The Heights kicked off the 2008-09 school year with the annual Fall Garden Party. With 300 alumni, faculty and parents in attendance on September 20, the event featured cocktails and dinner and a music ensemble under the direction of the Music Department's Mr. Patrick Love. The party moved back to its traditional venue, the courtyard, to take advantage of the autumn blooms of Fr. Malcolm's rose garden. In the last two years, campus construction had necessitated first moving the party to the soccer field, and then to the parking lot. Student waiters ably passed and sampled the hors d'oeuvres. Alumni bartenders Thomas Fagan '03, Michael Quine '05 and Dominic Currano '05 were indispensable to the evening's festivities.

*Check the School calendar in the fall for next year's Garden Party.

The Heights varsity soccer team had a very strong season, with a final record of 10-10-3. They faced a physically demanding schedule as evidenced by the multiple injuries they suffered throughout. Their stand- out win came against recent rival, Mercersburg Academy, who beat them last year 8-1. The 2-0 win against Mercersburg came on senior day. While all ten seniors started and we're on the field when the first goal was scored, the whole team contributed in the shut-out win. The team was also runner-up in the always tough, Maryland State Tournament.

The Heights golf team had one of its most successful seasons ever. Playing a rigorous schedule with many of the top teams in the MAC, the Cavalier golfers finished with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses. This included a win against a top-notch Potomac school team at their course, a team that had previously defeated the Cavaliers by just 4 strokes earlier in the season. This talented team is looking forward to a successful spring season.

The Heights varsity cross-country team enjoyed a very successful season. In October, they came out on top in the Landon Invitational over roughly twenty other schools. In November, the Cavaliers narrowly defeated rival Saint Andrew's to repeat as MD/DC Private school state champions. The JV and middle school squads were victorious as well, making it a clean sweep for The Heights!

On the Saturday following Thanksgiving, The Heights hosted the Annual Alumni Reception. The evening began with Holy Mass, which was held for the first time ever in the new chapel and said by Fr. Larry Kutz. Following Mass was the alumni gathering in the library, where appetizers and drinks were served. Headmaster, Alvaro de Vicente, gave a brief talk addressing recent and current events. Some of the notes included the unveiling of the life-size statue of St. Thomas Moore in front of the side entrance and the cross-country team's victory at the Landon tournament, as well as some future plans for The Heights, such as the closing of the Tower Campaign and the eventual athletic facility improvements. This year's attendance was strong and many stayed late, many of whom partook in some fine cigars. We hope to see you again next year.

This past Columbus Day, The Heights hosted the Annual Golf Classic at Whiskey Creek Golf Club. This year's tournament was quite remarkable as there was a record turnout of father/son teams with a total of 22 and the largest number of sponsors ever with a total of 21. The increase in father/son teams yielded some fierce competition. Ultimately, it was senior, Peter Williams, and his father, Lou, who took the Father/Son trophy home. The winning foursome was Bob Best, Deal Hudson, Eric Heil (4th Grade teacher) and Tom Ondeck (Father of Alumni, Mike '03 and Matt Ondeck '00). The Alumni Low Gross winner was Brian Porto, class of '89. The event concluded with a lovely dinner, door prizes, and the award ceremony.

*Of the approximately 100 golfers, around 20 were Heights Alumni.

Capture the Flag, one of the most coveted traditions that has ever existed at our Alma Mater, continues to be a mainstay for the School spirit and camaraderie. The style of the game has changed quite a bit, however, from the days of old. Since introducing the Clans of the Crest, Capture the Flag has now become a game with four separate teams instead of two now ('odds vs. evens'). It's now a much more strategic game with four different territories. This makes better use of our great campus. It also means there are more flags to capture, more enemies to defend against, and more chances for everybody to get involved. Admittedly a much more complex game, Capture the Flag with its new style has proven to be a great game, and one that has kept the tradition strong. White Lily, Red Rose, Red Cross, and Gold Cross can win points in the battle for the Tower on the two days per year that we play Capture the Flag. This past October 7th, the Clans clashed to celebrate the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Grades three through six played. In the morning, and seven through twelve in the afternoon. It turned out to be a great fall day, and while the Red Cross Clan won out in the morning games, the Gold Cross Clan had the successful afternoon.

The only downside to the Clans of the Crest is that they were only initiated in 2001. Most Heights alumni haven't ever seen a Festival Clan Day. They are worth a visit. There are a total of three per year, culminating with the Day of the Tower. Our first Clan Day this year was on October 31 to commemorate the Feast of All Saints. In keeping with the traditional model of a feast, the day begins with Holy Mass, and also entails entertainment, a feast of food, and games. The entertainment segment is called the Competition of the Bard, which showcases the poetic, literary, dramatic, musical, and sometimes comedic skills of the students. Judged by a panel of teachers, the best performances gain points for the respective clan. After enjoying a meal with their fellow Clan-mates, the boys take to the field for some unusual and creative games (most of them designed by Mr. Breslin, the Game- master). Valhalla, Bull-in-the-Ring, and Thud, to name a few, have become well-known and well-loved games by the boys. On Halloween, the Red Rose Clan dominated the Competition of the Bard, and the White Lily and Gold Cross Clans earned the bulk of the points in the afternoon games.

The annual Flag-Football Tournament is another way for boys to earn points for their respective clans. This year the Red Rose Clan won the most games in all three categories: the 7th and 8th grade tournament, the 9th and 10th grade tournament and the Junior/Senior Tournament.

The current standing in the battle for the Tower are as follows: Red Rose has 565, Gold and Red Cross are tied at 523 and White Lily rounds it out at 500.