The start of a new academic year will soon be upon us. The faculty and staff are busy completing their final preparations this week. Our students will arrive for a full day of classes on Wednesday, August 12. For all of us, this will certainly be a year filled with changes and opportunities for growth and improvement.

The changes are many! As previously announced, Mr. Pat La Morte has accepted our invitation to serve as the Principal for Father Lopez. He fills the vacancy created when Mr. Lee Sayago accepted another administrative assignment within the Diocese of Orlando. In addition to greeting a new Principal, we also welcome seven new educators to our faculty. This includes the addition of another Lopez alum (Ms. Sarah Anderson '09) to our teaching ranks. Brief profiles on each newcomer are provided in the next section of this newsletter.  

In addition to new faces, students will notice other changes when they arrive.  Their first class each day will now begin at 8:00 am instead of 7:30 am. In response to parent feedback, we made additional tweaks to the new bell schedule. As requested, each student will have a 40-minute daily study hall. However, the study hall will now follow the last class each day. We also eliminated the study hall on Fridays to allow for a 2:30 pm dismissal. (The school day will end at 3:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 1:45 pm on Thursdays; and, 2:30 pm on Fridays.)    

Outdoors, progress continues to be made on the construction of ball fields for baseball and softball. The foundation for an eight-court tennis complex has been laid. New canopy lights have been installed over covered walkways, fresh paint has been added to many surfaces and a new electronic message board arrives later this month.

As exciting as some of these changes may be, perhaps the most stunning enhancements completed during the summer have taken place in the O'Neill Family Media Center! This facility now houses our Innovation Center. The large space in the Innovation Center is designed to spark student creativity. It contains five TEAL stations to provide Technology Enhanced Active Learning opportunities for our students and faculty. Each station accommodates up to five students; is equipped with a wireless computer; a 49-inch monitor; and, collaborative panels for problem solving.

The Innovation Center also provides a "makerspace" with a 3D Printer and a 3D camera. The center houses an 80-inch screen for large group presentations; soft-seating areas complete with charging stations; and, a computer coding station where students can build their own software programs. A separate lab provides six additional TEAL stations, and the art studio offers another TEAL station ideal for researching art.

As the excitement for the new year unfolds, I ask for your continued prayers and support for Father Lopez and the students we are privileged to serve. Know that we are keeping you and all members of the family that is Father Lopez Catholic High School in our prayers.