Finding our "True North"
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
Psalm 32:8
Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Friends of St. Michael’s School,
I am honored to welcome you to a new school year. Each Monday throughout the year, I will share with you information on our Catholic faith, education, parenting, and grandparenting. I hope you will find my thoughts useful or maybe even inspiring; if not, you can always move this blog to the trash. :)
Summer vacation is a much-needed respite to enjoy relaxing time with family and friends. Beach days, baseball games, family gatherings, and maybe a road-trip or two allowed each of us to create memories to last a lifetime. We also had the opportunity to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday and reflect on the blessings we enjoy living in the greatest country on Earth. One of my most gratifying experiences of the summer was watching the World Cup Soccer games and cheering on countries and players, most of whom were unfamiliar to me until then. Their athleticism, grit, and determination were phenomenal, and I found myself perusing the Internet for stories about their journeys. One story that particularly caught my attention centered, not on the players, but on the Japanese fans who, after each match, picked up the trash in the stadium. This act, while foreign to most of us, is part of their culture – to always leave a place cleaner than they found it. While their team did not progress to the Knockout Stage, they certainly won the hearts of those of us who admired their acts of service.
We, too, hope to inspire our students to embrace a strong culture based on Faith, Knowledge, and Character that becomes permanently embedded in each one of them. As you drive on campus, you will see new signage, reflecting our three pillars, as well as our shield, mascot, and motto (bible verse). Of particular significance is the image aligned to Character -- a compass -- which is our theme this year. This morning, we gathered as a school community for a Prayer Service in the gym, led by Student Council and Mercy Corps students, as they shared scriptural readings, prayer, and examples. They reminded us that, just like a physical compass always points north so we know which way to go, Jesus is our spiritual compass, always pointing us in the right direction toward God’s love and good choices.
Below you will find our Schoolwide Learning Expectations, which serve as guidelines for success. Please partner with us this year in helping your children and grandchildren allow Christ to lead them in finding their “True North.”
Deo Gratias, Kathy
