The Defender
August 13, 2022
Principal's Message
Dear SMA Families,
We welcomed our staff back on Wednesday and had an awesome week! We started with a beautiful Mass on Wednesday morning. Fr. Brian’s homily reminded us why we are called to serve the SMA community in our educational roles. Being an educator is an awesome responsibility and LIGHTING the path to Jesus for your children is both a responsibility and a reward. Thank you for trusting us with your beautiful children. We are excited to welcome them back to school.
On Thursday afternoon, we were invited to a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Naumann, and his homily hit the same notes as Fr. Brian’s. He talked of his experiences in school and the importance of the relationships between teacher, child, and God. He shared his thoughts on the power of adoration and the importance of guiding our children toward a deeper love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
On Friday, we worked feverishly to prepare the school for School Supply Drop-Off on Monday! We are all so excited to have students back in the building, so I hope you’ll be able to join us at some point Monday morning. Although we divided the morning into drop-off times for A-L and M-Z to best handle traffic, we know those times may not align perfectly with each family’s schedule, so please come when you can.
Don’t forget to come to the VSL Back-to-School Bash Monday evening on the Parish Field. The Bash starts at 5:30, and we would love to see all our families there!
If you haven’t picked up your packet from the school office, please do so as soon as possible. The packets have important paperwork that is due by the first day of school. We still have about 50 families that have not retrieved their packet. Please make this a priority early next week.
We have so many wonderful activities planned for these first few weeks of school! I hope you’ll be able to join us for the many opportunities for fellowship and fun. One of the most exciting events is the School Mission with the Religious sisters of the Pierced Hears of Jesus & Mary on Monday, August 22 right after our all-school Mass (9:00-10:00 am). We welcome all parents and families who would like to join us for Mass and the Mission talk.
The sisters will also give Parish Mission talks on Sunday and Monday evenings. (see the bulletin for details). We are blessed that the sisters will also hold a Mission for our school staff on Wednesday after school. We’re going to keep them super-busy while they’re in Kansas!
Finally, I want to reflect a bit on what it means to come back to school. Each year I must remind myself that the crazy, happy, super-excitement I feel for students and staff to return to school may not be reciprocated by every student (or parent) who walks through the door on August 17. I mean, hey, summer is FUN! Our schedules tend to be more relaxed in the summer. There’s often less of a routine in the summer like there is during the school year. There’s no homework or assignments. It’s a pretty nice vacation for us all.
Now that we’re starting to talk about routines and schedules again, our kids may experience some feelings that haven’t surfaced for a while. Some kids may be elated to return to the schedule and routine of school. Some kids may dread the schedule and long for the freedom of summer. No matter how your child feels, know that all feelings are normal. Our teachers are experts in their field, and they know that engaging students and learning each child’s needs is a journey. They are ready for this year’s journey and are looking forward to building lasting, loving relationships with students and families that will LIGHT the way to Jesus all year.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalms 119:105
Sincerely in Christ,
Diana Tate, Principal