August 2010
Dear Parents,
What an interesting summer we have had! Such a beautiful June, followed by the intense heat in July, followed by that crazy storm that left us without power for days -- I wonder what August will bring. We are reminded, if we’re paying attention, that we are not in charge of the world – even our own little worlds. Today I was settled into my office, preparing to work on all kinds of things, when the power kept going on and off and on and off. Finally, it just went off! So home I went with every intention of getting things done here. It is a good thing I don’t try to do this that often! Laundry and the newspaper and all kinds of other stuff keep getting in the way of my work. But the nice thing about summer is that we don’t feel that same tension that surrounds us and drives us during the school year. So, tomorrow is another day, and maybe the power will come back on!
If you have been by the school at all this summer, you will notice that there is a lot of construction going on. The new Library Media Center is taking shape. The Art and Music classrooms are coming along beautifully. The Resource room is magnificent, and we have a whole new space just inside the gym where Ms. Haggerty will have her headquarters, and we can have small meetings. All of this construction should allow us to provide your children with a topnotch education in a space that is reflective of the care and respect we have for the business we are in.
Those of you who have so generously supported us in our fundraising efforts beginning with the Gala and then through the Lions’ Roar these past two years, will surely see the fruits of your generosity when we return to school in the Fall.
Our motto for the 2010-2011 school year is “FAITH, EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE” and is taken directly from our Mission Statement:
“Our Lady of Lourdes School provides a solid foundation in the Catholic faith, fosters academic excellence, and educates children to be successful leaders who serve the world.”
The Lourdes faculty and staff will work to provide your children with a strong foundation in the Catholic faith; to support them as they adopt a commitment to academic excellence; and to give them opportunities to realize and meet their obligation to care for others.
In October, members of the Middle States Reaccreditation Team will visit our school for several days. They will interview all faculty and staff members, observe classes, interview parents, the Pastor and Parishioners. They will examine the self-study that we have undergone over the previous year, and they will review our strategic plans for our future. After the conclusion of their observations, we will receive a report with the results of their evaluation. Our hope, of course, is to be reaccredited, and we anticipate that we will be. While the team is here, there will be many opportunities for you to be involved in this process. There will be a reception and dinner for the team when they arrive; there will be several opportunities for parents to meet with the team; there will be opportunities to provide hospitality to the team by picking up coffee and bagels in the mornings, or delivering lunch from the deli, or setting up refreshments in their work area during the day. I hope that you will consider participating in some way in this process.
I am often reminded of the wonderful opportunities we are afforded because we work at Our Lady of Lourdes School. Each morning when we pray the Morning Offering, each day when children announce lost teeth or birthdays, when I read the petitions in our petition book, when I visit your children in their classrooms or in the cafeteria or on the playground, I feel so lucky to be in this wonderful school community. We truly are a family here at Lourdes, and, like any family, we hit rough spots and have disagreements. The children that bring us together in this place and the faith that we have in God help us to weather those difficulties and to resolve our differences and move forward with our mission in mind.
As we begin another year at Our Lady of Lourdes , I thank God for allowing me to be a part of the Lourdes family, and I thank you for sharing your precious children with me. On behalf of the faculty and staff, I promise that we will do our best to be your partners as we teach the children in our care how to live lives of faith, excellence and service.
Attached you will find a list of the teaching assignments for the coming year. As you will see, just when we think things are settled, something or someone surprises us! We have an exceptional group of teachers and teaching assistants lined up for the coming year, and I know you will enjoy meeting them and your children will enjoy learning from them.
God bless.
Patricia McGann
Principal