Dear Parents and Friends of OLMC School,
I hope you have enjoyed a slower pace of life over these past three days. I am certain that life is better when there is time to relax with family, to think and ponder, to work and pray, and be moderate and balanced in all things. If you have some pictures of the children sledding or building snowmen, please send one to Dr. Coulson at computer.lab1@olmc-school.com so we can put a few on our website. This has been a great snow for many of our children who don't see it pile up like this, or last, for many years at a time.
Meanwhile, the snow days have likely caused many questions - what will be rescheduled? How will we accomplish make up days? Are end of year events affected? I will look into all of this and share with you as I know.
This weekend, we will still be looking for students dressed in Mass Day uniform at OLMC Masses or at other Church services on Sunday. Mrs. Kristen Glauner will pass out out of uniform passes at the Saturday evening Mass, and on Sunday, students may look for a Dominican Sister after each Mass. Students must be dressed in Mass Day uniform to be eligible for an out of uniform pass.
For next week, we will celebrate Student Appreciation Day on Monday. This means that the children may come to school dressed out of uniform. If they wish to take on one of the suggested themes, they could display some celebration of the 100th, or dress in a favorite team jersey. The Box Top Competition will continue through Wednesday of this week. I think we have had enough time of "no homework" which was to go with their Student Appreciation Day...perhaps we can pick that one up again next year! Students are encouraged to vote for their favorite Spiritual Theme Poster; the final cut will be on display in the cafeteria beginning this week.
Tuesday will be Teacher Appreciation Day. The games between our basketball teams and the Peninsula Catholic JV teams are rescheduled for this day.
Wednesday will remain a 1:30 dismissal.
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The teacher luncheon from last Thursday is rescheduled for this coming Thursday, along with the homeroom spirit parade competition for the spirit stick.
On a different note, today is the feast of St. John Bosco - a great priest and friend of youth. In fact, he is the patron saint of youth. He attracted young people around him like a magnet, and he has many letters written to his teachers to help to train them in the art of forming young people. One of the quotes used in our teacher education program at Aquinas College reads "Learn to love what the youth love, so that you can bring them to love what you love." This is a lesson that requires investing ourselves in the youth around us - whether it is our own children, the children in our neighborhood, our extended family, our school families, the children we coach, or the children in our classrooms. This is how we adapt to the needs of others - we learn to love what they love. It is a principle of human nature that we can only love something that we see as good. This is how God made us. Of course, when we sin, we are seeing something good in that choice. Or, for example, in the music our children listen to, or the shows they watch, there is something good they are seeing or looking for, whether it is the words, or the need to have an idol, or the need to fit into the group that watches the same show. If we are to give any guidance or advice that we have learned and earned through our mistakes and/or God-given insights, we must be fully invested in their lives, loving what they love, though some of it be distasteful. We earn their confidence, not by becoming a teenager again - becoming one of them, but by affirming the good they see in what they choose and do. Then we create an openness between generations, an openness which is to great benefit for the older and the younger ones involved.
To that end, I also want to share with you an article on the declining value of the commercials at the Superbowl. When I was young, I looked forward to the Superbowl, both because "game day" had its own special annual feel at our house, but also because the commercials were genuinely creative and funny, and provided a young girl more entertainment than the actual plays. Along with the half time show however, the commercials lost their "family value" appeal some years ago. Following is a link about Superbowl ads that is at least thought-provoking, if not something that requires some attention to the TV on game day. Superbowl ads . If you watch the Superbowl as a family, I encourage you to read the article. Some may choose to turn the channel during some of the ads, whereas others of you choose to talk with your children and, at age-appropriate levels, make them aware of the goal of the media, particularly when it is targeted at teen audiences. Having said that...may the best team win!
I look forward to seeing you all again in carpool and around the school. The snow has been beautiful, the rest has been refreshing, but this principal is missing the children and is ready to get back to school. Have a blessed weekend.
With prayers or your families,
