Weekly Update
September 6, 2019
I trust this finds you all well and suitably restored from a summer’s well-deserved vacation!
Our first day of school featured a welcome to our new students on Tuesday, during which we met parents, played a few games, shared some of our most challenging new student issues and sent parents off to the Harvard Art Museums for inspiration. Two of our veteran students shared experiences and answered questions for the new boys.
We are pleased to welcome six new students to Saint Paul’s this year. We welcome our new Music Director, Mr. James Kennerley and our new ELA teacher Ms. Alyssa Cunha who each share great expectations for the year to come. Mr. Francis Stanton will teach religion and has a passion for history and political science, having campaigned for state representative a few years ago. Most recently he taught religion at Arlington Catholic and is currently working as a development associate with the Harvard Catholic Student Center. Mr. Liam Warner will teach Latin to our 7th and 8th graders. With a passion for the classics, he is currently completing his undergraduate studies as a Classics major at Harvard and is a frequent attendee at the liturgies and activities here at St. Paul’s Parish.
All the boys were back on Wednesday and greeted us with a loud and hearty day of getting back into a routine of vigorous academics and phenomenal music. With only one rehearsal under Mr. Kennerley’s direction, the choristers returned to the choir loft and shared their gifts for a back to school liturgy on the first full day of school.
Our new students were once again the center of attention on Thursday as they were individually introduced, assigned to one of our Houses by the sorting cone and issued an official Saint Paul’s Choir School tie from one of our 8th graders. All were treated to an ‘Elegant Meal,” thanks to Mrs. Thurston who will be coordinating our lunch program this year. Mrs. Thurston welcomes anyone who would like to prepare an elegant meal for one of our future monthly feasts to contact her. Students were extremely pleased to find a new Foosball table in the lunchroom, donated by Professor Piatti.
All returning to the school noticed the beautiful upgrades to the facility. Sporting newly painted corridors and lockers, the school looks great. It also feels great on the 4th floor thanks to the newly installed air conditioning. Look forward to updates as we near the completion of our newly renovated library/study room on the 4th floor. This is the home of our after school drop in study center.
Parents, notice that the boys are carrying an assignment notebook with them when they return home from school each day. Homework is a daily expectation, with teachers coordinating among each other so that the boys are not overwhelmed, but appropriately provided with additional practice to do in the evenings. We strongly advise against doing the work required for the boys but do wish that all parents provide support and reinforce the importance of taking the assignments seriously. Encourage the boys to do their best work possible in whatever time is available. Sometimes the most important help is to provide a place and time that is conducive to study. We truly appreciate your support.
I am looking forward to seeing you all at our first Parent Guild meeting at 9:30 am on Sunday, September 8. The Choristers have been rehearsing and the altar servers practicing for their first sung Mass of the season later that day. Choristers are to report at 9:40 am, servers and pre-choristers at 10:30 am. Our 5th grade parents are preparing a fabulous event for everyone to meet and enjoy a cool afternoon at the Parent Guild Family Cookout at Denehy Park following the on Sunday, September 8, following the first sung Mass.
Sincerely, Tom