The Final Countdown (feel free to listen to the music in your head)!

These days, life is all about COUNTDOWNS.  They are really helping us keep track of where we are with our preparations for the start of the 2013-2014 school year.  This counting down of what is left of the summer is definitely bittersweet. Before we know it, vacation will be done, but getting down to those single digits means that our halls will be lit up again and filled with that very special kind of energy that has made the Academy of the Holy Family so special for over 130 years!

So, back to our COUNTDOWN!  Every day, our young women find a post in their email inboxes from me.  Scary thought, eh?  An email from your Principal...during the summer...every day!  Not really scary, honestly.  There is a creative number graphic, followed by a "friendly reminder" ranging from "How's that summer reading coming along?" to just about anything else that relates to the start of the school year and how our young women can get the most out of this year, as well as their preparation for it.  This is important for all of our students, whether they are coming from right in Baltic, or from around the globe.

In previous years, the week leading up to first day of classes has been referred to as "Transition Week."  Much takes place during this week, including the administration of placement exams for our incoming freshwomen and transfer students; Class meetings, Club gatherings and start-up meetings, and so much more.  Speaking from my personal perspective, what I find especially exciting is the chance to get our young women fired up about being part of a fantastic community of learners and teachers...about being part of a family, regardless of where they are from.                                                      

This year, we wanted to think of something that would really get everyone in the Academy fired up.  The concept of a lightbulb kept coming up, especially the image of one of the new energy-saving bulbs.  You might actually use them in your own home.

This is actually known as a CFL bulb, standing for Compact Flourescent Light.  Well, those initials have taken on a new meaning for us at the Academy of the Holy Family. "Transition Week" is now known as "Power Week," and our young women are going to be welcomed with a tremendous amount of energy...our own unique, Academy of the Holy Family energy!

And, this is what we have come up with:                       

The schedule for Power Week 2013 will be finalized this week, and will be sent out to our young women and their families.  Yes, we are excited!

And now, for that music that you can hear in your head:

Until next week, have a blessed day...please pray for peace!                             

~ Mrs. T

Who will you make peace with?

If you were to look at my bucket-list, you would find the #1 "to do" to be "meet St. Francis of Assisi."  Since I will have to wait until my time here on Earth is done before I have any chance to do that, I'll settle for doing my best to follow in Francis' footsteps.  Sure, I am open about my love (some call it an obsession, but I don't know why) for animals, and I try my best to be a good steward of our environment, but the aspect of Francis' life that I love the most is likely that of being a peacemaker.
That's not to say that I don't get angry when I'm stuck in traffic, etc., but, that's a story for another blogpost.

This year, the Academy of the Holy Family is participating in World Peace Day, but doing it over two days.  Yes, I guess we might be considered overachievers.  However, the two days are going to really be special in their own ways.  I think that the most exciting part of this is that we are literally going to be joining people from around the world while we do it.  Not small change, I'd say!

On Friday, 20 September, the Academy will be hosting students from the other five Catholic high schools in our Diocese for Peace One Day - High School Invitational  Visit our link to see a Facebook Event Page for more information.  Let me just say that the speakers list is already starting to look so ex- citing, that it is really difficult to contain our excitement!

On Saturday, 21 September, the Academy is inviting families and friends from the Diocese and local communities to campus for World Peace Day - Families and Friends Invitational.  As excited as I am to have students from the other schools coming to "our house" on that Friday, the thought of having families join us for a full day peace-making activities is way over the top with excitement!

Those Event pages are going to include schedules as they develop, so please revisit them.

The theme of World Peace Day 2013 is "Who will you make peace with?"  www.peaceoneday.com reminds us that Peace is not just the absence of war.  It is the absence of domestic violence, racism, hunger, community violence, and more.

Please pray for the success of both days.  Much work to be done...

Our poster for the High School Invitational...

     For the Families and Friends Invitational                          

In case you hadn't seen them, just two photos of Joy during our summer vacation.  She has her sea-legs, as evidenced by these shots of her on a whale watch.  Nope.  I'm not obsessed.  *shrug*  Have a blessed day!

Digging Our Iggy at AHF...the best way to spend July!

We keep our Facebook page as fresh as possible and, while it may look time consuming, it is really great fun to find items of interest that are spiritual, educational and, even, humorous in nature.  

During the month of July, we have been Digging our Inner Iggy with the help of our brothers, the Jesuits (also known as the Society of Jesus).  Now, this affiliation might seem a bit odd since the Jesuits are a male Religious order...there are no female Jesuits...but, since the Academy of the Holy Family is so strongly based on our Catholic Identity, and is an educational institution, we can gain a great deal from the Jesuits.  They are, after all, commonly known as the most Intellectual Catholics.  Besides being spiritually strong, they tend to have quite a sense of humor!

The Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, is celebrated on July 31st.  Ignatian Spirituality is a really rich website that offers so much to us all, regardless of whether we live a vowed or ordained religious life, are members of the laity, are young or old.  There is something on that website for everyone!  

Now...Digging our Inner Iggy is a day by day journey through some interesting spiritual exercises.  Some of them are easy, others are difficult.  Some are extremely serious, and others are laugh out loud hysterical.  There is something there for everyone, and that's the point of Digging for YOUR Inner Iggy.  

Since July 1, I've been posting the exercise for the day on our Facebook page, and have been getting some interesting responses. 

I guess I look at this daily posting from the perspective of a teacher (big surprise, I know).  I hope that the graphic that I attach to the link will attract the attention of our loyal Friends.  Then, I hope that they'll read the exercise and, hopefully, internalize what they're reading.  What does it mean for them...what does it relate to in their lives?  Literally, where can they find Ignatius' (aka Iggy) philosophy in their everyday lives?

This week, things are really going to heat up because they will lead up to Ignatius' Feast Day.  If you haven't visited the past Digging posts, it's not too late!  Check them out and see if you can find Iggy in your life!

May your day be blessed!

peace,

Mrs. T

Peace One Day 2013...celebrating One World @ AHF

On Friday, 20 September, the members of the Academy of the Holy Family community will be celebrating Peace One Day 2013.  We will be observing this special event with schools and communities around the globe, and will be enjoying the chance to study ways in which we can truly become people of peace.  Stay tuned...it is going to be a life-changing day!

Peace One Day 2013

Co- or Extra...The Choice is ours to make

So, does growth while in school only take place during classes?  Can our students actually learn from what goes on in clubs, from drama productions, and other non-academic activities?  Of course they do!

Besides having the opportunity to experience activities that are new and challenging, students are provided with many "side" opportunities that can positively impact the depth of their learning.

Check out this article from the National Association of Secondary School Principals to read more about just some of the ways in which our students can benefit from being involved in co-curricular activities: 

http://www.principals.org/portals/0/content/48943.pdf

More supportive info from the Colorado High School Activities Association:

http://www.chsaa.org/about/Superintendent/The%20Case%20for%20HS%20Activities%20No%20Pictures.pdf

Fashion Sense...the tradition continues

As someone who wore a school uniform for four years of high school (didn't wear one in our Catholic elementary school...not sure why), I have to say that I really didn't mind it.  My school's uni has changed since 1974, but my Kearney sisters will always remember our green plaid skirt, white blouse, green weskit or blazer and the infamous green knee socks. I have to say that I was so impressed with the way the AHF students wear their unis.  They manage to honor the dress code, but their individuality still shines through.  

Summer Living @ AHF...no girls, but plenty of activity

As I finish the transition from my former job to my new life at the Academy of the Holy Family, I am overwhelmed by how natural it feels.  Perhaps natural isn't the correct word.  It is more of a case of feeling like I am "home."  

Of course, our girls have gone back to their own homes, which means that they are literally across the globe.  While we adjust to their absence, there is still so much work that needs to be done within our campus.  My BFF Joy came to school with me last week, only spending a day but making SO many new friends.  As you can see by the photos, she actually matches the Sisters, even as they wear their summer Habits.  She did try to make a break for it over to the Cloister side, but we got her back.  In the meantime, she made herself comfortable in my office, found a really fun space up in Sister Mary Sarah's loft/office, and just had a blast.

While we're doing our summer tasks, we can't help but look ahead to when the girls will return to us. 

Life is very, very good, and so is our God!

Sr. Charles greeting Joy in the Guidance Office.

Joy watching Pat very carefully.  It is what Border Collies do, after all :)

Sr. Mary Sara, our Bookkeeper, has her office space in a loft (very cool).  Joy's Border Collie brilliance makes her a perfect candidate for Sr. Mary Sara's assistant.

Sr. Monica Mary stopped by to say "hello," and got Joy's tail moving and grooving!

Sr. Agnes and Joy share their smiles.

Mother Julie, our Superior General, had met Joy earlier in the week, so her smile was familiar to Joy.

Trees were being taken down from in front of the Academy and the Motherhouse.  Can you see the gentleman harnessed up at the top of the tree?

Joy supervising from the back room of the Health Suite.