Principal's Newsletter

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Here are two calendars for Academy events.  Please check the new Academy Calendar page (located in the drop-down menu under "Academy," or in the menu just to your left) for updates and future calendars:

August

September

Click here for the Camping Trip information sheet.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Dear Parents:

What a great weekend for camping and canoeing!  The weather was perfect. The boys and the dads had a good time sitting by the fire, eating, playing football and soccer, canoeing and hunting the river for frogs and turtles.  I am a big advocate of getting kids outdoors for unstructured exploration.  According to Richard Louv, author of  Last Child in the Woods, unstructured time in green spaces correlates with higher test scores, lower incidents of ADD and improved overall wellbeing.  Besides, it is just plain fun.

This week we have two planned after school activities.  Thursday is the first Freshman home football game and we are going to have hotdogs for the students before the game.  The game starts at 5.  Friday is the St. John’s Jesuit cross country meet.  Local schools will race along our campus.  Yes, it is possible to get a great cross country course within the bounds of the school’s campus. We will have free hotdogs to those students who either compete or show up to support their classmates. It should be a fun night.

Thursday, September 2 is the high school's Mini Class Night.  Academy parents are not required to attend this evening, but are invited to sit in on their sons' high school classes.  I attached the Mini Class Night form for you.

Mr. Smith, the SJJ band instructor informed me that the school will pick up the tab on the first half of this year’s musical instrument rental.  Parents will pay for the second half of the rental.  Finances won’t stand in the way of your son trying a new instrument this year.

Earlier this year I mailed a packet that contained a flyer for the Mothers and Sons Mass.  Moms, you and your sons are encouraged to attend this Mass and breakfast.  This is the first time it has been opened up for the entire school to participate. 

Moms, the high school’s Mothers Club plays an active role in organizing breakfasts, Masses, fundraisers, and other events throughout the year.  Their fundraisers help pay for classroom improvements such as Smartboards and they annually provide the students  with their planners.  I think an Academy Mothers Club might perform an active, albeit smaller, role within the Academy.  Please let me know if you are interested in participating in an Academy Mothers Club.

Last week we started to place SJJ welcome signs in the yards of new Academy students.  The Fathers Club ordered enough signs for both the high school and Academy, but some of the signs have turned up missing around the Toledo metro area.  I can’t imagine why someone would want to steal these signs, but some rivalries are that strong.  We had to place an order for additional signs.  It will be a few weeks before all the signs are placed. 

On a sad note, Mrs. Kathy Firsdon recently passed away. Mrs. Firsdon was the school’s transportation director and one of the first people many of our boys spoke to on their way to school in the morning.  She took special care of our students and always had their wellbeing in mind.  Please keep the Firsdon family in your prayers as they deal with this sudden loss.

Thank you for all of your support.  Until next week!

Sincerely,

Bryon Borgelt