Weekly Update
November 22, 2019
This week at school . . . . .
There are so many ways to give thanks and to celebrate Thanksgiving. Here at the school wishes to send a very special thanks to all who have supported us financially over the past year. We are a school that depends substantially on the financial support from our friends and patrons, foundations and benefactors who this past year helped us in a record-breaking annual appeal that generated $257,000 and a Parent’s Gala that raised $150,323. We are particularly appreciative of the dedicated efforts of our Advisory Board who work tirelessly to help us with our advancement efforts. With deep gratitude we wish all a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.
Investiture – Nov. 24th: We are pleased to announce that nine pre-choristers will be formally invested on Sunday during the 11:00 Mass and be elevated to full Chorister status. Gerard Barilleaux, Clemens Ehrhardt, Higor Fontoura, Jasper Greany, Michael Lou, Gordon Redwine, Matthew Shokoti, Matthias Shokoti and Isaac Tsang. They worked to fulfill all requirements for full membership of the different parts of St. Paul’s Choir School. They have shown themselves competent both to do the musical work of the choir and chorus and to carry out this amazing responsibility to sing liturgies and concerts so beautifully. Each has also achieved high standards of academics and behavior. We congratulate them and their families on this significant achievement.
Head Choristers Commissioning: Mr. Kennerley officially commissioned Head Choristers during Vespers on Thursday, the eve of the feast of our patroness, St. Caecelia. Head Choristers are the musical and behavioral leaders of the choir. They have shown, through years of dedicated rehearsals and services, that they are ready to assist in the education of their younger chorister colleagues through setting an excellent example to which the other boys may aspire. Sebastian Haferd was named Head Chorister and Jasiu Kotecki and Benedikt Ehrhardt Deputy Head Choristers. They will be given medals to wear throughout their service in the choir while holding these positions.
Safety Training: On Wednesday our staff and several members of the parish office joined staff at St. Peter’s and Chevrus Schools in a training session on how to respond to a serious threat from an intruder. This training, which is becoming increasingly common in schools across the country as we experience rare, but disturbing violence in schools, will help our staff to be able to better protect themselves and our students should any event ever threaten our school.
Debate Tournament: The Rose Institute Debate Tournament will take place on Saturday, November 23 at Msg. Haddad Middle School in Needham. Many of our boys are participating. If you enjoy a good argument, some comedic relieve or simply a strong persuasive speech, volunteer to be a judge. The tournaments are always exciting. We wish our boys well and look forward to bringing home some first-place ribbons.
Germany Fundraising: Students and faculty are embarking on some outreach efforts and fundraising activities to help make the Germany trip more affordable. Some of our boys will be washing cars! Yes, even in November & December they are going to offer this service, realizing that it is especially during these months that cars are particularly in need of such a service. Watch for announcements of other fun fundraising initiatives throughout December as families pool together items that might make for excellent Christmas gifts.
Christmas Events: As we head into the Thanksgiving Holiday week, the boys are already full into rehearsals for Christmas events. The first one will take pace on December 1st as the Choir will sing for a tree lighting ceremony in Harvard Square at 4:00. Always a fun event, bring the entire family and enjoy hot chocolate, beautiful carols and decorating the Giving Tree. Mr. Moran is coordinating the collection of gifts for needy families under the sponsorship of the Harvard Square Business Association for this event.
About decorating, the Parent Guild has invited volunteers to help decorate the Church in anticipation of our first Christmas Concert. The decorating will take place on Saturday, December 7th after the 9:00 Mass (approximately10:00). Christmas Concerts tickets are on sale through Dianne Flaherty in the office and online on our events page: https://www.saintpaulschoirschool.us/events
Thank you, Tom
Note: Gate of Heaven Concert on December 7th has been cancelled.