The Grade: Session 7 Recap
Schedule next Mentoring Session Soon!
Freshmen
Sophomores
Seniors
Dear Grade Participants and Parents,
Please take a look below and read the recaps of the March session. Also, don't forget to schedule a mentoring session soon. Mentoring will be happening this weekend and next, as well as by special appointment if you can't make those times.
If you are on Spring Break, I hope you are well rested and enjoying the time off!
Sincerely,
Alex
Alex Hoff
Director, The Grade
Mentoring Schedules
Swift House
2301 Swift Blvd.
3PM - 6PM
30 minute time slots
Email or call your mentor to set a time
4th Saturday
Western Academy
1511 Butlercrest St.
11AM - 2PM
30 minute time slots
Email or call your mentor to set a time
By appointment:
Email or call your mentor to set a time
Recap: Big Picture Seminar (Freshmen)
During the freshman seminar Mr. Janeiro gave a lecture on becoming a man of culture, particularly through a thoughtful approach to books, music, art, drama, and film.
Reading particularly opens your life to the world, to a world of experience, to areas and places you couldn't go on your own. The more one engages in the humanities, the more human one becomes. This can be contrasted with the Nazi regime, who burned books and foreign ideas, thus burning true culture and freedom.
The goal is not simply to be well read (reading for the sake of being learned), but to seek the truth and ultimately find God in and through creation.
During the breakout session the freshmen filled out a Career Interest Survey. This survey helps give a general direction, based on aptitudes and interests, to which college major and career would best fit each student. There are 16 different career clusters (Information Technology, Architecture & Construction, Education & Training etc.) and each student came up with his top three. These will be discussed with the mentor in the upcoming mentoring session.
Recap: The Professional Seminar (Sophomores & Juniors)
Becoming a Web Designer
Angelo Directo, Founder and Vice President of Design at Sceptre Hospitality Resources, gave a presentation to the Sophomores and Juniors about "What It Takes To Be A Web Designer". Angelo talked about the ins and outs of web design, from the educational background and skills required to a day-in-the-life of at his company.
The breakout activity for sophomores was on professional manners and etiquette related to cell phone and email usage.
The breakout activity for juniors was "Narrowing the List: what should I look for when choosing a college?" It involved a self-assessment using materials from Don Betterton College Planning, followed by a round robin of 1-on-1 discussions with the each other in which they explained what colleges they were applying to and why. After these activities, sophomores and juniors received a virtue talk from Tim Kuhnen on "Respect for Women".
Recap: Filling the Gaps (Seniors)
In this month's session of the Grade, the seniors looked at arguments for the existence of God.
The focus was on St. Thomas Aquinas' first argument for the existence of God, as well as some objections to the argument. One objection concerned the claim that, since science can, in principle, explain every aspect of the material universe, it is less than clear that we need an explanation for the material universe as a whole (as opposed to just every part). A second objection concerned the compatibility of God's existence with evil in the world.
This discussion occurred in the context of the greater question: why is it important to defend the reasonableness of God's existence? In part, it is important to show that faith and reason are not opposed. Further, it is a great way to help our friends--and ourselves--take steps to coming closer to Our Lord.
Tuesday Study Nights @ Swift
6pm - Doors open (students can come at any time but should text me if they are coming late so I can be sure to include them in the dinner count when I order, 713-836-8705
6 - 7:30pm - Quiet Study
7:30 - 8pm - Dinner (pizza, Chinese, Whataburger, etc. - $5)
8 - 8:30pm - Confessions available
8 - 9pm - Quiet Study
Seminar Coordinators
Alex Hoff
CELL: 713.836.8705 | alexmhoff@gmail.com
If you have questions about a specific seminar, these are the seminar coordinators:
Big Picture Seminar (Freshmen)
Joe Kolf
CELL: 314.402.3491 | joekolf@gmail.com
Professional Seminar (Sophomores and Juniors)
Dan Murphy
CELL: 917.224.7851 | danbmurphy@gmail.com
Filling the Gaps (Seniors)
Victor Saenz
CELL: 574.904.3258 | victorsaenz@gmail.com