingness of all the student leaders to set up the dance, clean up the debris at the end, and cheerfully cooperate with one another so that everyone including the teachers could look back at the evening and smile. This was a great example of leadership in the making. Big jobs, little jobs, glamorous jobs and not so glamourous jobs were all done with enthusiasm and good spirit.
Though the weather interfered with game plans, volleyball and men's and women's soccer games were all finally played between the raindrops during the next day. Though scores were mixed each team fought hard, played with spirit and good sportsmanship, and had fun.
Our football team played on Saturday evening and this is when the real drama began. As the first quarter started, our team showed some gusto and skill and played well. Since this is only our second season, folks were pleased that the Homecoming game had the possibilty of a winning outcome. But, in the second quarter, a sombering event happened and everyone was snapped into a different reality. Our quaterback, Kory Puller, was hit and at the end of the play did not get up. Josh Lamont, our Athletic Trainer, was quick to respond and verified that the injury was serious. Time passed and paramedics and eventually the Shock Trauma helicopter arrived. Kory was flown out and the prayers began.
The bottom line is that,after a very frightening several days and many assesments, Kory is recovereing and the great hope is that he will be 100% before too long. The secondary, but also important lesson in this story, revolves around the way that the community responded to the scare. After Kory left the game, the team, though certainly shaken and worried, decided to finish the game. They finished it by playing hard but not getting any fouls called and playing with skill and sportsmanship. They should be proud of themselves for stepping it up and I hope they know that I am proud of their ability to contain any negative reactions and channel their energy into good, fair, clean play.
The other students and teachers spent the weekend texting news about Kory and praying for him. A petition was prayed for him at every Mass that weekend at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Every student in every class prayed for his recovery throughout the next week. Cards were made and signed and sent. Kory was on our mind and in our heart. He did get out of the hospital and late in the week, I got word that he was in the gym. Of course I went down to see him but was caught up short. There he was still dealing with the headaches caused by his concussion, in a neck brace, a back brace, and in a wheel chair. The sight of this young, basically healthy, happy athlete, so compromised did more than give me pause.
These are my thoughts--How great in a Catholic school and community is it that we could all support Kory through our prayers? How powerful are those prayers as they carry our hopes and dreams to a God who makes all things possible! How grateful are we that this great young man is on the mend! How wonderful is it to see him, despite his obvious pain and discomfort, cheering for his classmates! Being a Cougar is more than playing games and cheering at pep rallies. It is being part of a community where people truly care about each other and love each other especially when things are tough. It is a faith community where we all believe in the power of prayer.
Now that the worst of that frightening event is over,we all should add a petition of thanksgiving to our prayers. We thank God for Kory's recovery and for our community. We should never take health, friendship, nor faith for granted nor forget our vulnerability. Our prayer should always include, "Thank you God!!!"

Turn Around and You Have Grown....

Last week I had an opportunity to take a good look at the end results of some of the work we have done at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel with young people. I had a chance to attend our Athletic Association's Opening Day ceremonies for both the clinic (under six) group and, a few days later, the older students. As some of you may know Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is known as "soccer country" and children begin to learn the game almost as soon as they can walk! The Athletic Association is an organization of our parish which gives kids a chance to learn the game and play in age groups against teams from other parishes all over the Archdiocese. The group is energized by the volunteer efforts of hundreds of parents and others in the community who give untold hours of time coaching, selling consessions and cheering for these little athletes.
Last week I attended the Clinic Opening Ceremonies so that I could see my grandson, who is five, begin his season. I must say that the concept of soccer is still a little foreign to him--"Why won't that orange team share with us?" " Where do I run to score a goal?" "Why can't we run past the cones?" he asks. These questions come up on a regular basis as we try to explain the differences between sharing vs. competing and rules vs. free play! The process of learning how to play on a team is a long one and we are just beginning.
While at the game last week, one of my jobs was to keep an eye on my other grandson, who is fourteen months old, so that his mom could help coach. I spent lots of time on the playground making sure that mulch was not eaten and on the field making sure that no one toddled into the field of play! In the midst of this wonderful but exhausting activity, I looked up and saw the bleachers full of parents, grandparents and friends. That is when the song "Turn Around" flew into my head and I began to think about accomplishments.
Rarely does a person talk about Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School or parish without using the word "family" within the first three sentences uttered. We are a community that values family. We are a community whose members treat one another as family. And, we are a community which instills that value in our young people. That value results in spending time with one another, respecting one another, supporting one another's interests, and affirming the contribution we each can make to better our individual families and the Mt. Carmel family. When I looked over at the bleachers last week, I was thrilled to see so many of our former students with their young children. They were cheering for them, coaching them, and teaching them. Right next to those young parents, stood the grandparents--those parents with whom I worked years before when their children (now the parents) were young.
Two notions crossed my mind at that moment. I was so proud of those young parents for choosing to be involved with their children in our community. I could see the love they had for those little ones and sense the sacrifices they are willing to make for them. I recognized that these parents were already setting an example of leadership and service for their children as they supported the soccer program. These are some of the values we taught them so many years ago in our school and in our parish. Faith and family go together and form the foundation for everything else. Service and leadership are the concrete ways we express our faith. I was so happy to see these grown-up former students and so proud of the parents they had become.
My second thought was more nostalgic. How could time have passed so quickly? How could these kids I knew have children of their own? That moment was a reminder to value all the minutes we have with our chldren. The words of that old ballad ring true--"Turn around and they are tiny, Turn 'round and they're grown, Turn round and they're young wives with babes of their own..." It is truly a gift to be able to see the wonderful parents my former students have become! I wonder how they got so old and I didn't??? Did I???

Opportunity Knocks and New Voices Resound

One of the positive aspects of my new job as President of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School is that I have the responsbility to share the great news about our school with others. Most of the time, I feel that I am "preaching to the choir" so to speak, because my listeners are often members of the Mt. Carmel community. I talk to parents, faculty, and students and often they already know the stories I am sharing. So, I was elated when Anna Renault, one of our Board members, invited me to be a guest on her blogtalk radio show. The topics included the benefits of Catholic education and, more specifically, the benefits of a Mt. Carmel education. I was in my glory!
Yesterday was the day that the live show aired. (Listeners can hear the show repeated at www.blogtalkradio.com/anna-renault/2011/09/06/kathysipes-)My excitement turned to nervousness when I discovered that the show was two hours long. All who know me would agree that I have the "gift of gab" but two empty hours looked fairly daunting as we prepared to begin! I should have realized that talking about all the programs available at our school and our great students could be a VERY long converstation! I also took some support help! Kevin McDonough and Kory Puller, our Student Government Co-Presidents, joined me for the on-air interview. Kory and Kevin added comments and personal anecdotes that were not only accurate and interesting but also affirmed all that we were highlighting about our school.
The two hours flew along as we talked about our goals for the students, the 95% who attend college each year, the college classes they can take before they graduate, the tremendous amount of service they do at every grade level,and the great faculty and staff that enable them to achieve success. Anna Renault was adept as she led us from topic to topic and emphasized many of the ideas we were sharing with personal anecdotes of her own.
Anna is an example of a "Mt. Carmel lifer!" Anna's mother taught in the elementary school. Anna and her siblings attended the elementary school and the high school, and she is now a member of the parish as well as a recent appointee to the School Board. She writes for the local newspaper and is a published author of an autobiographical book called Anna's Journey,which chronicles her life and faith journey as she battled several bouts of cancer. Anna credits Catholic education with her excellent writing skills. She also exhibits, without even realizing it, a true spirit of generosity,endurance,and commitment. I would like to think that some of those great qualities were nurtured at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel as well. We were so grateful that Anna invited us to share our Mt. Carmel story on her show yesterday. The opportunity she provided allowed us to tell a broader audience about the education available at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel--We serve children from six weeks old through Pre-School at The Caring Place Childcare Center. We serve elementary aged children from kindergarten through grade five in our Lower School and students grade six through twelve in our Upper School! Anna surely gave us the megaphone, and I think that Kevin, Kory, and I became the "voice!"
So, yesterday was a learning day for me! I discovered two important things: First, generous people, like Anna, provide opportunities when we least expect them. Secondly, I learned that when you have a great story to tell, filling up two hours is easy! I hope that you take time to listen to at least some of what we had to share! (www.blogtalkradio.com/anna-renault/2011/09/06/kathysipes-)

Seeing the Big Picture as We Begin--Again!

It has been a very long time since I wrote anything new in this blog but that doesn't mean that there hasn't been a great deal about which to write! Actually, so much has happened that I can truly say that the world has changed--at least mine has! Since I last wrote, our school community has dealt with the illness of some key faculty members, a restructuring of our school, a new adminsitrative model, eathquakes, tornados, and hurricanes!(Many of those things happened within the last several weeks!) So, I am sorry about my long absence, but I do think I have some stories to tell and my new appointment as President of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School (Pre-K through 12 including The Caring Place Child Care Center with little babies,too)gives me a perspective which will make those stories far-reaching and informative. I also hope that I can share some of the stories that touch my heart and allow you to get a glimpse of the special community we have at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. That brings me to today...
I have no doubt that our community is special because of the wonderful children and families that we serve. Today was the first day of school. It was delayed because of the recent hurricane which means all our efforts at gradual entry and easing into new routines was for naught. Today had the potential to be a "grumpy" day with folks disgruntled because of the obvious confusion that comes from plans gone amuck. I was so pleased to note that parents were happy and polite as they dropped off students in the midst of new traffic patterns. Children were excited to see their friends and make new friends. Teachers pitched in to make sure everyone was safe and in the right place! All this good spirit, I think, stems from our mutual goal of having a positve, faith-filled learning year for our students. That sometimes means we have to "get over" the little changes of routine to appreciate the big picture.
I have been described as a "big picture" person and that is where I am comfortable landing. Seeing the many gifts and talents of faculty is so much more important than checking off duty rosters. Seeing the goodness and potential in every student is a truer picture than focusing on their attitude of the moment. Understanding the mission of our school--to enable students to become all that God intended them to be--is more significant than focusing on unpulled weeds in the garden or new traffic patterns!
So, as I write to you, I will be the one who notices all the little things about life at our school but who also reminds you of the big picture. In the largest sense, we work to build a future where our children's lives are better than our own. It should be a world where they understand that part of their responsibility is to make that world a better place for everyone! Such lofty goals are worth all the effort, cooperation, and good spirit we can muster.
After one day done, I think we are off to a great year! We will continue to build a foundation of faith, scholarhship, and service for each of our students just as we have in the past. I invite you to read this blog and join me to hear about all the great things that will be!!!

Life Lessons in the Library

Did you ever walk into a convenience store and notice a sign that said, "No more than four teens allowed at a time" or something to that effect? Did that sign make you wonder exactly what had prompted the comment? Could it be the over-exhuberance of teens? Could it be fear of being overpowered by teens? Could it be the threat of theft or vandalism? I am not sure but I, for one, find signs like that not only insulting and disrespectful to our young people but also absolutely WRONG!!!!
I want to tell you a brief tale about four teens that I have come to know very well. Their story more than counters the slurs inherent in the sign I described. Their behavior, which is consistent and positive, more than balances any negatives created by their peers. Emily, Ally, Robbie, and Kelly are four Mt. Carmel seniors who elected to take an internship class called "Career and Leadership Development." For this class they have had to read, analyze,and discuss some materials on leadership, group dynamics, and organization. They are also required to create a project that puts this new knowledge and the inherent skills of managing people into action. What a grand job they have done!
All of these interns had been part of the great re-structuring project of last summer when they helped merge our elementary and high school libraries into one newly renovated learning space. Within this new learning space there is a children's room filled with what the interns refer to as "little kid books." The project was to provide a library experience, designed by the interns, for our kindergarten through second graders which would enable the little ones to visit the library, promote reading by sharing books, understand literature through activiites and discussion,and internalize the message of the book shared on that visit.
The interns started planning early in the year. Books (some favorites from years gone by) were selected. Activities were planned. A system for checking out books was devised. A calendar was created and invitations to the "little kids" were sent. Last week the first visits began.
Last Monday twenty kindergarten students marched in,took their places on a brightly colored carpet, and gazed in awe at Kelly, the very grown up "teacher" who read a story about the importance of sharing in families. Later in the week, Emily shared a story with first graders and noticed a little girl reading her newly checked out book--oblivious to everything and everyone around her. Emily, still a voracious reader, commmented that she had been a little girl "just like that" who loved books of every kind. Emily's story was about a man who loved a brightly colored coat which turned into a vest and then a scarf and then a button. She led a discussion about how we can hold on to those things that we love even when they change or look different. Of course,after that, there was much sharing about blankets and stuffed toys that had been battered by too many hugs! A day or so later Ally shared the story about a lady who swallowed a fly, a bird, a cow and a horse--Oh, my! Second graders made a collage and sang along with a youtube cartoon projected on a giant screen. Reading and technology was a grand combination! Today Robbie filled a rainy hour for first graders who learned a few word games a ended up designing a fanciful car for Ameilia Bedelia.
You probably think that I shared this project because of the excellent planning that went into it. True. You problably think that I am very proud of Emily, Ally, Kelly, and Robbie. True. You probably think that I am glad that all those little kids have books to take home and share. Also, true. Though all these statements are true, they are not the reasons I shared the project.
I shared the project because it reveals an important message about kids--the real lesson of this tale. If kids are given a chance to be leaders and provided with the skills necessary to successfully lead, they will rise to the occasion. If kids are given something valuable to do, they will do that task with respect and even love. If older kids are set up as role models for little ones, they will shine. As I watched my interns work on and implement their projects, I was touched by the energy they put into them, the care they took to accomplish their goals, and the sense of accomplishment they felt when the little ones enjoyed their lessons. I could glimpse the grown-ups they will be in just a few years--sensitive, knwledgeable, caring, generous. Though the interns shared valuable lessons, I think they learned some valuable lessons as well. "Don't eat flies, birds, cows or horses" must be near the top of the list but "Put your heart into what you do" has to be up there as well!