And, we are OFF!

The countdown is over, and the 2013-2014 academic year at the Academic of the Holy Family has officially begun!

PowerWeek 2013 was a terrific experience for everyone involved.  It has been especially grace-filled to greet the students as they arrived.  Of course, the young women who were new to AHF showed a bit of nerves, but it didn't take long for the veteran students to swoop them up and carry them along into life at the Academy.

New students participated in placement exams for Math and English.  Our international students also had the chance to have their abilities in reading, writing and speaking the English language assessed.  Returning students prepared display boards that were to be used to spread the word about our co-curricular activities.

Returning students through the Student-Family Handbook, including the opportunity to ask questions about policies and "what if's."  The Class of 2014 did a great job of designing and leading "ice breaker" activities.  Hanlon Hall was alive with laughter!

Our students met their Homeroom Teachers and had the chance to begin building or continue strengthening the bonds that make each Class so unique. Our Activities Fair served a number of purposes.  Besides giving all of the students the opportunity to learn about the activities that have been part of life at AHF, they all had the chance to learn about new activities that are debuting this year.  Finally, the Activities Fair really gave our returning students the opportunity to shine as leaders.  They stepped up and represented well.  It is true: The leaders of tomorrow walk our halls today!

Mid-September...and we are on a roll!

We are mid-way through September, and it is so difficult to believe that it wasn't that long ago that we were counting down to the start of Power Week!

Our students have arrived...classes have begun...the halls are literally buzzing with activity and a special, wonderful energy that can only be found in an environment that represents a community in its best form.  

You already know that the Academy of the Holy Family serves young women from the United States and around the world, and has students who reside with us and also live nearby and are considered "day students." As the days progress and we observe our students interacting in classrooms, in the leisure areas (commonly, outside of our work area...they LOVE that hallway), and Hanlon Hall, we have a firsthand glimpse into how their comfort level increases.  We can also see how our motto "Where friends become family" becomes a reality.  During a recent Faculty Meeting, one of our teachers stated that she really couldn't tell the difference between the Boarders and the Days (always a plus).  In my own class, Concert Choir, I've observed students helping one another as they've started on the journey to become musically-literate.  Native English speakers calmly assisted their sisters who are English Language Learners during rehearsals in the most natural and loving way possible.  As an educator, I have to say that it is observations such as these that tell me that we are on the right track.  We are doing things well, and giving our young women what they need.  

Our website is up and running, with each of our Academic areas getting their pages set up.  Our Full Calendar is available online and you can find our Outings Calendar can be found there, too.  Edline is in full bloom (don't forget to check your daughter's page), and we are settling into the comfortable rhythm that is the hallmark of a school that is blessed with a staff that knows their job and does it well.

Co-curricular activities are absolutely BOOMING around the campus!  Our standard offerings continue, but new ones have emerged.  Saturday outings are in full swing, and will soon be available to our Days, as well as Boarders.  

Life is good at AHF.  There is no simple way to describe what that means...far too complex a balance of spirituality, academics, social growth and more.  If you are in the neighborhood, stop in for a visit!

Have a blessed day!
Mrs. T

p.s.  We will be having a very busy week coming up, with Bishop Cote celebrating our Opening Mass on Monday, 16 September, and our two day observation of World Peace Day on the 20 and 21 September.  Look for an extra posting this week!