September 10, 2017
Dear Families of Saint Bridget School,
I find it strange to pen this Back to School letter essentially heralding the advent of autumn, even as I sit on a granite pier overlooking the Atlantic under a gentle September sun. In surround sound I hear the rhythmic crash of surf, the low throttle of the lobster boats as they rumble by. Before me, the effortless drift of the gulls. It is at once meditative and distracting, calling my thoughts away from the project at hand. It has been a beautiful summer. I hope you and your family have enjoyed afternoons of repose such as mine, as well as wonderful adventures! But a hint of fall is in the air, and with it the need to relinquish the abandonment of summer and settle into the security of structured routine that accompanies another school year. Reluctance is understandable. Believe me, I do not want to give up my place on this pier! But, I can feel it on the wind, it is going to be a great year!
Part of the anticipation of returning to school is discovering the changes that have transpired over the summer. As always there have been upgrades to the facility, shifts in staffing, and program changes. The school has been cleaned and polished, inside and out. With the help of our summer crew, Aidan Scamby and Luke Turchi, Mr. Sebastian and Deacon Fred were able to clean classrooms, as well as paint offices, classrooms, staircase balusters, and the exterior foundation. Offices have been relocated. You will find the Admissions Office at the Front Desk, and the Health Office across from the PreK classrooms. After 13 years as an Aide in our Early Elementary program, Mrs. Rita Hall will not be returning to the classroom this year; she will be missed. Miss Susan Herlihy has taken on a full-time teaching position in the third grade, partnering with Miss Brittany Grozik. We welcome Ms. Ashley Tessmer as our new middle school science teacher. And while the face at the Front Desk is familiar, the name is not: Miss Barron is now
Mrs.
Harmon! Unfortunately, the new Extended Learning Center scheduled to open this fall has been delayed. Mrs. Bruce has been suffering a longer than expected recovery after surgery this summer and is not yet able to return to school. I have no doubt that when she is given the all clear to return to school, she will have that program up and running in no time!
The Extended Day program has undergone, and continues to undergo, significant programming changes. Unfortunately, Mrs. Vicki Peterson has decided to pursue other career opportunities and will not be returning as Director. Her dedication to providing our families with a quality afterschool program these many years is appreciated and we wish her well in her future endeavors. Thankfully at my request, Mrs. Erin Walsh willingly stepped in as Interim Director and has worked diligently for the last month to get the program up and running in time for the start of school. I speak for both myself and Monsignor Strahan when I say that she has our sincere appreciation and gratitude. We have been interviewing several highly qualified candidates for the Director position and expect to have the right person in place before the end of the month. In the meantime, current upgrades to the program will offer students an array of enrichment activities to participate in during the week such as sport games at Bowditch Field, community service opportunities, Escape Rooms, and so much more. And, as a service to our working families, we are developing a program for school vacation weeks which will include educational field trips. More information will be forthcoming.
Perhaps the most significant and exciting changes this year will enhance the Middle School curriculum offerings. It has been long been a goal of mine to provide students with the opportunity to delve into topics of personal interest beyond the standard curriculum with other students who share these interest, regardless of grade level. With the enthusiastic support of the faculty, that goal has come to fruition. For the first time we will be offering a series of elective classes that the students can choose from each trimester. These classes will take place oncer per week and will cover a wide range of topics including: Video game design, STEM Challenge, Fiction Writers Studio, Marine Biology, Advanced Drawing, Veterinary Science, and an Improv Workshop! This is an exciting and unparalleled opportunity for our students to engage in high-interest topics that they wouldn't otherwise have exposure to until high school or college.
These are the highlights of some of the great things to come this year. As always we strive to listen to our students and families to gauge what they are interested in and what would enhance the educational experience of our students. Your responses to surveys sent out during the year are central to the upgrades that we incorporate. I cannot emphasize enough that we are partners in the education of these children, and we are better when we are together.
I hope to see you at Back to School Night this Thursday evening. We have shaken up the typical structure of the evening to maximize your opportunity to visit the classrooms and meet the faculty, including our Specialists. There will be breakout sessions throughout the evening focusing on special interest topics, such as Middle School Electives and FAQs for new/returning families at the elementary level and middle school. With so much to accomplish that evening, please plan on to arrive in the School Hall by 6PM for a brief introduction and orientation to the Agenda intended to help you make the most of your time at the school, before heading up to the classrooms at 6:15PM.
On behalf of Monsignor Strahan, the faculty, and the staff, thank you for choosing Saint Bridget School for your child(ren). It is a joy and a blessing to have a special place in their educational journey and we are tremendously grateful for the opportunity. With the benevolent grace of God, it is going to be a great year. I can feel it on the wind.
Yours in Peace,
